run forrest run

It’s been 22 months since I last posted in here. The title of my previous post ironically relates to the main thing that has been occupying my time since then: races and running.

Now here I am, on the eve of my second anniversary. Just two years ago, I was freaking out at the thought of my very first race—10K at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2009. What if I couldn't finish? What if I pass out in the middle of the course? All the “what if’s” only served as fuel to my fears.

Thankfully, I had my fellow Wildcatz Rose, Nyna and Nana to calm my nerves  somewhat. At the time, Rose and Nyna were about to run their second Full Marathon, a distance I couldn’t fathom at all back then. Nana, on the other hand, made her trip down south to run her Half Marathon #2. These three ladies, who were the ones who inspired me to start racing in the first place, ensured me that I would be fine, and that I should just run and have fun.

And run and have fun was exactly what I did. The racing bug totally bit me that day, and the rest, as they say, is history.

A few steps away from completing my maiden race 
(6 December 2010 @ StanChart Singapore Marathon)

Wildcatz reprezent. From futsal teammates to running buddies ;)
L-R: Nana, Rose, myself, Nyna
Taken right after my second Half Marathon 
(18 July 2010 @ Ipoh International Run)

Nyna and I "ran as one" together-gether all the way from the 7km mark on my first Half Marathon,
and crossed the finishing line holding hands and all smiles :))) 
(27 June 2010 @ StanChart KL Marathon)

*pic courtesy of http://qqlai.multiply.com/

Fast forward a year later—exactly one year ago today—I did what I thought I never would do: complete my very first Full Marathon at the StanChart Marathon Singapore 2010 in a sub-6 time of 5hrs 52mins.

The Euphoric Runfool  =)
(5 Dec 2010 @ StanChart Marathon Singapore)

 My precious: A year of running (Dec'09-Dec'10) in a snapshot. 
That's a total of 11 races in 12 months, made up of 
one Full Marathon, one 30K race, four Half Marathons, 
one pseudo Half Marathon, three 10K races, and one charity 6K race.

Today, 30 races later, I’m mentally preparing myself for my fourth Full Marathon for 2011. Most people outside my running circle cannot comprehend why I am running tomorrow.

My original running mate, Ree (the person who was kind enough to accompany me on my "longest runs"—including chaperoning me to three races—back in the days when I was first starting out), said while I was huffing and puffing during my yucky 10K training run on Wednesday that perhaps I should have just ended my year on a high with my dream sub-5 finish at the NYC Marathon 4 weeks ago**.

Ree and I right before my pseudo Half Marathon.
It was supposed to be my first 21K race but ended
up being 18K's only instead
(29 May 2010 @ Sundown Marathon)

Maybe she's right, but in all honesty it's hard for me to resist running tomorrow since the Singapore Marathon 2011 marks my second-year racing anniversary.

And so I will soldier on, taking it one easy step at a time until I cross my fifth 42.195km finishing line just 12 months after my first.

May the force be with me!

~ * ~

**Coming soon: My Dream Marathon