My first 5K Run

If there's one thing I hated doing some ten years ago, that would be running. My friends would drag me to the oval to get back in shape but I would refuse. I'd rather be doing aerobics or lifting weights rather than covering the miles.

Flash forward ten years after...

I found myself standing in the midst of hundreds of runners at 4:30AM waiting for gunstart. This would have been my first race. My first 5K run.

How did I get in here?

That was what running through my mind.

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Last year I forcefully got myself into running at the height of my weight crisis. I was at 128lbs back then, the "heaviest" I've been so far and absolutely have no idea how awfully I looked. I was always a thin girl years ago. But the desk job, the pure laziness, and the lack of exercise got the better of me, and next thing I know I've been buying new clothes month after month, two sizes up than usual as my clothes don't fit too well anymore.

I started to run every weekend waking up at 4:30 in the morning. No, I'm not an early riser. I just don't like the idea of running under the scorching heat of the sun.

The weekend runs became three or four times a week which means I have to squeeze it in during my working days. After a few weeks it became a habit. It doesn't feel tiring anymore and I was happy doing it because I'm starting to see the results.

I lost 8lbs after a month and another 10lbs in about three months.

If I was being my old self, I would stop right there and then and go back to eating whatever and whenever I want to. I thought of taking a break from running coz I'm starting dread the sound of my alarm in the cold and wee hours of the morning. And that's when it hit me. I should take running to the next level.

I signed up for a fun run. Initially I was thinking of running the 3K. But my colleagues told me it's a no brainer as I've been running for almost a year now and that would be too easy. So I took the next category -- 5K.

I was being bold and arrogant to say the least. Most seasoned runners started their way off 3K. And here I am doing 5K for the first time ever!!!

So there I was standing on the starting line. This will be a true test of courage, endurance, motivation, perseverance and discipline.I know it would be difficult but I also know I can finish it.

My plan? I'll stick to the 5km/hr pace, which means I'm back in the finish line after an hour haha! And if I ran out of breath? I'll pull over to the side and walk! I'm not putting pressure on myself for this one. This is a fun run and it's supposed to be fun!

Before I knew it I was nearing the finish line in all smiles. Who would have thought I'd be doing this?
Personal time? 51 minutes & 39 seconds. I know that's not something to be proud of. Others did it in less than 30 minutes. But hey, I wasn't the last one :) There were a lot coming in after an hour! Not bad for a first timer:)

That's me happily bragging my certificate for everyone to see haha!

I'll do better next time. For now, I need to train more, continue and pursue my next goal : To trim half of my personal time in my next 5K run and someday go for the 10K! :)