Why I Run?

Inspired by Kayano's post in the SGRunners Sundown Marathon thread.

Francis brought out the essence of the marathon.
One step at a time, we will make it to the Finish Line.

Oh boy, I truly missed the good old SGRunners forum that I had joined...
A forum that used to inspire and help runners, not flame fellow runners and run them down to the dirt.

If you look at my previous post, it is about Matt Hoover.
Matt Hoover is the winner of the inaugural Biggest Loser competition.
I must admit that I had a tainted dislike for him, because I feel that he cheated to win the competition.
As an ex-athlete and an ex-wrestler no less, he could easily pile on the kilograms and lose them just as quickly.
A strategy he used to great effect to win the Biggest Loser competition.

Matt gained my respect by completing Ironman Kona.
Yes, he missed the cut-off time by 3 minutes.
But what is important is that he crosses the Finish Line.
Matt never quit. Even when the sweeper threatens to pull him off the course, he persisted.
He got flamed by an Ironman Finisher "iamanironman2004" , whom I think is the real loser.
So far I have never seen a triathlete flamed another triathlete.
Probably "iamanironman2004" never noticed that it is clearly stated that Matt completed the Ironman, not finished the Ironman.
Matt is not an Ironman Finisher, but he completed the Ironman.
Kudos to Matt.

When you are counting down the miles, when you are counting down the hours, minutes and seconds to the cut-off time, I have to admit it sucks.
It sucks BIG TIME. I have been there many times.

But I guess none of us take part in a race to fail.
All of us wanna cross that Finish Line, irregardless of the time.

A Marathon is never easy. I respect every single runner who attempted the marathon, even if he did not cross the Finish Line.
Why? Cos he tried, cos he dare to stand at the Start Line and try to do a marathon.

Rewind....

SCSM 2006 10km... I pumped my fist when I was standing with the crowd at Esplanade Drive. It was a major victory for me. I have signed up for many races prior to this and I have DNF-ed the bulk of them. A little sniff, a little knee pain, a little backache, I decided that it is too painful to go for the race.

Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore 2009... It took me months to sign up for the race. Yes, months... The uncertainty, the apprehension, the anxiety.
Sought advice from friends who has done it and friends who has signed up for the race.
When a simple word of advice "Just Do It", just ain't enough to get rid of the cobwebs to click that "Register" button.

******

I am surprised I never wrote this entry earlier.

Weight : 108kg
Category : Morbid Obese
Advice by Sports Doctor : Do not Run. Just Swim.

Wearing my socks and shoes is a daily chore.
Simple task for most, difficult for me.
The tummy is always in the way.
How bad was it?

Imagine having to wears socks before your pants.
Imagine having to use a shoe horn to put on your shoes.

I have run/walk quite a few Sheares Bridge Run 6km.
I marvelled at the 10km and half-marathoners running up the Sheares Bridge and hope that one day that I can pick up the courage to do a 10km run.

After the Runners High during SCSM 2006, I started to run about twice weekly.
Perspiring had never felt so good.

The weight started to drop. 3-8kg.
My weight hover around 100-105kg for most part of the last 3 years.
But I had never gone back to size 38 pants since then.
I can only deduced that the fats has been converted to muscles.

I must admit that the first year was the most discouraging.
You have done so much running, yet the weight failed to dropped beyond 98kg.

Made a huge change during end of 2007.
No rice, just noodles or western food for lunch.
No coffee for any meals.
My weight dropped to 95kg.
I was happy that I lost weight, but I felt that I lost a part of my life too.
Eating is an indulgence, more so in Singapore.
To control my food intake is unbearable.
I went back to my old eating habits and my weight ballooned to 100kg.
But I am happy.
I am happy to maintain my lifestyle and keeping fit at the same time.

I know that by being fit, I can give my family a better life in more ways than one.
They do not have to worry about my well being.
By keeping fit, I am keeping most health-related problems at bay.
By keeping fit, I have more energy to play with my kids, something that was not possible before I started running, as I tend to be out of breath easily.

By taking part in group rides and races, I meet new friends.
Friends who do not see me as a 胖子, but as a fellow competitor. =)