Post SCSM

Haha... just an insight to what I did before, during and after the race.

I had the most no-no dinner the night before a major race.
I dun think anyone would have done that.
But that is just me. =p
My idea of carbo-loading is to have a huge mutton mutarbak with lots of curry.
Will it causes a stomach upset?
Think I know my body well enough.
Coffee and pre-race anxiety will always flush the system clean before the race.
Good old body. =D

Using the same tried and tested equipment for my Sundown Marathon, I was hoping that all will go well.
I was not disappointed.
2XU and K14 combined well for me to finish comfortably.

Starting 25 mins after the race start has its advantages.
There isn't the human crowd at any place of time to speak of.
Being a plodder, you are almost certain to have a wide berth of space from start to end.

During the race, I did not use any MP3 player.
This is a first for me for a major race.
I guess it kinda help...

For once, I did not look at the other side of the road for familiar faces.
Kinda too ashamed.
But the very few places where both sides of the marathon crossed path also help me to just look ahead. =D

I realised that I am doing exactly what I did at AHM.
No game plan before the race.
Strategise as the race proceed...
It kinda works...

38km....
This is becoming a very significant number for me.
This is the distance that almost broke me.
How did I feel when I "quitted"?
I feel shitty, but not totally down.
I guess that is a little part of the reason why I am able to continue.
I just felt that I should feel good that I have come so far...

Hitting the 40km mark, the spirits literally soar.
Any kinda of pain after that mark literally become insignificiant.

It is hard to describe the feeling when I turn round the corner and see the Finishing Straight.
You just wanna pump your hands in the air and say I did it.
I came 42km... Now it is just 195m more to go.

Crossing the Finish Line, you are elated, you are overjoyed.
You had that smile that tells you that it is a job well done.
Maybe not a good race in the eyes of other people, but hey I dun run the race for others, I ran the race for myself.
I completed the race and that is something that no one can take away from me.

This race literally wipe out any bad notion that I have about marathons, about running.
I guess this will be a turning point.
This has to be a turning point.
I have learned so so much during the race.

This is my most enjoyable race yet.
Not even Aviva IM 70.3 Singapore or Sundown Marathon can compare to this.
I am sure glad that I signed up for the race, even though initially it is just to complete some unfinished business.

I never ever thought that I will be able to say this.
But yeah, now I can finally believe that I can probably do a sub-7 or eventually a sub-6 hours for a marathon.
Any further than that, I shall leave it for the future to decide. =D

So yeah, SCSM 2009 will not be my last marathon... There will be more marathons to come for Jodan Daniel. =D

GAMBATTE!!!

P.S. All of the above comments are written while Jodan is still drunk. Drunk from Runner's High. =D