~ my first marathon ~

2nd December 2007, i woke up at 0345 hrs... preparing to go for my first ever marathon. I was pretty excited about it because i have never done such long distance running before. it's definitely a memorable event for me. i also got my first marathon medal. running the marathon doesn't makes one pant. i didn't really pant cause it's slow jog most of the time. i covered the first 20km jogging all the way. so if i compete in the 10 km or 21km (half marathon) it's definitely not a problem to me at all. however passing the 22km mark, the legs are starting to disbehave. can start to feel the legs going to cramp anytime but keep controlling the pace and try to stretch them. eventually, i need to call for a break to stretch myself and that's it... the pain did not go off after that. i endured the pain to jog on and when i can't take it anymore, i will either walk or move to one corner and sit down to rest awhile... hahaha... but one thing i am proud of myself is though physically i feel like giving up, mentally i didn't and my mental is able to take over my physical. pushing myself beyond my own limit... actually every step i took after the 22km mark is a record for me. cause i have never run for so long before. but what's better? i actually managed to push myself to complete the 42.195km marathon, with mainly jogging, some walking and abit of sprinting. Sprint? yah i did sprint for the last 2 km. i walk abit, jog some, and sprint abit and repeat them over again. until the last 100m, i make a dash to the finishing line. just like what i did for my triathlon. last burst of fire. hahaha

after that, finally relieved that i completed it, while going to look for my other friends, i fell to the floor... well dun worry i didn't faint or what but both my legs cramped at the same time and i just couldn't move them or feel them besides the pain it gives me and thus i just fell down sitting on the floor. was alone then and didn't got any help even a medic come up to me and tell me, "Sir, don't sit on the floor here, you are blocking people walking." i was like hello... do you think i like to sit there? i could jolly well find a better place with shades to sit down instead of there. do you think i so "gian" to sit there if not because of my leg cramp? but i am glad i didn't say that. i replied "i can't move. leg cramp"... but the next thing the medic did makes me wonder what is he there for... he actually just walked away... i was damn angry cause this bloody so called medic didn't even help me to stretch and just walked off like that. thank God another guy came over to help me stretch my legs and some nice aunties coming to offer some deep heat rubs for me. if not i dunno how i am going to move away from where i am sitting.

thank God also that He let my boss planned me to be off today. if not i dunno how am i going to work today. i can barely walk a few steps and if i walk, i am basically limping. God again knew i need time to recuperate and planned an off day for me beforehand. how great is our God! also must thank God for the strength He gave me during the marathon. many times i felt like giving up but i will keep praying to Him to help me go thru. I vaguely remembered that there is this verse in the bible which is about strength from God but i couldn't remember exactly which verse and what it says. but guess what? God knows what i need and surely, the words did not flash out in my mind but right before my very eyes... cause some runners actually wrote some notes on papers given for them to pin to their back. I saw this lady that ran past me which the following words that i tried to recall... "I can do everything through him who give me strength. Phi 4:12" God didn't give me just strength but encouragement that i can conquer this marathon with the strength He's giving me.

really thank God for all He has done and taught me at this marathon.

though my legs are now still in pain and barely can move, but God will help me to recover and in no time, i will be able to run again.

Thank you Lord Jesus!