Pick of the season: do not try to dissect

Saturday, December 01, 2007



STANDARD CHARTERED race 02/12/2007
Same distance (the 21), same adrenaline, different thoughts

As part of the race pack, the organizers provided an extra tag for the back for you to write some motivational reason for finishing the distance. Apart from the weird ones like

"<---- that idiot forced me" or " becos I paid good money"

One stood out. It was a coloured picture of a little girl stuck in hospital bed, and the neatly typed out accompanying message, " because our daughter can't, and we can."
I guess that despite all that I've said about having a 'kindness quota' or dark humour, it was one of those things that challenge my cynicisms about life.

So what if you don't meet your timing or that you walked 500 metres of the distance? Or that you had to go batam for honeymoon instead of Paris because of a tight budget? Sometimes it's just that tiny twinge of regret in your heart for buying that pair of shoes at full rate instead of waiting for the sale.
The slogan of this year's event was: "run your own race". My own race would be to just be thankful. And I believe that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks, and you will bear fruit and bless people.

Talking a bit about the race, the last 2-4 km was a killer! This is when you want to run faster because it's the last lap but can't cos your legs feel like lead, and you can't walk because then you'll just walk forever.
I had been cynical about the cheerleaders and band along the way, but I now take back my words. They were incredible!


albeit misleading, Because in my depleted state, I kept thinking I was nearing the finishing line whenever my ears heard cheering.

BIB/DIV: 29116 / F2529
TIME: 1h:53m:21s (gun) / 1h:51m:3s (net)