Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2012!

 SCMS half marathon 2012

Done!

Hello! Woots! Yeah today I went another milestone in my life! By finishing SCMS 2012 half marathon! It was really a crazy experience, but at the same time I fully enjoyed my run, it was fun and happy! Didn't know I can accomplish this feat too. 21 KM seems like a very long distance. But I am happy that I managed to go through it :) Another 2012 resolution done!

This was my longest-race so far. My record was 15K for Run Against Cancer. Things were different I guess, cause I took gels this time round. And it really helped. Love the route too though, first was Sentosa, then West Coast Highway, then our way to the city! I love the USS route, energy was high there with everyone cheering for us. It was really lovely :)

There were a few slopes and they're not pleasant haha. But I was enjoying my run on the highway, it was nice. I really love the route! It's so scenic and nice. When I signed up for this, I just told myself lets just run, have fun and do your best. I loaded my iPod with all my favourite music. I was just running and listening to my songs and forget about life in that 2 hours or so. It was a really a nice feeling to just forget about everything and run with music.

Though my body felt like they're breaking apart, I just pushed on and on. Kinda proud of myself that I didn't stop for 12 KM. As I've suspected, the 10-18 KM was really tough. It's really a mental game, no longer how much your body can push but how much your mind can push you along. So I tried my best and just push myself. But I walked quite a lot. Oh well.

When I first joined Standchart for 10KM last year, I thought people who run 21 or 42 are crazy. So well I guess now I can call myself crazy. Well 21 KM was crazy, crazily good! And with the fact that tomorrow is my FYP presentation, I guess I've put myself in the epitome of crazy. But hey, I only live once, and I told myself I will run, and so I ran.

I love running. I've been running for about 1.5 years now. And I guess the more you run, the more you think of running not as a sport, but more of something you just enjoy and love doing. Somehow I no longer think of how fast I ran, how fast other people ran, what people think of me, what I think of others. Somehow the more you run, you realise that it's just you and your run.

Feels like everything melts away. How other people think of you. How other runners think of you. Whether you'll make it or not and so on. It's just you really. And I like to keep it this way. I just want to enjoy running. I guess... I sometimes feel that people take running too seriously. Well don't forget to have fun too people! :) Too much of a good thing is not good heh.

Anyway look at what I posted on the back of my singlet this time!

Weeeeee :D

My favourite quote while running haha. I hope this made other runners who saw it happy. Felt good to have people giving me thumb's ups as they ran past me. Or to those who tapped my shoulder and told me "You keep going too!". Funny there was this man who talked to me "I saw your message at the back. Good job keep going!" and I couldn't hear him properly, and was tired so all I said was "Har?" HAHAHA. But he repeated and I just said thank you :)

I wish more people can do this. I think it's good to make other people feel happy when they're going through some tough period! And I think nothing beats the joy of making others happy too. It's really what goes around, comes around thing.

Alright so here am I writing as a finisher of a half marathon. First in my life. And well I suppose, who I am now is different from who I was 16 hours ago - before I start on my race. I finished and I'm not a stronger person, someone who has broken his boundary, and someone who has proven himself wrong. And I can't wait to push my boundary again! :)

Okay back to presentation practices. Been practising the whole day. May tomorrow's presentation run smooth for me and everyone else! And may Tuesday be a great day to those who present as well. We can do this people! It's very very near the end. Let's go! Just give your best shot once more! Last hurdle to jump and lets jump beautifully (Y)

Toda I Ran Against Cancer

Yup today I Ran Against Cancer!

As I was saying on my last post, yup today was the race day for the event Run Against Cancer which was held in East Coast Park. It was my first 15KM run and I was really nervous by it since this will be the longest distance of race that I've participated so far. Well it was interestingly... Challenging. A few unfortunate events happened during my race and bleah, I've learnt my lesson.

Okay so the distance is 15KM right, here are the series of unfortunate events. At 6 KM my pants' pocket tore and my phone dropped on this super awkward position in my pants (not what you're thinking!) and so I have to stop to take it and put it in my back pocket instead. At 8 KM while drinking water I threw up cause I choked on it. Lesson learnt, no running while drinking. It took me some time to recover and yeah was feeling so unpleasant. 12 KM, my whole leg was cramping. My knees hurt when my feet landed. Was forced to walk for a while. And I've been walking-running from 12 - 14 K.

