My 1st Prison Run - 16 Sep 2012

My first challenge was having to wake up at 0445hrs just to make sure I do not miss the six o'clock shuttle bus to the run venue in Changi. So yes, I made it to the bus and found myself headed bright and early to Changi. Of course, the main challenge was the run itself! This was my first 6KM run and the route was not a breeze, not to say that the runs completed at East Coast Park was any easy but this one right here really was the ultimate! It had many ups and downs, a lot like life. Yes, you can't help but to let your mind do the reflection and critical analysis on life when you're struggling to 'run' uphill with the wind blowing against you. Also, in the midst of the uphill trudging, I couldn't help but envy the cyclists enjoying their fun and easy ride downhill on the opposite side of the road. 

I've participated in mostly 5KM runs before and they usually have at least 2 waterpoints; one at the 1.8km mark and the other maybe 3.5km mark thereabouts. At this run however, they had just one waterpoint at the 3km mark and I was sooooo close to giving up. Well, I couldn't give up the run no matter how tiring and close I was to throwing in the towel. Firstly, it was because the bf was there to make sure I kept going, in spite of my irate state and eye-rolling glares in the midst of the buckets of perspiration and legs that started to feel led-heavy. Second reason why I had to complete the run and not give up? They had transported all our deposited baggage to the prison grounds aka the Finish Point and so I had to finish it now, didn't I?? :p 

It was also interesting to see the inside of the prison grounds, a huge big open field, surrounded by high walls and the cells were all in buildings that looked very much like HDB blocks on the outside, but only with highly-placed grilled-bar windows. The Yellow Ribbon Project does help to raise much awareness on unlocking the second prison (ie society) for ex-convicts. For more information, do visit http://www.yellowribbon.org.sg/

Praise the Lord for the strength and grace for me to complete my 6KM run :)

Proud Finisher :))

Fit to Run

This week, I am inspired by the strength, determination and tenacity of two very outstanding women. 

One would be my aunt, who in her sixties, had climbed and reached the base of Mt Everest just two days ago. We are very proud of her and we await her return for her to share with us her experience. 

The other, a female colleague of mine, had returned last week from climbing Mount Kinabalu. Out of the many who dropped out along the way, she was one of only three people who managed to scale to the peak of Mt Kinabalu. When asked what kept her going during this grueling experience, she shared how she had envision herself completing the climb and posing happily at the top! Having that positive image in mind kept her going and that in itself to me, is as real as it gets. 

In the past two years, I had started to get serious with keeping fit and healthy. I guess when you reach a certain age, realisation just hits you that life is indeed short and with whatever number of years you're left with, you had better make the most out of life. And to do that, you will need to have a fit and healthy body. It doesn't matter what size or shape you are, what matters most is you take the first step, show up and get it done. Everything else will fall into place.

I recall the day back in 2010 when I started out with my first gym experience at a workplace that came with free gym access for staff. So excited and foreign to this facility, I had packed in my father's shoes by mistake. What's a girl to do? Like Nike would say, 'Just do it!' right? So I put them on, and prayed no one noticed 'what big feet I have' and that was how I got started. For someone who disliked running very much, I decided that I was going to brisk walk on the treadmill. One thing led to another, I started jogging and then increased the speed a little and today, I'm still a work-in-progress :)  Practice makes perfect and you can't rush perfection. 

I have a 6km Yellow Ribbon run this Sunday and I hope to do my best. Can I do it? Just like what this good article here says, "it's not really a question of 'can you' - it is more a question of 'WILL YOU?'. 

Stay tuned ;)

Happy.

Sometimes, when you've been through a really rough patch, then something wonderful comes along, it's hard to articulate the immense feelings of gratefulness and thankfulness that is within, unto God the Father. He has been kind and merciful towards me, and I am indeed blessed and thankful. Praise be to God, our Almighty Father! :)