A few hours before the actual run:
I woke up at 5am. Not sure if the taxi will be fully booked, so gotta go out earlier. As my mama said "Better to be late than never, better to be early than late". Getting a taxi turns out to be easy, its still wee hours after all.
30 mins before the actual run:
Did my warm ups, knowing how much potential damage this run will do to me. Everything was pitch black outside the Esplanade, but the announcers did a good job hyping up the events. There were PLENTY of runners, and some supporters. For a while, I wished Wifey was here. But told her to sleep at home, lest I take forever to complete the race.
10 mins before the actual run:
All lined up. I was wondering if I will have any disadvantage starting towards the back of the runner's queue. Guess not, noting the length of the race. Alot of runners came in pairs or groups. Looking at all the athletic built runners going to run alongside me, I hope I won't fare too badly.
It must have been the atmosphere. I felt a sense of pride for taking part, but at the same time, ambiguous about the journey ahead. Thinking of Wifey, the events that led to this race, the fellow runners running to fulfill whatever dreams, I had this urge to tear (damnit, I'm a guy), but held back.
I got ready Wifey's mp3 player, and hope the batteries don't fall flat before the run ends, like it did for Kenny Sia.
And then the race began.
The first 1/3 of the actual run:
Had to wait like 5 minutes before the crowd before me start running. There's really alot of people. And wow, so many gals too. Once an MCP, forever an MCP mah. ^_^
I started jogging, and for the first 2 km, I still had this temptation to tear. The atmosphere was touching. The signboard reads "You are already a winner by doing something that 99.9% of people did not do".
I ran alone, but my dance music kept the tempo on. As the tracks were on random, I was gladly surprised when Ayumi Hamasaki's "Depend on you" was played. I replayed it about 5 more times. It's a wonderful track.
I saw people from all walks of life. And some runners wear this "Reason for running".
(1) To prove the other people who do not believe I can do it.
(2) If you run behind me, you suck!
(3) I am an 82 years old man. My name is So-and-so.
(4) Jia you!
(5) So I can eat more cookies and cream.
Seeing their reasons for taking part in the race was kinda entertaining. I can't help but wonder, what sign should I be using?
(1) Just married.
(2) Setting targets is easy, realising it is tough!
(3) I told my friends that I will come, so I can't turn back.
(4) Anyone seen Mr Ego?
Everyone has a reason to run a marathon (or half-marathon).
What's yours?
Tell me (even if you have not ran one). ^_^
[To be continued]
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