Above all of these, what I'm proud of is that I did the whole race and I finished it. I didn't stop and walk all the way to the finish line which was something I planned to do when my knees were hurting. Was just thinking to walk from 12 to 13, but nope, I just walked a few metres and ran and walked a bit and ran and after 14K, I just gave it all and zoom!

Yes I'm pretty disappointed with my timing. Actually I don't know what's my timing... But yeah I took longer than I expected. And as I planned to run for. But it's okay, just goes to show me that I can still improve on my timing. It was my first 15 after all and I really didn't know what to expect. But yes at the end of the day, that sense of accomplishment was just awesome.

It feels different, it felt like SCMS 2011 last year.

 Doreen, Russel and I! :D

But come to think of it, this seemingly arduous 15KM that I went through is nothing compared to the battle that cancer patients have to go through. The pain of chemo, radiation, drug effects this and that, my run is nothing. And this is what kept me going through the run. I think if these cancer patients have the courage to fight the disease, I sure can have the strength to finish the race too!

Cancer... Has been well. A few of my relatives have lost their battle with this disease. My grandpa, grandma, great-uncle and aunt. My good friend's dad, and a few other people which I know as well. My aunty, however, is one particular individual which I can refer to closely. She has been battling with cancer for... Was it 6 years? I know before I came to Singapore and then she passed away when I was in P6. Shocking news I received when I reached home. That day...

My aunty's battle is a special story for me. She would come to Singapore for her chemotherapy sessions back when I was in P5. I still remember those days when I would accompany her during her sessions at Mt Elizabeth hospital. She would be on the drips, while I was doing my homework. Sometimes we chatted, sometimes she would fall asleep.

And I would also come and visit her at the hotel, and bring her around to and fro the hotel and the hospital. Back when I was in P4 my brother and I would also come and visit her. I still remember she was teaching my brother economics and accountancy stuff. We would eat together or bring food to her. She was really one strong woman I know.

Then in P5 when I went back for December holidays, she was hospitalised back in my hometown. My family gathered and seeing her in a dire condition hurt me. There was one incident when she vomited blood out and I was there wiping her mouth and cheek. And she told me "Sorry for troubling you" and I said "it's okay", not knowing that night was the last time I would see her. I returned to Singapore the next day, and 2 months later, she left this world.

And my other aunties were telling me more stories of her, of how strong she was to fight the disease. In one night it felt like she was going to leave and the next day, she was there reading newspaper eating fruits. She has the will to live. And the strength to continue fighting. That's why this run, I was so reminded of her. She kept me going in one way or another.

And also she was the one who taught me some songs on the piano. Swan Lake, I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing, and a few more. I still have her old piano scores which she once used when she was learning piano (I think). Pity I didn't really play all the songs inside.

So yeah, those are the reasons why I this run reminded me so much of her.

Nyehehehe

To all cancer patients, everywhere you are, please don't give up your fight and continue battling the disease! Perseverance is key, and your courage never failed to amaze me, to inspire me to fight the challenges I have in life too. I cannot give up and so do you! :)

And... In this race I did something special too!

 
Tadah! I placed this behind my singlet just to cheer people up. I know I'll be too tired to verbally say this to everyone so I hope this cheered up the runners who ran pass me! Cause nothing beats the joy of making someone's day, especially in a race when everything seems tough. Just inspired by some runners in last year's SCMS who did the same thing too hehe. Plus it's fun doing this!

There are a few groups of people who tapped my shoulder and said thank you, or some people who gave thumbs up as they ran pass me. But there's this special group of runners that I'm really appreciative of. I remember it was the 13 KM mark and I was running alone (the road was empty). Suddenly 4 guys surrounded me and cheered me up and ran along with me for a while!

I was feeling extremely tired then. I was thirsty, having cramps, and I couldn't seem to find the 14th KM mark haha. But these people seriously boosted my morale and I ran even faster, and pushed myself even more! Thank you to the 4 of you :)

I hope more people will do this during marathons too. I felt happy when people gave me thumbs up or smiles. And I hope that people felt an increase in morale as they saw this on my back. And if there are people who did this and I saw it too, I'll feel the same way. Make others happy, share your joy, cause happiness never decreases when being shared.

Hmm now what to write for Safra run hehehe.

Alright I guess that's all for the long post! Week 15 tomorrow. It'll be an awesome-r week and well, I began the week with an awesome run, and gonna end the week with another awesome event! Can't wait for Saturday :D :D :D Good night and see you!

