Regardless of all my preparations and apparent confidence, I had major doubts doing this race. I have only ran two 10kms and only clocked once a 30+km weekly mileage. I'm only confident of completing 15km, maybe 20km if I push myself really hard. Why do I choose the mountain of a 30km to mark my re-entry back into racing?
Start - 3km. Yes, the race has just started, but my legs are already feeling heavy, and not moving smoothly. Although pace is still consistent at around 6min/km, my mind has already started to doubt if taking part in the race is a good idea. Not good, self doubt is setting in too early.
3km - 10km. The situation start to settle. Cruise mode starts to set in just as I reach the lagoon. This is early; typically in longer distances, cruising does not start until much later. Perhaps it is due to the predominantly 6-7km training that I have had so far. Let's not over analyse, let's just enjoy the cruise while it last. My legs found the pace to power up slopes, and overtaking people. Cruise starts to fade away 3km later. I manage to force it to last just a little longer, telling myself that I have already been doing 10km during trainings and getting to the 8km-mark U-turn is not a problem. Whatever that I can squeeze out of the cruise managed to last till the 10km mark!
10km - 15km. Decide to stick to my race plan, I stop to walk. My arm is also started to ache. Some massage and swinging seemed to help, I guess it improves blood circulation. Tried running after 200m of walking, and it is difficult. My body feel fatigued, and also my foot is acting up again. Perhaps I have pushed the cruise too much. Walking a little, and forcing myself to run, I start to wonder (again) if I can even complete the 30km and go on to survive the 42km in December, and why do I even put up such a lofty target to achieve. Almost immediately I have the answer, it is not myself that I'm letting down if I do not complete this 30km or the marathon; I'll be letting down the people who have faith in me and my recovery, and also my little charity drive. I have to complete this 30km, because it is part of the preparation towards the marathon. This is a must-complete race. I found the anchor! The anchor that is planted 2 months ago.
15km - 21km. I find my legs back again, and they also remind me to adjust my stride so that I will not strain my foot/arch too much. Mid-foot stride, no more fore-foot. My body also come to a compromise with my mind, let's just target to run in between hydration stations, take my time to drink and walk a little, then run again. Time check at the half marathon mark, 2:20+. Hmm, not too bad for someone who has run nothing until 1 month ago.
21km - Finish. Just outside the seafood centre, a lady whom I've just overtaken cried out. I look back asking if she was alright. "Cramps" she said. "6 more kms to go. Cannot stop, continue running." Well, nothing much that I can do to help. But she does what she says, she carry on running. That's the spirit!
I am also struggling a little then, and my least favourite stretch is coming up. So I follow the lady's pace. It will help me, because I get someone to help me pace. And hey, she's not exactly slow even with her cramps. Just before the next water point, she again cried out about her cramps. Not knowing how to help her, I reply what is at the top of my mind: "Concentrate on your breathing. Water point coming up. Drink water." She thanked me for the advice and for helping her with pacing, which in my mind I'm like "Err, I'm helping myself in fact." But I'm glad that it helped her somehow too. Anyway, we lost each other after the water point. But it is good still. My advice to her also remind myself to concentrate on my breathing, to shut out the tiredness. My running form become better.
Nearby the road safety park and after another hydration station, I am just walking along, enjoying my "rest" period. A fellow runner in yellow top and shoes run past encouraging me to continue running. I remember seeing him earlier. I thank him in my thoughts, and carry on walking. LOL. I'm still sticking to my plan.
The yellow guy is 100m in front when I restart running. A quick gauge of his speed and mine, overtaking him shall not be a problem. Just don't pick up too much speed too early on. I settled into my comfortable pace, gaining on him little by little.
Past the start point, a surge of energy and emotions overwhelm me. The next time I'm here again, I'll be finishing. I'm finishing!
Zoning out, I start to increase my speed. Ok, please keep it in check, I want to last long enough to the finishing line. Soon, I start to make my move to overtake the yellow guy. Alongside, we exchange words of encouragement and curses for the extra hot and humid weather.
