#73: Flashback - My 1st 42km Hell-Run, Where All Hell Broke Lose...

Happy Day to all my dear readers!

On May 26th 2011, I've completed my first ever full marathon, and wrote a note on it. Most of those that had read, commented that it was inspiring, especially towards non-runners and virgin-marathoners. Hence I would like to share out this personal note that was written a week after the run, as both an inspiring message to all marathon virgins out there, and another opportunity for my readers to get to know me better!

*It's a looooooong note, but worth the read ^^*

#72: So, Who Am I?

Jackie Chan fans, remember that movie "WHO AM I?" in 1998 where Jackie was in an accident, being rescued by a tribe in some hidden African village, lost his memory, then shouted, "WHO AM I?!" in the middle of the dessert? NO! This post is definitely not about soul-searching or trying to recall who I exactly is. In fact, I would like my dear readers to know me a little (you would always have the benefit of doubt for not knowing me in-person ^^) so that what you will be reading in the future, would make sense, and you could relate to anyone, or yourself, who you think is similar to who I am characteristically, personality-wise, and mentally. And it's also best for you to know where my passion to run comes from, and what is driving me towards that dream that seem impossible to lots of people...

It always seems impossible until it's done - Nelson Mandela 

We will start with how I got into running...

#71: The End is the New Beginning of A Dream

And the previous post will be the last post of HMOTD - Happy Moment Of The Day!

...Not because I'm gonna retire, but I'm gonna revamp the concept and title of this blog, after realizing I don't write as awesomely as Neil Pasricha. Though of course, these 70 posts so far had significantly kept me positive everyday, without me knowing it unless I take a moment to reflect on it. So instead of being a copy-cat, I decided to change the concept of this blog to a more personal-inspiring-story-blog, where I will share, talk, and discuss stories, topics, and happenings on myself, and people around me, who're chasing their dreams. What I would like to highlight will be those incidents, accidents, coincidences, problems, issues, etc that happened everyday, however positive or negative, however tiny or grand it is, will take me and all of us one step forward towards what we're chasing for in our life.

No one person or matter in life is not worth giving a thought, for they mould you into who you were, are, and will be.

In addition to those side stories, will be my own stages of achieving my own dreams. Like majority of the population, I've a dream in almost all major areas in life (i.e. career, sports, family, etc.). But the biggest of all is particularly in the area of sports. I've been a runner for a year now, and running amazed me in lots of ways as it did for the millions others who shared that same passion as I do. 

HMOTD #70: That thing that almost crushed me...

My apologies to all readers who've been following this blog, for the halt of entries the past two-weeks. I wasn't that positive or inspiring due to lead-up Powerman 2011 race that I got so excited I self-diagnosed myself to have Pre-Race-Depression (no, there's no such thing, or maybe it does?!). That's that, race had passed, and I got a satisfied but not-really-happy results. 


But like everyone said to me, "What's important is you gave it all you had" .Yeah! I definitely gave all I had, it could be worse with the likely-cramps, and strong cross/head-winds. Compared to me getting towards myself of "not being able to reach my goal although I've a new PB is not good enough", probably that 1 year wait, training, a new bike, and being able to run a 50 minutes 10K, puts pressure on what I'm expecting out of myself. 


Been there, done it, did it again, and gonna crush it next time

Powerman Malaysia 2011 Net Time: 4:21:58; Run1@59:32; T1@0:01:46; Bike@2:03:16; T2@0:01:55; Run2@1:15:32; Position: 55/90 (Top 61%@AG 20-29); 216/412 (Top 52%@Men's Only); 244/473 (Top 52%@Overall Ind); 14% position improvement

Photos after page break...

HMOTD #69: Playing In The Rain!

Our parents had most of the time told us that playing in the rain is a NO-NO. To the reason that we will definitely get a cold/flu, and maybe contracting a more serious disease relating to our lungs! So as kids, we don't really go out to the mud or the road, or even just in front of our house during a drizzle or a downpour, to wet ourselves. Of course, if you're living in an industrial area, it's definitely not advised to since the rain could be highly acidic and really really bad for our skin and health...

HMOTD #68: When You're Able To Get That Awfully Stubborn "Thing" Out From Between Your Tooth!

I don't know how some of you could withstand that annoyance when there're some leftover-pieces-of-food got stuck in between your tooth or gums after a great meal. Well, there're toothpicks for that purpose of course, to pick it out from that tooth-maze (I call it a maze because it's impossible to look where are you picking especially behind your tooth! Unless you're with a dentist or you've that tiny-round-mirror-stick)...

HMOTD #67: "SEAL - NICHOLAS"; YES SERGEANT.!

Been recruited into Original Bootcamp near my area (if not I wouldn't even think about it due to time management issues with work). It was always my plan to join a bootcamp, for the interest of it, the fun, the challenge, and the results. Working your way throughout tough regimes being motivated and pushed by the instructors is a damn sure way to get significant results in building and improving fitness. And I just need that extra help and diverse training program to build my base into running strong before going into pure run training. HOOYAH!