Sundown 10KM Marathon - DONE :D

 Sundown 10 KM - DONE

Hello people! Yes I just finished my Sundown 10KM marathon! It's sundown so of course it's a night marathon. The first ever time in my life that I run past 9 O clock so yeah. But it was great! I truly enjoyed running past the Singapore night line though we didn't pass by the flyer, MBS and so on. But nevertheless I loved the run and it was great :)

Well as I once said in my blog (a few days or a week ago) that running Sundown is truly something like defying gravity for me. Not only that I only trained for one month, I have not been running for like 2 or 3 months before that. Tracing back I started running on 29th April. So yup about a month. Along the way I've been feeling afraid that I won't be able to make it and I'll feel really tired and so on.

Well today I proved everything wrong :)

I've been also telling myself that well since I've only been training for one month, it's alright for me to not reach my target (of beating my PB). I was already targetting that a 1h20m is my target or worst a 1h30m. And once again I broke those words and prove myself wrong. So I'm very happy with that. Even though my PB is 1h10m from Standchart, and that this time round I ran for 1h12m, I'm still very happy :)

The thing is I'm not really an avid runner. Not someone who's crazy into running and would love to run fast, beat my PB everytime and so on. Well of course I do want to beat my PB. I just enjoy running. Cause one, I feel that running is an activity where I can forget about life. Just run and be focused about the race. Hit my target, hit my goal and cross the finish line. Life was somehow left behind at the starting line.

Running is something I do to prove myself wrong, to prove others wrong. As you read from above along the 4 months of training I kept on telling myself that it's alright for me to hit 1h20m for this race. And I've been feeling scared and so forth. But hey I did it last night. I ran Sundown and I even ran before the time that I thought would finish my race.

And of course running is an awesome sport I enjoy doing. Kinda funny how I only started to enjoy running last year when I wanted to sign up for Standchart. Then it just becomes something I enjoy doing and then a weekly affair. Then it was Poly50, KK trip, Standchart and now Sundown. More races to come of course!

Of course deep down I'm disappointed that I couldn't beat my PB. I'm sad that well perhaps I could have trained harder, pushed harder during the race, could have done this and that. But it's all over, I may not break my PB but all I know is I've given all my best and I've truly enjoyed my race just now. And honestly speaking, enjoying my race and finishing it are the two things that I want to achieve in my race.

I realised the more I'm worried about time, about the distance as I was running just now. As I listened to my songs I was telling myself "Oh no I've reached this song that means the time is about ____" and when I looked at the distance I've ran I was "Oh my I have __ KM more to go!" And well whenever I have those thoughts in my mind, I'll shut it off and continue running. To an extend I started lip-syncing to the songs as I ran.

The thing is, I learnt not to be bothered so much by the time. By the distance. I want to enjoy running. I learnt from my past experiences that doing things for the reason that you want to enjoy it, for the sake of joy and just because you love doing it, is much more enjoyable. Sometimes we try so hard to be perfect, to do well, to be the best and we totally forgot to enjoy the thing we are doing! :)

I can't imagine running and looking at the time every KM or so, then feeling so insecure and stressed out cause I will feel the need to run faster, or the thought that I've been really running slowly for the past KM and so on. It will feel sucky really (for me that is).

Of course it's important to have a goal or mindset as well. I mean we wouldn't want to just run a marathon for the sake of running only eh? I did have a goal, to beat my PB. I don't really care (keyword: really) about my timing. Because to me every run is just something that I give my best for. Something I will enjoy about and something I will love.

So if at the end of the day I don't run before my targeted timing, I will feel disappointed of course. But I won't be devastated by it. I won't regret and blame myself for not running faster and so on. As long as I enjoyed my race and I gave it all, I will be contented with the result.

You can call me a loser, I guess this is one "loser" part of me. But this is my philosophy to running.  It will just be something I enjoy doing, and I love doing. I just want to remain in a part, in a place where running is something I do for joy and not for achievements. Well, of course it is for achievements too.

It's for self-achievements :)

Congratulations to all runners! Don't be too saddened by your timing. Runs like these are just something that tell you there's another time for you to prove yourself wrong. And thus to run faster. And to those who are still running as I'm writing this now, all the best and don't give up! :) Alright going to bed now, see you!

Another race down, many more to go, many more to prove myself wrong. It's alright when others defeat you. But it is when you let yourself defeat you, then you should be ashamed of yourself.

