run event at a glance
event: First-ever Pokémon Run PH 2026
occasion: Pokémon 30th Anniversary
location: SM Mall of Asia, Manila
distance: 5K run
number of waves: 21
format: untimed / no podium finish / no pressure to finish quickly
my actual experience: finished walk/ run under 90 minutes
date of run: October 3, 2026
key collectibles: lenticular cards and pokemon limited edition card
website: https://ph.portal-pokemon.com/30th/topics/20260603_02/
my pokemon 5k run experience
Pokémon Run PH 2026 brought the Pokémon 30th Anniversary celebration to Manila, making the Philippines part of the global festivities celebrating 30 years of Pokémon.
But this isn’t your typical fun run.
Instead of simply running a 5K, you travel through different Pokémon regions, with themed music playing along the route and Pokémon sounds straight from the games bringing the experience to life. The relaxed 5K format was divided into 21 waves, making it easy to enjoy the course, take photos, and soak in the Pokémon-themed experience without feeling like you had to race.
For me, the fun was in the details—from the Time Tunnel that set the mood before the run, to the limited-edition collectible Pokémon card, and the interactive Pokesheet where you collect Pokémon stickers along the way.
And of course, there were plenty of Pokémon photo opportunities throughout the route.
It felt less like a traditional fun run and more like stepping into the Pokémon world for a morning.
start
The giant Pikachu became the meeting point for trainers, while the first wave started about 45 minutes late, with the original 4:00 AM gunstart pushed to around 4:45 AM.
I got my race kit on-site, although I couldn’t fit into the Large shirt. For me, the most valuable item in the kit was the pack of Pokémon cards that was first dibs by Ahiya.
Getting to the site via Grab was tricky because of the traffic rerouting, so I ended up walking about 15 minutes to the venue, which served as a warm-up before the run.
There were plenty of interactive sponsor booths, creating a fun festival atmosphere around the event.
The most fun booth was Uniqlo’s, featuring themed challenges and games for the runners.
Awesome to meet Ray Kagami-san, who explained the significance of the Pokémon 30th Anniv Run in Manila.
In Wave 2, Pikachu costume known as Pajama Man was the runner highlight throughout the route.
There were two types of runners: beginners aiming to conquer their first 5K and Pokémon trainers determined to catch them all and take photos along the way.
Pokémon encounters
Different Pokémon from various regions of Japan were waiting for trainers along the route, playing their actual in-game sounds to create an immersive vibe.
You have to catch the Pokémon along the way, get your Pokesheet signed off, and collect the corresponding sticker. You have to finish the challenges to get the page and lenticular cards.
Every 1 km had a Pokémon marker and photo opportunity, making the route fun one kilometer at a time.
Running through the Pokémon Time Tunnel with its energetic music was my favorite part.
Pass through a water-sprinkler tunnel to cool off, then get a prize for conquering the challenge.
You receive a lenticular card based on your type—Grass, Fire, or Water—along with a Pokémon 30 Run badge.
I love running in the early waves, when you can enjoy the changing colors of the sky as the sun rises.
This Pokémon plushie family was the cutest, cheering runners on along the route.
Past the halfway mark, but we were having so much fun that time just flew by.
Sylveon cheering you on!
Loved the taho along the route—it was hot, comforting, and perfect for a morning boost.
It’s okay if you don’t know all the Pokémon, like Stonjourner—I had to ask my kids who this guy was!
Once you hit the 4KM marker, it’s time to psyche yourself up and run strong to the finish line.
Once you have your Pokémon sheet fully signed, a mythical creature appears—I Mew it!
finish line
Once you see the finish line, I wished there was one more tunnel, maze, or fun challenge to complete.
I finished in less than 90 minutes, with a bit of cramping as I pushed running through to the finish line.
You get a nicely designed, heavy medal and a great sense of accomplishment—I’m back to running 5K again!
Once you complete everything, you get a lenticular card based on your type—Water, Grass, or Fire.
Pajama Man was also a registered runner, adding to the fun vibe with his Pikachu costume.
The most coveted piece is the special Pokémon Run Pikachu card, awarded for completing the 5K run!
Don’t miss the chance to meet and greet the cute Pikachus and get a souvenir photo with them!
final thoughts
Overall, I found it to be one of the most fun run events in Manila, and it was well organized. For me, the fun of Pokémon Run PH wasn’t about how fast I finished the 5K. It was the feeling of being inside a Pokémon game for a morning—walking the route, hearing the familiar sounds, collecting cards and stickers, and discovering what was waiting around the next corner.
My only suggestions would be to start on time as scheduled and perhaps add another tunnel installation or fun challenge near the finish line.
I regret not bringing my kids along. It would have been a great introduction to running while having fun catching Pokémon, taking photos, and experiencing the interactive game together as a family.
Congratulations to The Pokémon Company, and Happy 30th Anniversary!
ive an Awesome Life with Christ,
Founder & Digital Creator, Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: This article was written entirely by a human—reflecting my own biases, opinions, and insights—with grammar and clarity checked using AI assistance. Thank you to Pokemon company for inviting us to expereince the Pokemon run.
p.s. Can we have a Pokémon Run every year? Or is this just a one-time anniversary event?
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
The Pokémon Run PH 2026 was held at the SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City, Manila, on October 3–4, 2026. The run was part of the larger Pokémon 30th Anniversary celebration across Asia.
The Pokémon Run PH is approximately 5 kilometers. Along the route, there were Pokémon encounters, photo opportunities, interactive challenges, and themed installations, making the experience feel more like a Pokémon adventure than a traditional road race.
The 5K was designed as a fun run rather than a competitive race, with no pressure to finish quickly. In my experience, I spent plenty of time walking, taking photos, catching Pokémon, and completing the activities along the route, and I finished in under 90 minutes.
There were 21 waves for the Pokémon Run PH 2026. The staggered starts helped make the large event manageable while giving trainers more room to enjoy the interactive activities and Pokémon encounters along the route.
Participants receive a Pokémon RUN 30 Runner’s Kit, while completing the course comes with additional collectibles and rewards. Along the route, you can collect Pokémon stickers, complete challenges, receive a Pokémon 30 Run badge, and finish with a medal.
The collectibles were one of my favorite parts of the experience. You can collect Pokémon stickers through the Pokesheet, receive a lenticular card based on your type—Grass, Fire, or Water, and get the special Pokémon Run Pikachu card for completing the 5K.
Yes. The event was designed to be enjoyed by everyone, including casual runners, families, kids, and Pokémon fans. You don’t need to be a fast runner to enjoy it—in fact, I spent much of my own 5K walking, taking photos, catching Pokémon, and enjoying the interactive challenges.
Not at all. There were 21 waves, and the experience was more about enjoying the Pokémon-themed journey than racing against the clock. I finished in under 90 minutes, but a good part of my run was actually walking, stopping to catch Pokémon, taking photos, and enjoying the activities along the route.
Expect a 5K interactive Pokémon adventure rather than a conventional fun run. There were Pokémon from different regions, actual in-game sounds, photo opportunities every kilometer, the energetic Pokémon Time Tunnel, a water-sprinkler tunnel, and challenges where you could collect stickers and rewards along the way.