~ just the two of us ~

Updates: Wow. My actual timing was 1:08:39.39. To see the results, click here (page 54/95). It's amazing, I never thought I could do it. It's really way beyond my expectations. Praise the Lord. Also praise the Lord that my swell has gone down a little, and am nursing two injured legs at home now. Hehe. Praying that I'll be completely healed by this Friday.
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Very satisfied. Being the first time I'm taking part in an actual international marathon, I'm satisfied with my timing. In my previous post, I mentioned I ran 5.2km in 35 mins. But guess what? I finished at 1:15! And yeah, it could be earlier because I started later, anyway, will update on my actual timing on Tuesday when they post it online.

I woke up rather early today. Couldn't sleep. Partly it was because, I was anxious. I didn't have enough training, as I was rather lazy. And so, this morning I took two packets of Vico Oats 3-in-1, 2 bananas, and water. And was off to go. And when we reached there.. we didn't have to worry abt bananas. They had one whole booth just bananas. Hahaha. So I ate another one, and also one ginseng & vitamin E tablet that came together with the race pack. I guess, that helped a lot. After putting on my knee guard, pinning my bib and warming up, I realized the race for 10km already started. So I hurriedly went over to the starting line and went slow. (it doesn't matter if you start slightly late because I have the champion chip which takes my personal timing). Officially, it starts at 7.30am. I said a quick prayer, committing the run into His hands. I'm so anxious that I will faint or something like that. (hearing too many stories about pro runners who fainted and died after marathon). Scary. After that, my mp3 player accompanied me through the whole journey.

I jogged.. that sped up a little bit... by the 3rd km, most of the ladies have started walking. It was tiring, as the scorching heat from the sun, that I could literally feel my face burning! And at about 4km, I saw a runner passing by us from the other direction... So fast she's made the U-turn. Wow.I managed to run for at least 6km straight.. until then, I felt my legs became heavier, and heavier... But I still didn't stop. After awhile, I stopped, and resorted to brisk walking. But it was even more painful that way, so in the end, I continued jogging, but slowly.

What amazes me that I bumped into so many "aunties", like perhaps between 40-50 yrs old, and they're running! Even though slowly, but I was already at my 7km mark, and they're still jogging/walking slowly. It really puts me to shame, and that spurred me to not stop. Hehehe. It was practically a mental game. I was determined to finish the run within 1.5 hours. As I didn't have any watch to watch over my timing, I had to catch up with those consistent runners.

The last 2km was really a drag, I really had to push myself to carry on. At 9.5km, I saw a girl on the stretcher, with an oxygen mask to her face. I was like, oh no... And the last 500m was my worse... It was such a difficult task for me. Hahaha. And when I crossed over the finishing line, suddenly, a sense of satisfaction just came all over me. I did it. I actually DID IT!! The greatest satisfaction was because I managed to keep to my timing, in fact better. I could have walked the remaining 5km or 3km, and finish the race in the stipulated time, which was 2 hours, but I didn't. Am proud of myself. :P

Jason, being the good husband he is, woke up at 6.30am to go with me. As I had no friends to go with, he accompanied me. Thanks darling! He waited for me at the finishing line, but, I couldn't see him as there were too many people there. And guess what? He couldn't see me either, so he didn't capture me crossing the line! Was a bit disappointed because I saw he took pic of the winner of the race, a Kenyan lady, and a few other people crossing the line but not ME :( Also, because he didn't expect me to finish the race in about 1 hr's time. Hahaha. But it's ok. Hehehe.

L-R,T-B: warming up; after race, eating banana; it's hot!; cervical cancer awareness

L-R: what i wore; medal (front); medal (back)

Posted in: chit chat, race on 23 October 2007 at at 11:09 am