Without realizing, I hv completed my 11th race across all distances since I started participating in races in Dec 2009 ! 2009 (x1) – PBIM, 2010 (x5) – Malakoff, Rentas Desa, City Run, ENR, PBIM, 2011 (x5) – Malakoff, ENR, SAS, SPCA, SCKLM… Giving myself a Hi-5 :) !! I still 7 have races to go for the 2H of the year… PG Veteran 10k, SAFRA, THR, Tanjung 10K, NB 30K, PBIM and hopefully, ends with SCMS..
Looking back, the 2009 PBIM was an eye-opener.. I have never been a keen runner all these while.. I should say I loathe it ! Even at high school, the annual cross-country run and hill-climb were never my best moments and I always tried to find excuses to avoid though they contribute to the co-curricular points at graduation. I usually end up the last 3rd or even the last 20% of the pile.. More walks than running.. I ran once at Penang Bridge Run (the old name) in 1997, a good 14 years ago ! Forgot what the distance was but I ended up finishing the race (walking of course) at 5:50 hrs, barely meeting the 6:00 hrs qualifying time.. No medal then, and the cert, misplaced long time ago…
Anyhow, the PBIM 2009 changed that.. and I must thank Facebook for linking me up with many wonderful runner friends which have provide me added motivation and urge to build my running passion.. First of all, it must be Nik, a fren’s wife whom I met thru Facebook.. I was amazed by the energy and drive she has in running so many events, at that time, the count was 20 runs in 2009 and seeing the many medals & certs hanging at her home, I quietly told myself.. If she can do it, I can do it even better ! Of course since then, she has went on to do the triathlon and I am still waiting for my first marathon ! Haha..
2010 – I started to participate in more events.. Malakoff 26K was the longest I had run then (felt like running forever), and still now.. Rentas Desa and City Run provides some good runs at different venue but ENR was the first real out-of-Penang run that I took part… and a first night race too ! Of course I ended 2010 with a PB then of a 21km @ 2:43 at the PBIM.. not a respectable time come to think of it.. but still better than the qualifying time.. Sub-3 hr was my target then..
2011 – I started to put more time into the training and watching the diet too, though I must admit the diet part is so hard for me up until now.. Being a fast food-lover and ever-ready to munch on al Penang local hawker food wherever I go, I still need to put in another 50% effort to keep my weight in check.. The weekend runs from Youth park paid-off at least.. I bettered my Malakoff time to 3:08, did a PB of 21km @ ENR (though not really 21km, only 19.8km) @ 2:21 before I lowered slightly to 2:18 at the recent SCKLM.. For 10K, did a 53:54 PB at the SPCA..
What’s next –
1) more races to go.. and my target still remains to run competitively for a total of 200km in 2011 (Mathematically, I should be able to meet that !)
2) Start intensive training for my first marathon 42K @ PBIM
3) I am looking at BHAG of sub-2 hrs @ 21km and sub-45mins @ 10km.. But realistically, more like 2:10@21km and Sub-50mins@10km... So I hv 3 more 10k runs, 2 more 21km to achieve that !!
4) Improve my running techniques
5) and more importantly start doing strength exercise besides the cardios of running.. I need to build more muscle !
Whatever the outcome, I am glad I hv taken the path.. Makes myself healthier – mentally, physically and psychologically ! and it’s a matter of time I start getting my kids to run with me !
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