Stay The Course, Don't Give Up

I completed my first full 42 km marathon on Sunday.

I limped in 15 minutes before the end of the 6 hours allowed, at 5 hours 45. Blistered, sun burnt, cramped and sore, I was pretty much the last person to finish.

The starting line was hard enough, I thought. All the other runners looking quite slender, confident and "long distance". I worried that I was not quite ready. At the horn, everyone sort of sprinted off, leaving me behind to sort out my iPod. Anyway, I eventually jogged off with the rest of the pack disappearing in the distance.

The first 25 km or so were easily done. There were also quite a few other runners around, involved in the other distances. The weather was thankfully drizzling and overcast.

As the run progressed, the number of other runners thinned out and the day grew hotter.

The final u-turn for home was on the Mabohai-Mentiri highway, on the Salambigar turning, about 16 km from the finishing line and 3 hours into the run. This was when things started to hurt. In the final 10 km, every step started to become painful and any real stretch of the legs resulted in a cramping of the muscles. Running became a challenge of the mind, to try to will the body to move, when it simply did not want to.

I was most appreciative of the presence of Em, my Folks and Michael at various points on the course. It is surprising how far a wave, a smile; a pat on the back can carry you.

42 km is about the distance on the Coastal Highway from Tutong Town to Berakas. For the average runner, there is no prize money to be won, and no glory.

I am left with a rather dull looking medal and florid blisters. The nail on my big toe is slowly turning black.

So why bother?

Perhaps, simple vanity? Over the years I have found myself a little rounder and heavier. Signing up for the marathon provided some motivation to get out of bed early to get the training in.

Training really only started in earnest 3 months before the race and consisted of gradually longer runs of up to 20 -30 km. After a while, the running becomes quite addictive, and you come to look forward to the long runs. The biggest benefit was losing a couple of inches from the waistline, which cannot be a bad thing, along with a new found relish for climbing stairs.

It is really the day itself though. I guess it is simply to be able to say that it has been done, that it can be done. That there is the certainty that things can be completed so long as you continue to put one foot in front of the other.

The marathon day itself simply provides to many people the opportunity to challenge themselves physically and mentally, to meet them and overcome them, whatever distance is run.

This may not sound like much, but it should be valued.

I understand that there were problems with the marshalling on the route, though I encountered no such problems, perhaps for being so slow.

The armed forces and police did a wonderful job at keeping the roads clear. I would say perhaps though that the organizers could have briefed us all a little better. I did feel that we participants and volunteers at times were simply left to fend for ourselves.

On the whole I think that the Marathon is a good thing for the community to have and I hope that the organizers and sponsors will take the most important lesson to heart. Stay the course. Never give up.

Comments

[Nonnie]

I salute you!

[LSM]

Freakin' heck, 42km? I ran the 21km in Singapore a couple of years back and after that I asked myself "what the hell am I doing torturing my legs and feet?"

A year later I took up latin dancing ;P

[tina]

Congratulations! Doesn't that make it 2 years in a row? B's knees have given up on him so (thankfully for me) no more marathons for him :)

[Sierra Hotel]

Wow, you managed to do the 42km run? Even i had a hard time finishing the 21km event. R-E-S-P-E-C-T is the word for you. and also to the other runners out there. Job well done everyone and let's hope next year's marathon will see a lot of improvements.

[Nings]

Well done bobby!! its not about how fast you can run a marathon but its all about if you CAN run a marathon!
42 **%#*$*&# kms????
I get leg cramps just from walking from one end to one of Vivo City shopping centre..so there..hahahahahhaha....
again WELL DONE!!

[Husini]

Emma, have a look at this link http://kantalensa.blogspot.com/2006/12/dedicated-to-emma-hubby.html

[Zippy]

Good job, you (:

Told Emma I'll be joining the marathon next year as well. Fun run, she says? I reckon if she runs with me, she'll want to do a 21km run instead!

All she needs is a little encouraging smack on the bottom.

xyzee