The 21K experience!
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- worth all the sweat!
Just yesterday, I ran the 21 kilometer category of Milo Marathon. Some people may say it is easy, but for me, it was very difficult for a number of reasons. First, I am lugging around an excess bodyweight of 20 lbs. Second, my usual running buddies are not there with me because they have company-related engagements. Not that they make running easier but the mind is more at ease when you know you have friends somewhere near. Third, although I am very happy with my new shoes, the fact is that they are new and maybe not suitable yet for long running having been used for a cumulative running of only 18 kilometers previously. And last, it was my first time to run 21 kilometers!
It was 5:30 in the morning when the race started. I was almost late, arriving in line as the countdown from ten started. I was probably the last one to start in our category because I had to re-tie my laces. Anyway, long runs are not about explosive starts.
I was feeling good on the first stages. I knew that if I had to finish the race it was just from sheer will, having practiced ten kilometer runs on in the past weeks. For the first seven kilometres I was doing OK. When I was approaching the ninth my feet were already screaming for a walk. But I just kept on, smiling at everybody. By the 11th I have reached my practice limits, I didn’t want to stop but the temptation of a leisurely water break was just too much to pass up. So from there, it became my routine. Run, stop for a brisk walk in water stations, count 20 with deep breaths, and then run again. This sustained me up to the 20k mark where I think I walked for a full two minutes before running to the finish line.
The feeling towards the end was a bit anti-climactic. Since there where so many participants in the 3K, 5K and 10K, there were all finished way ahead of us and you can see them walking around place. For them the race was over for quite some time. Less than half can be found in the finish line. And usually when I finish the race, one of my buddies who is a photo addict would’ve have been taking pictures of us like crazy by this time. Since I am alone, I just asked somebody to take a picture of me near the finish line as a souvenir or proof. But well, I’ve wanted and waited for this. I am just happy.
Memories of previous running all comes flooding back – burning lungs on the very first 5K races, self embarrassment when kids, old men and even old ladies pass you in 10K races, and the endurance testing 16k race I ran two months before. So while my 2 hours and 35 minutes unofficial time did not make it to the eliminations of the race, I am just equally happy to finish it.
Boy oh boy, the rush of finishing the race it unexplainable. Writing this feeling the hurt of knees, chaffing and blisters makes it all worthwhile! Next up, 42K!!
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