How does running make you feel?

Photo credits to myrunners, thanks for capturing this great photo of me!

Sunway The Good Run 15km

That was the name of the running event I just participated last Sunday. A couple months back when my friend Lynn asked me to go for the run, I was, as usual, very happy cos I loved running. But more importantly, the run costed ONLY RM35.

Are you kidding me?

A 15km run for only RM35? With goodie bags, running shirt, medal, free stuffs AND ITS FOR CHARITY?? Of course its a yes! Not to mention that the running route for 15km will be on the Sunway BRT track! This is a one time opportunity and I'm pretty sure many of us joined just for this special running route!

Now, I've written a couple posts about my running experiences on my blog before.

1. 4 things to know before your first 21km

2. How I transitioned from 10km to 21km

To date, I have ran over five half marathons, three 15km runs and some other 10kms here and there once in a while that began all the way from the year 2006. Of all my years of running, this is by far the worse timing I have achieved. And I began to realized during the 6th kilometer through my run. I was devastated.

For most, if not all of my 21km runs, I trained hard weeks before the run. I was never worried. However, I usually do not put much effort into training for 10km at all. Simply because I was so used to running and that it was never a problem.

Since this was only my 3rd 15km run, I did not put much effort either as did I for the last two 15km runs. But it turns out that I wasn't ready for it at all.

I was always doing some kind of sport in my life. Be it running, going to the gym, weight training, muay thai, kickboxing etc. I was always doing something very passionately at a time. However, I can't remember the last time I went to the gym or exercised consistently for a week.

I took advantage of the fact that I was still young and that my body could handle it. I have forgotten how it felt to not have the muscles to go on, just because all these while, I have always had it with me.

I completed my last half marathon in 2 hours and 35 minutes.
Last Sunday, I completed the 15km run in 2 hours and 11 minutes.

I came home telling my sister that I did very badly and that I wasn't happy with my timing at all. During the run, I was so tired, my back was aching, I had an evolving blister on the side of my left foot and it practically feels like I was dragging my body along the BRT track as I lift each foot up to move on with the next step.

I ran and ran, I did not stop. But, I was so slow.

When I was younger, I used to run with my dad and he always tell me that...
No matter how tired you are, do not stop. You can slow down, slow down on your pace, but do not stop and do not walk unless you are injured.

I did walked for a good 2 minutes. I did walk.

I didn't feel good because I have failed myself. But that's gonna change.

I will do better. This won't happen again. I am running couple more 10kms this month.
I will set my goals on Kuching Marathon in August 2018 when I finally complete a full marathon like my father and my brother.

How about that?