Reasons for running:
1) An excuse to buy new shoes
2) To eat Snickers ice-cream... guilt-free
3) I'm a believer... Are you?
4) A gorgeous babe asked me to run with her every Sunday morning
5) 4D Sun - 6649 (His no. tag was 66491)
With different motivations.... different reasons.... from all walks of life.... nationalities.... skin colour.... people gathered to run the annual race dubbed "The Greatest Race on Earth" A seemingly familiar sight at the City Hall/Esplanade start/end point. It's kinda weird to witness so many people (a record number of 30,000 participants this time) in the wee hours of a Sunday morning assembled at a single point for a single purpose of completing a foot race. Lines formed outside the mobile toilets. Chatter. Participants doing warm-ups by the roadside. The adrenaline-pumped atmosphere was buzzing with trepidation and excitement. At the starting point, the commentators' ranted out of the loudhailers in an attempt to drum up the spirits of the crowds whom have thronged the road stretch outside the Esplanade. The air was heavy and hot. The anticipation was killing us. Then we heard the horn sounded. It's time.
Concentrate on breathing. Huff. Puff. Huff. Deep breaths. Enjoy the surroundings. Soak in the excitement. Join in the fun. Before long, I realise I was talking to myself. Well... with no mp3 player to accompany and nobody to talk to, running can be a pretty lonely and boring affair. At least, the scenery at Marina South lifted my spirits. Interesting characters like Spidey and the lady dragging a styrofoam box atop a tyre attached with a can (you can imagine the weight, the attention and noise she's causing; and for a good cause too... she's campaigning for recycling awareness) enlivened the run.
I was doing pretty okay... till the 12 km mark. Then the lactic acid buildup in the muscles began to take its toll. My leg joints, ankles and knees ached as my body signalled its protest. From 15km mark onwards, the journey markers seemed to come later and later, though they were only 1 km apart.... as a result of me slowing down. More than once, the thoughts of giving up and start walking floated. And I buried those thoughts. That's when they say... it's all 'mental' from now till the finishing line. Mind over body. C'mon! Don't give up. "No pain" and "For Jesus" are the words that resonated in my mind during those agonizing moment. I promised God I'll complete the half marathon without stopping and no drinks. I was psyching myself up by telling myself it was no pain... compared to the one my Father suffered. No pain... no gain.
Temptations were aplenty. People stopping at the drinks station and taking a breather by the side of the running route. And when you are tired... the mind start playing tricks on you. A lot of possibilities Stop and rest! Have a sip of water, you're thirsty. Your throat felt very dry and your lips are parched. You deserve a drink. And I finally succumbed to the drinks 'taunting' and took half a cup of water. Bad mistake! I had stitches within 20 mins after drinking. Drats! Still I carried on... praying that it would go away in time. And it did! Towards the end, my mind was with the full marathoners.... how did they manage to finish it... I was actually contemplating of doing the full next year. I truly hoped 2007 will be a good year to finally do it, provided with adequate, effective training and proper rest. This year at least I can say that my feet never stop running the minute the horn sounded.
The feeling of reaching the finishing line has never been that inviting and welcoming before! With jellied legs and awkward swaying posture, I plonked myself by the side of the road... catching my breath and untying to get the time chip out of my shoe. The world spun a bit and stumbling to my feet, I exchanged the chip for the runners' medal. It was a test of faith for some... a personal challenge for others. For myself, nothing is more satisfying than setting a goal and despite the difficult circumstances, achieving it... for Him. At least I know in the deep resides of my heart, I do believe... worshipping and praising with actions and not exclusively on the lips. To actually do it, you experience the pain (or part of it) and that you certainly cannot understand by watching a movie, listening to a sermon, reading the word or singing a song.
His Providence was real... so was His love.
A believer I am... Are you?