I surge forward, keeping to my own pace. Up till the last U-turn, I know someone is behind me, not sure if the yellow guy has managed to keep up. I don't want to look back. There is no looking back anymore. I'm more concerned if my legs can maintain the quickened pace.
After the U-turn, opening up my legs more, I added a little more speed. "Control, control... this is usually too much speed with more than 1km left to go." I will myself to overrule the previous experiences, and continue to cruise on.
Last hydration point. Decide to not stop and drink, but I still grab a cup of water, tasted half a mouthful of it making sure it is just water and pour the rest over my head. Push on. Less than 1km left.
I know my body is working hard, my legs are pushing hard. Nowhere over any limits, but certainly they are working at an intensity which they are usually not used to. The finishing line is near. I'm not letting up. A second wave of emotions. I'm finally finishing! The new me finishing! My first finish! It fueled my final surge to the FINISH. My watch showed 3:23.
Whatever doubts that I had before this race were completely vapourised. I may not be as fast as before, but I now know I'm stronger. Deep inside, I still have what it takes to beat pain to the FINISH, and conquer the 42.195km again.
21km - Finish. Just outside the seafood centre, a lady whom I've just overtaken cried out. I look back asking if she was alright. "Cramps" she said. "6 more kms to go. Cannot stop, continue running." Well, nothing much that I can do to help. But she does what she says, she carry on running. That's the spirit!
I am also struggling a little then, and my least favourite stretch is coming up. So I follow the lady's pace. It will help me, because I get someone to help me pace. And hey, she's not exactly slow even with her cramps. Just before the next water point, she again cried out about her cramps. Not knowing how to help her, I reply what is at the top of my mind: "Concentrate on your breathing. Water point coming up. Drink water." She thanked me for the advice and for helping her with pacing, which in my mind I'm like "Err, I'm helping myself in fact." But I'm glad that it helped her somehow too. Anyway, we lost each other after the water point. But it is good still. My advice to her also remind myself to concentrate on my breathing, to shut out the tiredness. My running form become better.
Nearby the road safety park and after another hydration station, I am just walking along, enjoying my "rest" period. A fellow runner in yellow top and shoes run past encouraging me to continue running. I remember seeing him earlier. I thank him in my thoughts, and carry on walking. LOL. I'm still sticking to my plan.
The yellow guy is 100m in front when I restart running. A quick gauge of his speed and mine, overtaking him shall not be a problem. Just don't pick up too much speed too early on. I settled into my comfortable pace, gaining on him little by little.
Past the start point, a surge of energy and emotions overwhelm me. The next time I'm here again, I'll be finishing. I'm finishing!
Zoning out, I start to increase my speed. Ok, please keep it in check, I want to last long enough to the finishing line. Soon, I start to make my move to overtake the yellow guy. Alongside, we exchange words of encouragement and curses for the extra hot and humid weather.
I surge forward, keeping to my own pace. Up till the last U-turn, I know someone is behind me, not sure if the yellow guy has managed to keep up. I don't want to look back. There is no looking back anymore. I'm more concerned if my legs can maintain the quickened pace.
After the U-turn, opening up my legs more, I added a little more speed. "Control, control... this is usually too much speed with more than 1km left to go." I will myself to overrule the previous experiences, and continue to cruise on.
Last hydration point. Decide to not stop and drink, but I still grab a cup of water, tasted half a mouthful of it making sure it is just water and pour the rest over my head. Push on. Less than 1km left.
I know my body is working hard, my legs are pushing hard. Nowhere over any limits, but certainly they are working at an intensity which they are usually not used to. The finishing line is near. I'm not letting up. A second wave of emotions. I'm finally finishing! The new me finishing! My first finish! It fueled my final surge to the FINISH. My watch showed 3:23.
Whatever doubts that I had before this race were completely vapourised. I may not be as fast as before, but I now know I'm stronger. Deep inside, I still have what it takes to beat pain to the FINISH, and conquer the 42.195km again.
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