I ♥ Running

Contemplating and writing this reflective post is quite a task. So, this is dated 7 Apr.

I was looking at the results of the Nats track & field meet. well, I must say I am disappointed that the peeps did not achieve what they had last yr. Despite all the talk about sports psychology, mental toughness (which is important), but having the attitude and for that matter, the talent, is only part of the equation. ultimately, hard work and training is still essential.

I will pray for them to do well in tomorrow's (as in 8 Apr) relay semis. find back that hunger and passion people.

But it is quite easy to burn out for student athletes, especially at their age, when they are also piled with school work, CCA stuff, tuition... unlike professional athletes.

So how to sustain that passion and perserverence?

For me, it is always going back to the basics... asking myself fundamental questions on why I go into or indulge in or take on certain things, basically what motivates me intrinsically. And almost or at all these instances, it is always about the love for doing what I value and belief in. be it about teaching, guiding students, discipline, running, sports and of course, family.

I should talk about my indulgence in running and sports.

I started running seriously, in terms of distance running, when I joined teaching. I was roped in by my PE friends in my first school, to mentor a group of underachieving students and helped them to go for NYAA (to give them a sense of achievement and pull them back to the right path). So, physical training, rock climbing, trekking became part of the training programme. And I began to join my PE friends for evening runs, 6km, 8km, 10km, 12km, followed by dinner at ECP.
Then, I started to do my own runs from school back home after work, carrying a fullpack. 10 km, 12 km, 14 km, 16 km.

That year, I took part in my first marathon (1996), with a cousin. after convincing myself that I have been running quite deligently. but as expected, both of us hit the wall at the 3/4 mark, complete melt down.

Subequently, after being posted to another school to teach in a special programme, I have a lot of opportunities to run in the macRitchie area, and I started to look at my training in a systematic way, including gym work, intervals, hills. from then on, did a number of races and kindaf got hooked.

races after races, 10k, real runs, half marathons and full marathons, in between changes in employer in terms of schools; move to HQ, to two other schools. The drive then was really to use these races to push myself beyond boundaries.

Of course, I had a break during birth of guagua and suffered quite a bad injury for half-a-year, but other than that, it became part of my discipline to run and exercise regularly.

When guagua went into child care, i started to re-evaluate my running regime, if I may use the correct word. I started to ask myself, so what's next? that's when I went into multisports, duathlons and even the possibility of triathlons. But being a s***** at swimming, and low confidence in open waters, and objections from mich and family, I stuck to land races.

Then, last yr, pushed the boundaries again with the 84 km ultramarathon at night and the Malaysian Powerman.

At one time, I even thought of the Gobi Desert run 250 km, if not for my own reflection of lifegoals, coupled by strong objections from mich and family.

So, why this total withdrawal from all races and events, this year?

Looking back at my running indulgences, it has been very fulfilling and satisfying. but if I look deeper, and reflect, I begin to ask myself, do I need to participate in events and races to push myself beyond boundaries. To a certain extent, races do help to chart my progress and see where I am.

However, why do i run or cycle or do sporty stuff?

I think the answer is pretty simple, because I love running, i love sports. I enjoy the process.

Now, passion and the love drives me.

So, for those who are reading this post, find meaning in what you do, find that passion and love. It is definitely not easy, it took me more than 10 years to find the all-embracing meaning. 8-)

And to me, extrinsic rewards and achievements can only push you to a certain level, after that, what drives you to persevere comes from within you.

wow, sounded so philosophical.

I love♥ running 8-)