Standard Chartered Marathon 2011 10KM - DONE

Today was such an awesomely crazy day! Cause....

I FINISHED THE STANDARD CHARTERED MARATHON 10 KILOMETRE RACE!

It felt so awesome! It was my first marathon after all, my first 10 KM, my first race, and wow I finished it! Felt so good seriously. And the best part is I finished it in 1h 10m! Okay even though my target was one hour, but I think it's alright cause I was expecting to run for at least 1h30m :P But oh well, it's not the time that matters but the distance we've covered! :)

Anyway met Doreen, Alicia and Saeyeoh at City Hall and we make out way there. Deposit our bags and then we head to the start point. Kayheng was late so he caught up with us later. The journey to the start point was.... Quite horrible. We're supposed to start at 7.15 but I crossed the start line at about 8 AM. Wow really. But nevertheless thankfully we're not like disqualified or something like that. We're quite close to the closing of the gantry. But we made it in time.

So I ran and ran and ran. I think my run was awesome! No pain at all, just that my feet were burning woosh. And some part of the race it was rather hot cause of the sun while some is shady cause of the trees and buildings. Quite funny I always tell myself whenever I see the marking. "Oh it's just 9 KM more" "Halfway more to go...." and lastly "LAST 2 KM goddamnit!!" and then I crossed the finish line! :D

I drank on every water station. Was on the urge of peeing but I hold my urine and skipped all the toilets, just the water stations. Was quite scared that I'll get stitches while drinking but turned out nope. I think the hardest parts of the race were the 5-8 KM route, where there was quite a slope so I slowed down. And the 8-10 KM! I think the last part of the race is the determining point where you want to give up, or not.

I wanted to walk my way from 8KM onwards. But then... I decided not to cause I was just telling myself that I can do it! I can push it! And I was really looking for the finishing line, but I was deceived by the big banner. I thought it was the finishing line but turn out I have 200 metres to go. So I just sprinted to reach the line and when I crossed the finishing line, I just put my hands up and felt a wave of euphoria rushing within me. It just felt so good. Like all those you've been fighting for has been paid off. Swoosh.

I think this marathon is one life-changing experience. Firstly, it was my first marathon. So I didn't really know what to expect. Turned out my run was quite alright so it was good. The one thing that I'm super proud of myself is the fact that I didn't stop running for the ENTIRE race (minus the taking water part). I was on the verge of walking but I kept on telling myself that I can do this, I can do this, keep on running I can do this and there I go, 10KM run.

Anyway I told myself that in this marathon, I won't stop running. And I never did! :)

The race itself was also a motivational and inspirational event. While running today, I saw two people that really motivated me. First was a man with only one leg. His other leg was a prosthetic blade. I was stunned when I saw his prosthetic leg! The next person was this blind man who joined the 10KM marathon! Well even though he wasn't running, but I still salute him for taking part in the event! :)

After seeing these two people, I feel so ashamed if I were to give up in life. It feels like if they can do it, if they've the strength to pick themselves and step up in the marathon despite of their disabilities, I see no reason why we, normal human beings, can't do the same thing too. In fact after seeing these two people, I felt so energised and spirited that I ran faster! :)  

I read this article in Reader Digest once and I came across this phrase: Impossibility is the state of the mind. Which is really true! After seeing the two people above, I was just telling myself impossibility is the state of the mind. I have to get rid of the thoughts and just continue running and push myself further. I won't give up till my body gives in. Which... I would never let that happen.

I guess we can all relate this marathon to life. Impossibility is the state of the mind. No matter how weak we all thought we are, we never know how far we can go in life. There are times where we would tell ourselves no I can't do it. I won't be able to do it and so on. Actually, we can. Just that our mind tells is we can't. It's all in the mind I guess, right? :)

Whenever I see advertisements of marathons in the past, I would tell myself that I won't be able to do it. Even seeing the 10KM category is like running a hundred kilo race or something like that (of course I'm just exaggerating). But hey, look, I just ran a freaking TEN KILOMETRE marathon and nothing can ever change that fact! :D

I remember when I first posted on Facebook that I'm going for this marathon, someone commented "You can meh?". And now I can happily say in front of that person's face. Yes I fcuking can (sorry for vulgarity). Isn't it just so lovely to prove yourself and prove others wrong? It's such a lovely feeling. But of course the most lovely feeling in the world is to prove yourself wrong. To realise you can do it when you once thought you couldn't. The feeling can only be enjoyed by you, hmm?

