Running Diary - How it began and where I am right now

I think I was an early bloomer. When I was in kindergarten and primary school, I was always taller than the rest of the class. I was one of the better ones in my class at Physical Education, simply because I was bigger and well, taller.

Then, being an early bloomer didn't matter. As I reached my pre-teens, I started to develop asthma, and constantly fell sick. Headaches, fever, frequent trips to the family doctor were a monthly to a weekly affair. I guess partly was that when I was 9, we moved to another estate. Nothing like moving to another country, when you're young, even a half-hour drive away from the estate you grew up in, change in school and friends, seemed impossible to get used to. Back then, we only had land-lines. Emails and dial-up internet connection wasn't exactly the preferred mode of communication. My family later found out, the real reason behind my lung issues were because of I started to get more fond of my fluffy pomeranian (meaning I hugged her a lot more), and the fact she also started to shed more hair. 

Still, I spent most of my teens struggling with passing the dreaded 2.4km run and warm-up P.E. runs around the school. It wasn't until my first dog passed away that my asthma started to let up. But I still struggled with running. 

Junior College wasn't too fantastic either. Yeah, I somehow managed to get a 5/5 points for 2.4km, But I was in canoeing then and PE lessons were generally made up of only running. Like how nature would have it, I was the slowest runner in the canoeing team, and the fact that the team was predominantly male and the other girls were pretty fast on their feet, didn't make my situation any better. We'd go out for 5K runs, and those always felt dreadfully long. When I returned from the run, the rest of the team were on their way to prepare for the next training exercise. Sometimes a team mate would wait up and cheer me on as I ran back. Somehow I always felt embarrassed at how slow I was, even though they were encouraging. I would have rather they carried on to prepare for the next programme line-up than wait for me. 

Later on in University, running seemed like a trend. Living in hostel, there were a few ways to entertain yourselves at night. Mahjong, supper, getting drunk, or jogging around campus (sometimes this was an excuse to eat supper after). Also, it was a very indirect way for a guy to chase a girl - 'hey, wanna go jogging around school sometime?'

I wasn't too bad a sports person actually, and even though I was still the slowest runner in the canoeing team, we had quite a number of girls, and most of the time we ran together. I made up on the water and also in weights training. Or at least, that made me feel better. Running as a group, and at a comfortable pace for me on days we did our runs together - that was enough for me.

Eventually, I did start to develop a liking for long runs, and did most of my night jogs around campus alone. Partly because I didn't want to bog anyone down if I decided to walk the rest of it. I did find a certain serenity out of it, almost akin to the serenity of paddling on the water.

Before doing my first marathon in my second year of uni, my longest run was a grand total of 12km - and that was 4KM on road, followed by running into the gym to finish 8KM on the treadmill because of the torrential rain outside. I vaguely remember the only reason why I did such a long run in a stationary spot was because I wanted to outrun the guy on the next treadmill. Dammit, he was determined. Eventually I outlasted him.

Sometimes when everyone you know has hopped on the marathon bandwagon, 42KM seemed like a very plausible achievement. Besides, the finisher T-shirt did look cool.

Race day came, and my body didn't really agree somewhere from the 4km mark. Eventually, I completed it, but took nearly 7 hours with a lot of walking. Because of peer pressure, I signed up the following year once again, and finished with roughly the same time, and feeling the same amount of pain the day after. Walking from the bed to the toilet alone was akin to walking on pins and rocks. Once again, lack of training proved its point.

For what felt like years after, I didn't sign-up for any organised runs. I had also grown fond of trails. While I was interning at a news agency near MacRitchie, I'd spend some mornings doing short half hour runs amongst the gravel, trees and mud. 

It wasn't until I started working that I felt the need to challenge myself started running a lot more. In fear that I'd become some sedentary office worker, I also signed myself up for a gym which I visited on an extremely regular basis, to the point most people thought it was my second home. But I didn't mind. The music, the aerobics classes made me happy. The friends I made there also made it worthwhile. 

Slowly, 15-21KM runs became a Saturday morning ritual. I wasn't running incredibly fast, but maybe that's the way I am. I like to enjoy these moments.

Braving heavy vehicles. That's me at Yishun Dam. I'm never running from Jalan Kayu to this place ever again. Its death defying at every turn.

The most painful run. It's actually 25KM on trail. 50KM means I did it with a partner. The most mentally pushing event ever.

Selfie in the mirror. If I'm not wrong, the story is that I left my things at the gym, went running some where in ECP/Bugis area.

Grace and I amused with the statues in CBD. Always a pleasure running with her although she's like way faster than me now. 

Standard requirement for any run above 21km

I never thought I could. A very happy me after the Sundown Marathon 2012, enduring torrential rain till I ran till I was completely dry till it rained again and I was soaked. First time breaking the 6 hour barrier, and also my third marathon after a 4 year hiatus. 

Marathon number 4 at the Standard Chartered Marathon 2013. Getting slightly better, still slightly under 6 hours. 

Tokyo Marathon 2014 and 2XU Marathon, doing them just a week apart from one another has been quite the experience. I'm now at 5hours 20minutes, and I hope I'll be able to commit myself to a proper training programme to eventually break the 5hour mark. 

Looking back, 10 years ago, I thought marathons were just far beyond reach and just a crazy idea. I still need my inhaler occasionally, but I'm glad I still tried, and dared myself. It may seem like not a big deal to many, and maybe even to me sometimes. But looking back, it truly is about the journey, and I'm glad I somehow made it here with progress. 

Now, I'm all ready to look forward to more adventures ahead.