The Time has Come?

Every time when I sign up for a race, I will say my aim is "To complete not to compete"

But this year, right after every race, the question pops up "How much better would I be if I had really train for it?"

Last year's races were wonderful experiences.
Aviva IM 70.3 S'pore and Singapore Marathon were two milestones that taught me that mental toughness can get you through anything...
U just gotta dig in deep.

In fact, those experiences woke up a sleeping giant...
My NSF days weren't exactly easy, but the "Mind over Body" theory truly works...
Many times, I have to dig in so deep that I actually see stars right at the end of those runs.
But those "qigong" sessions were well worth it. =D
(Not too sure if those NSFs from my generation experience this? Right after every run, we have vapour streaming up our T-shirts [green round collar T. We do not have singlets]. If there are enough of us under a training shed, we can "smoke out" the training shed =D)

Truth be told, I always skive away from runs.
Cos the knee pain hurts and they hurts really bad.
Imagine you are less than 400m from your Start Point and the pain kicks in...
You continue with those runs but you know that you are causing more damage to those knees.
Looking back, mid foot running in NB 904 are pure bull-shit... I still get those knee cap pains.
I am glad that I invested in those Newtons...
It truly changes my opinion of running.
Yet those training runs has yet to surface...=p

Last year's most of my training are done on the bike.

This year, I have a privilege of a swim coach.
Interestingly, Coach's advice always have a great impact.
I have a teeny weeny plan... Will have to see how things pans out...
Actually seeing how Jac train has a great impact too....
I cannot fathom how a gal can just run and run and run...

Bike wise, I have a set of new wheels.
Do not have the moolah to upgrade the frame, but the change of wheels did have significant impact.

New shoes.
Although it did not equate to a better timing, I do enjoy my "runs" now.
Will it see the end-May moonlight is anybody's guess.

So is it time to see better timings for my races?
Should I be going for every race trying to achieve a certain timing?
Am quite certain that it will take the fun out of races.
But it will be an incentive for me to start some serious running.
Running means to forego JR rides...
Can I do that? Am I willing to do that?
Haiz... Choices choices choices.

Anyway, the gameplan is to do at least one IM in my lifetime.
So the most important thing to do now is to tackle the runs.
Once I can do that, I think I will be ready...