Running the race
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Almost exactly a year ago, I ran my first ever half-marathon in the Penang Bridge International Marathon (PBIM). I decided to have it a go again this year after last year's disappointing campaign.And so, on Sunday, I found myself amongst 2,839 half-marathon runners all set to take on the bridge at the most ungodly hour. Kuan Yang, through last year's run, has since been my Bridge run buddy. But this year, I also had a new running buddy. He hails all the way from Kluang, JB - Mervin the pheno-Menon! Haha! It was awesome having him around this year both on and off the track :) Not only that but I also had the privilege to run together with all my CG mates this year! I am definitely amazed at their willingness to give it a shot for a half-marathon run! Great job peeps! Remember, suffering leads to perseverance! They'll be more races to come for sure!
Runners all getting ready to conquer the bridge!
How did I fair this year compared to last?
When I finished the race and looked at my time, I was actually quite satisfied with it. But..... the more I began to evaluate my performance, the more I had negative feelings about it. I realized that maybe there wasn't much improvement after all since this year's distance has been shortened down to 21km instead of last year's 25km.
Realized the first guy leading the pack is a Kenyan...
They are insane runners.
On the other hand, I am happy that I managed to push myself a little more this year considering the fact that I didn't really train for it. My main concern in the run was my right ankle. I've had problems with my right ankle since high school days and during last year's run, it taunted me again.
This time I told myself not to give in to the pain. Thinking about the bus picking me up sure did motivate me to run further. Hehehe. By the time I hit the 15km mark, my right ankle began to sulk. But I was really adamant to 'conquer' the bridge by running to and fro without stopping. And yes, I did 'conquer' the bridge. However, by the time I got off the bridge, I faced the second problem -I call em' 'baby cramps'.
Baby cramps are the kind that give you that sudden burst of muscle spasm. It gives you the notion that it will go into a full-blown cramp but then abruptly dissipates for some strange reason. It is the most annoying thing ever. I really wanted to run all the way to the end and felt rather good about it until my right calf decided to give birth to baby cramps at the most undesirable moment. I was disappointed and agitated.
I had no other choice but to switch to the 'walk-and-run' technique. I ran as much as I could and then stop and walk again once I felt the cramp coming. I did this for the last 5km or so. Not a very satisfying way to end the run but what to do. I do thank God that I didn't experience any major cramps throughout the run and managed to cross the finishing line with my head held high. HAH, Take that you bus drivers!
As I reflect on the run, there are a few things I could pick out from it.
This time I told myself not to give in to the pain. Thinking about the bus picking me up sure did motivate me to run further. Hehehe. By the time I hit the 15km mark, my right ankle began to sulk. But I was really adamant to 'conquer' the bridge by running to and fro without stopping. And yes, I did 'conquer' the bridge. However, by the time I got off the bridge, I faced the second problem -I call em' 'baby cramps'.
Baby cramps are the kind that give you that sudden burst of muscle spasm. It gives you the notion that it will go into a full-blown cramp but then abruptly dissipates for some strange reason. It is the most annoying thing ever. I really wanted to run all the way to the end and felt rather good about it until my right calf decided to give birth to baby cramps at the most undesirable moment. I was disappointed and agitated.
I had no other choice but to switch to the 'walk-and-run' technique. I ran as much as I could and then stop and walk again once I felt the cramp coming. I did this for the last 5km or so. Not a very satisfying way to end the run but what to do. I do thank God that I didn't experience any major cramps throughout the run and managed to cross the finishing line with my head held high. HAH, Take that you bus drivers!
As I reflect on the run, there are a few things I could pick out from it.
The first 10km is the killer!
It's true. The first 10km is the real test. To get past that threshold was a real mental war. Life comes in different stages and seasons, each with its new beginnings along with an unforeseen endings. Often, stepping into the unknown gives us shiver. We don't really know what to expect and the first few steps will be the hardest to take. But once they are taken, things begin to pick up and before we know it, we're back to feeling complacent! What a life cycle! When complacency sets in, that's the cue for us to start pushing ourselves.
Push!
After I hit the 10km mark, I felt pretty good about going all the way. But I realized that my speed was constant all the way and I wasn't particularly tired from it. I was complacent with my speed.
Human beings are habitual creatures. The moment you sit in your office, you'll run through the ritual of what you normally do; you step into church every Sunday and right away you sit at your normal seat; we are habitual creatures. It's not really a bad thing but I guess it plateaus one's potential to achieve greater things in life. When things become habitual, often we become complacent. That's when we decide that a change of pace is a bad thing. But to explore the threshold of our potential, change is a pre-requisite. As much as we push ourselves, we need to be pushed and we need to push!
Come on, brother! You can do this!
I must thank Mervin and KY for leading the pack during the first 10km of the run. If I had been running alone, I think I would have stop.
It's true. The first 10km is the real test. To get past that threshold was a real mental war. Life comes in different stages and seasons, each with its new beginnings along with an unforeseen endings. Often, stepping into the unknown gives us shiver. We don't really know what to expect and the first few steps will be the hardest to take. But once they are taken, things begin to pick up and before we know it, we're back to feeling complacent! What a life cycle! When complacency sets in, that's the cue for us to start pushing ourselves.
Push!
After I hit the 10km mark, I felt pretty good about going all the way. But I realized that my speed was constant all the way and I wasn't particularly tired from it. I was complacent with my speed.
Human beings are habitual creatures. The moment you sit in your office, you'll run through the ritual of what you normally do; you step into church every Sunday and right away you sit at your normal seat; we are habitual creatures. It's not really a bad thing but I guess it plateaus one's potential to achieve greater things in life. When things become habitual, often we become complacent. That's when we decide that a change of pace is a bad thing. But to explore the threshold of our potential, change is a pre-requisite. As much as we push ourselves, we need to be pushed and we need to push!
Come on, brother! You can do this!
I must thank Mervin and KY for leading the pack during the first 10km of the run. If I had been running alone, I think I would have stop.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
I'm a phlegmel and that's equivalent to having a big sign on my forehead saying, "Please someone... anyone... Give me a kick in the butt!". Admittedly, I can be quite lazy. In this race of life, we need people along the way who would be willing to run with us and motivate us to go on. Likewise, we need to be the ones that cheer people to keep them going. I truly believe in the power of encouragement through words.
Did I enjoy the run this year?
Yea, I did. But that doesn't change the fact that I don't like running. Hahaha. And that's the last lesson I learn through this experience.
There are some things in life that we just dread doing but somehow or another, are forced to do it. When we decide to better ourselves, we also need to be ready to do things we don't like. The funny thing is this though, even though you may not like doing what you have to do, at the end of it all, in some strange way, you'll learn to cherish the moment, enjoy the experience and appreciate the people.
Did I enjoy the run this year?
Yea, I did. But that doesn't change the fact that I don't like running. Hahaha. And that's the last lesson I learn through this experience.
There are some things in life that we just dread doing but somehow or another, are forced to do it. When we decide to better ourselves, we also need to be ready to do things we don't like. The funny thing is this though, even though you may not like doing what you have to do, at the end of it all, in some strange way, you'll learn to cherish the moment, enjoy the experience and appreciate the people.
From left-right:
Kuan Yang,
"A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
