1 hour 18 minutes. That’s how long it took me to run 10km. But I ran all the way, which I’ve never done before. And I even had enough left in me to sprint the last 200m, even though the effort nearly killed me. It’s a good thing I didn’t collapse in an embarrassing heap at the finish line, and considering my “training” consisted of 20-minute jogs twice a week, I’m actually pretty pleased.
I went there wanting to accomplish three things: 1) run all the way and finish strong; 2) consciously push myself to do 1); 3) better my last year’s 10km run/walk time. I did all three. Never mind that some people ran 21km faster than I did my 10km, now that I’ve shown myself it can be done, there’ll be plenty of time to work on clocking a more respectable finish in the future. I think I’m starting to enjoy this road-running business. If that’s even what you call it.
Related posts:
Posted in: Daily Events.
I did it. My first ever 10km run. And I didn’t even train for it (even though I said I would. The intentions were there. Well, they were six months ago.)
I didn’t keel over, I didn’t embarrass myself and I finished in 1 hour 25 minutes. I reckon I could have gone faster if I didn’t show up late and miss the starting gun completely. It doesn’t affect my time because it’s all microchipped, but it does mean I found myself amidst hundreds of high schoolers who looked as if they’d been forced into participating. Some were carrying handphones and most refused to run so I spent the first 6km working my way around people.
I ran the first 5km at a steady pace and was feeling quite pleased with myself because I’d expected my stamina to give out by that point. Then I saw the marker and realised I’d only done 5km! I thought it would be more! I think I walked at least 2 of the last 5km. But I finished running. And I must admit, that rush you get when you cross the finishing line is really something.
G says that’s the paradox of running. You hate it when you’re doing it, but when you finish you want to go again because you want to better your performance. He did the full marathon. Y and C did the half marathon. J (pictured here with me) did the 10km. He did really well – so he had to drive us all back to KL because he was the least sore of the guys.
Doing it with the boys was great fun. Gathering back at the hotel room, comparing notes, watching each other collapse in pain and frustration, yelling at G to go take a shower because he was stinking up the entire room… But,
Y and I have decided we’ll never do the Singapore marathon again. It’s silly to pay Sing dollars and drive all that way just to run. We’ll probably do a couple more runs in KL when we feel like it. I think the rest will too. Especially now that we have a time to beat. And I know I can do it without really training.
For my ongoing list of 100 things I want to do, go here.
Related posts:
Posted in: Sports.
My first official run since I was ten years old saw me lugging my inactive bum along 6.5km of very hilly road, over 3km of which comprised a steady (and seemingly endless) uphill slog. I am now 26 years old, so that’s how long it’s been since I last tried to look cool with a number safety-pinned to my top.
I finished in one hour. Not great, but I’m more than satisfied. I don’t do hills. In fact, I don’t even run all that well. But it was for a bit of a challenge and for charity so I had a good time. I even finished 7th among the women, a feat that isn’t nearly as impressive as it sounds because I don’t think there were all that many women running to start with.
Next up: my 10km next weekend. I can do this. I think I can.
Related posts:
Posted in: Sports.
I got on the treadmill today, over a month since my last workout. I did 5km and gave up, more out of boredom than exhaustion. Running does not come naturally to me, and in my weak moments, I wonder why I ever wanted to attempt, in a respectable time, a 10km in the first place.
Today, I noted less than two months before race day in December and for a brief flicker, thought of just showing up and “winging it”. I’m fairly certain the adrenaline of the occasion mixed with the determination not to fail embarrassingly before thousands will be enough to propel me across the finish line; the question is how long it will take.
Then I gave myself a mental smack. Because “winging it” is not why I paid money that could just as well have been spent on clothes and shoes. Since packing up a good third of my wardrobe for charity last weekend I’ve been feeling rather forlorn in the clothing department. “Winging it” is not, should not ever be, my policy. Unless it comes to subjects like math, physics and history, the last of which I am ironically rather appreciating these days.
I signed up because I wanted to experience a foot race. Because I wanted to train with a goal in mind. Because I wanted to give my best in a physical endeavour and push myself as far – and fast – as I can bear to. I did not sign up to “wing it”. I signed up because I have always admired runners and I want to pretend, just for a morning, that I can be one of them. I did it because I was kind of hoping it would force me to develop some semblance of endurance.
Today, as I obediently, repeatedly, put one foot in front of the other and kept telling myself to focus on watching August Rush, I reminded myself of all the reasons why I am going to do this 10km run in December. And I reminded myself that I should never give less than my best. It was the first time I’d run with my new shoes and boy do I have a lot of work to do.
Related posts:
Posted in: Sports.
Last night, I finally bought my first ever pair of running shoes – an adidas pair for RM219.90. Choosing between New Balance, adidas and Nike, I eliminated New Balance because I didn’t like any of the designs in the store and Nike because I think they’re way overpriced. I didn’t want to splurge on a too-expensive pair – who knows whether I’ll run again after the 10k in December.
So far, I’m really liking looking at my shoes. I should be running today, you know, just to try them out, but the weather’s cool and gloomy and Patrick Dempsey is on the E! Channel. Besides, I told myself, I already played tennis twice this week.
Related posts:
Posted in: Sports.
45 minutes. That’s how long it took me to run 5km yesterday, while I tried to stave off boredom with a High School Musical DVD. My biggest challenge in training, I can already tell, won’t be having to run 10km so much as having to keep myself from being bored while I’m running. But because I’ve officially registered and paid for this, I’m past the point of throwing in the towel. And I like it that way just fine.
Now to get me a pair of running shoes and start working on my stamina, not to mention that atrocious time. Is aiming to complete the course in an hour far too ambitious?
Related posts:
Posted in: Sports.