During the marathon, I purposely changed my song in the last few hundreds meter or so to "Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros". When I was running/sprinting the last 200 metres or so, yes I can honestly say this, I cried. I don't know how to explain it but I was just damn happy to be able to finish and run this marathon. With the song blasting in my ears, I feel like I can just fly to the finishing line. It feels like all my hardwork has been paid off and that my dream has come true. Such an awesome feeling.

And at the same time I think I feel this sense of accomplishment where I can reflect to in life. It's like if I can do this, I'm sure I can take up more challenges in life. I've proved myself that if I don;t give up, things that we've been working hard for will be there. I really don't know how to put it into words but yeah, just an extreme sense of euphoria and accomplishment I guess. After all it's my first marathon :)

So people, I truly recommend you to take part in a marathon. It's a life changing experience (depends how you take it actually) but yeah, it will be one. It's a motivational and inspirational event you can participate to and you can also take what you learn and put it in real life. Some people believe that life is a race, and death is the finishing line we all need to cross. How you run your race, that's life.

I'm hoping of joining the 21K marathon next year, hopefully I can take part in another 10K marathon before that. To train for my 21. If time lets me, I'll run the 42 two years later before I graduate heh. Running, as some people would say are like drugs. You'll get addicted to it! :) I'm not a runner, or someone who's into running. I just enjoy running. Just like walking, running takes my mind off somewhere. And... Who doesn't love activities that give you instant endorphins? :D

My time is running short. I guess I have to seize every opportunity in life that I can take to do things that I've been wanting to do. I've never thought I would run a marathon, but I just did. And well, what else can I say? I want to run another, and another, and as much as possible. Life is too short really. I don't want to die telling myself that I regret doing this, regret doing that.

So here I am saying that I'm a proud SCMS 10K marathon finisher! :D One item each from my new year resolution and my life's to-do-list crossed off. But getting it crossed doesn't mean I won't do it again. I'll always do it! Whenever I can. Life is a race, your race. And not others! :)

And last but not least I would like to thank the following people: Ahpa, Doreen, Alicia and Kayheng who ran today. Vjie for coming and have breakfast with us. The two people I mentioned above. All the runners who gave me motivation. Everyone who has trained with me in one way or another. Last but not least, to Coldplay, Jonsi, Sigur Ros for the wonderful songs that kept me going throughout my race. Music keeps me going! Sweet~

Zaki's first half marathon! And Saeyeoh's and my first 10K :D

And there we go kissing our medals away mwahaha

[Photos courtesy of Saeyeoh's camera]

Great job to everyone who ran today. Do take a good rest and stud hard for those who are having their MSTs and exams and tests! See ya soon :)

I run for the sake of overtaking myself. Not others.

My medal! :D

We run to be

This song will be my friend tomorrow

"We should always know, that we can do anything"

Jonsi - Go do

Hello people! It's been quite a long time since I wrote here eh. Oh well, been pretty busy with two tests this week and this and that, but I'm here! So excited for tomorrow! Cause... I'll be running Standard Chartered Marathon 10KM tomorrow! Woosh, so scary and excited man. I must be crazy for joining a 10K run no? But oh well what is life without a challenge right? :)

Yup so tomorrow will be my first time running a 10K marathon, in fact, a marathon, and in fact, 10KM  of distance heh. My target is to just run and give my best shot for it! And will always remember my mantra for running, don't run for the sake of overtaking others, but run for the sake of overtaking yourself! Mwahaha. Honestly speaking, I'm pretty excited for tomorrow that I'm afraid I can't sleep later. But should be fine.

In fact, I'm too excited to study tonight, so I decided not to study :/

Thankfully, my MST will start on Tuesday so I should have ample time to study on Sunday and Monday. So gonna study on Monday, full day, rawrrr. And I hope my body will recuperate enough on Monday. Should be fine though.

Alright I guess that's all for today! I don't know what else to blog and write about. Just wishing all my friends all the best for the run later! We can do it! See you all at the finishing line :D

And I found a nice quote from Facebook, I think it's by David Goggins

"I don't stop when I'm tired. I stop when I'm done"


That's such a nice quote! I think it'll be my motivation for tomorrow! :D

Alright see you all people! SCMS 10K, finally, here I come! :)