hatyai nature run 2010

entering the race, i didn't hope to win a trophy bc i knew there were so many veteran runners running better than i did. but i joined the event to challenge myself, to see how far i could push through my limit, to face the fear and to experience the sheer joy of running.

while applying for the run, i told the staff i didn't want the jersey bc i would wear the light green top my best friend bought for me from shanghai. i would use it as my lucky charm.. and yes, it was a lucky charm..

i've joined this event in psu for 4 years and this year i decided to do 10k mini-marathon. it's my second mini for this year. i've adopted the attitude 'i think i can i think i can i think i can' since the previous run.. when doing it for the first time, i was nervous and uncertain. but for the second run, i was more relaxed and less agitated.. i ran with a purpose and a calmer mind.. i even greeted the runners i met from the previous mini and clapped along the way when seeing other mini-marathoners passed me after they had u-turned half way.. i ran this race bc i wanted to beat the time i made in my former run (1.03 hrs). when running the first mini, i didn't own a pedometer watch so i had no idea how far i'd run or how much time i'd used while running.. i knew the time only when i approached the finish line..

but this time, i kept looking at the watch, especially when i was nearing to finish.. i wanted to run less than 1:03 hrs. but while plodding though the last mile, i couldn't make myself to speed up as the final quarter of the route was uphill, my legs were getting rigid and my heart was pounding so hard. i could only slow down to catch my breath and slowly moved my legs to the finish line.. it was not so far but it seemed ridiculously far away.. starting to climb up the hill, i immediately knew that i couldn't make the time better than the last one bc of the difference of the finish point. but still glad with the time. it was 1:04:49 hrs..

while i was running to enter psu gate, there were some senior runners who kept cheering and pushing on me. they ran for fun and didn't hope for a trophy and they thought i could win one.. so they wanted me to go faster and kept saying, while running along with me, "you can do it, you can do it, push yourself harder, push yourself harder".. i told them, please keep going and don't wait for me.. (bc i was going to puke if i ran faster than this!!).. so after failed attempts, they slowly left me and sped though the finish line..

at 10 meters before the finish line, i saw a female staff looking at me and preparing to hand me a laminated tag.. seeing that, i was in awe and highly surprised bc it meant i was one of the 10 runners in our age group who was going to get the trophy!!! how come? i thought i was the last one plodding after them.. crossing the finish line, grabbing the tag, i saw my sis standing, waiting for me with my camera aiming at me.. she had a huge grin seeing me.. finally!! (i told her before i left that i would be back in about an hour..)

my time

my ticket to get the trophy

mine was among them!

..my sis took some photos for me while i was running, challenging myself..

it's time for the trophy. it took a bit long to get it as there were so many age groups, male and female and we had to gather and get 10 of us together before being called and step into the stage..

my mom and aunties ran the funrun and they are hooked now!

my presenter after we got home.

after getting home, i ate like a starving elephant bc i was hungry beyong expectation. i forgot to eat the snack before the run. i had prepared it but totally forget about it and when arriving the venue, i just drank half glass of soymilk prepared by the staffs.. it was one of the reason i couldn't speed up and had stomach cramp.. i swear i will never run with an empty stomach again.. i'd reasonably hydrated myself along the way while running and i was happy everytime i saw the water stations bc it means it was the time to have an excuse to walk (even a little bit). i grabbed the cup, swollowed the iced-cold water slowly, threw the cup on the roadside and started picking up my speed again.. the water stations were placed every 2.5k. and this time the water guys were budding militants from the army.. it was fun and jolly as they were cheering all of us, runners....

so what's next? at the end of this month there is another big running event in Yor Island, which will be international and includes all kinds of running (maranthon, half, mini and funrun -- except ultra).. and all of us really want to do it. it is to run across Tinnasulano Bridge, the longest bridge in Thailand. the view is undoubtedly stunning. we can see the sea, the mountains, the fishing traps, the open sky, the sleeping waves, the first light of the day... i am thinking of running 4k funrun with my camera hoisting on my shoulder bc of the view and the check-in time for runners (marathoners at 3.30 am, half at 4.00 am, mini at 4.30 am and funrunners at 5.30 am -- it's just crazily early..). i don't want my sister to wake up and drive us in the wee hours.. so i told her i would do funrun but she encouraged me to do mini again and she had no problem driving.. so we will see..