Big Dreamin'

To tell you the truth, there were moments into and after the race last Saturday night which made me think of swearing off doing another full marathon.

For entirely entertainment purposes (what other purpose should it be?), let me enlighten you with these painful experiences.

• 
  
  After we crossed the 21K mark for what it seem ages, me and hub were thinking the same thing: Why on earth did we sign up for more when we could have end it right then and there doing the half marathon.
• 
  
  When I was running alone, with the person in front and behind me too far away to have an audible conversation with, I wanted to scream of boredom.
• 
  
  It was 30-ish KM and I’ve been running for more than 3 hours, I stopped and asked a volunteer at a junction how many more to go.

“ Not far now, only 6K left”

Then upon reaching the next water station, the volunteers announced, “ Ok 8 K more to go”. Arghhh..I wanted to strangle somebody. Tipuuuuu..

And mind you, this wasn't the only incidence.

• 
  
  The last stretch of the race, when Pacesetters dared to challenge us with another ascending slope, I was so furious, I could've easily swore. I remember saying to another runner then, “ Dah nak dekat habis pun dia bantai bagi uphill lagi!”
• 
  
  When I arrived home battered and nauseous that night, my sister had a good laugh when I stared blankly at the stairs wondering how on earth I was going to get to the 2^nd floor.
• 
  
  Post race saw me as stiff as a board. Oh wait a minute, plywood pun boleh lentur lagi tau.

But now, after 99% of the pain is out of my system, my feet itches for another full. I'm thinking, I should do one soon because I have done enough mileage and I still have the endurance. I’m thinking I should do one soon because other runners have proved that running two marathons in a span of a few months is achievable. I’m thinking I should do one soon because due to other plans in the next half of this year, I will have to take a break from racing ( racing, not running) for a few months.

But then I rethink my principles. I will not do a marathon just because others are putting more than one in the bag. I will not do a marathon just because I think I can finish. I will not do a marathon just because it’s conveniently there.

I want my next marathon to be greater than this one. To be ,more fun. To be more properly planned. To finish stronger than the last.

And I doubt I can do all that in SCKLM.

(Sorry Golazo, horrific past year runner’s account scared me shitless)

And then I think, what’s the rush? I’m still young. Even Murukami does it once a year. God willing, as my family grows, I’ll have more time training rather than curik masa sini sana. God willing, when I say bye bye to my current employer and be my own boss, I won’t feel as tired stealing away my break time to train.

So, for now, for this year, I’ll concentrate on my half marathons. Who knows, once I can achieve that sub 2:15 ( my personal target), I’ll nail that sub 5 marathon in the future.

Ye, mari berangan.