Post Run Update: 37th Milo Marathon

A day after the 37th Milo Marathon, having ran on the 10K category, here I am enduring muscle pains on my thighs, calves, hips, butt, and back. I call them my battle wounds hehehe.  I've gone through even worse pain during the first few days of my Tai ji training some years ago, so I know I'll live through this.  Usually, it's the 2nd day after the workout when I feel the worse, so tomorrow, I'd probably be groaning more when I go up and down the stairs.  My knees are surprisingly in a somewhat better condition, so I am not limping.  I can walk normally although I wince internally sometimes.

Tired but happy runners

  

This is my 2nd time to run in the 10K category and my first time to do so with Milo.  I can't help but notice that the enthusiasm in this category pales in comparison with the 5 and 3K categories.  Ah maybe because there are more younger folks there. The 10K category probably has more of the more serious runners.  I suppose so, because I have not spotted even one runner ever taking a selfie or a group picture along the race route.  This is the intermediate category, I suppose and you can really feel the more competitive spirit thicker.

Still, as in any race, I only try to beat my own self.  There is no point in trying to outpace other people, unless I am aiming for a top spot.  So, at gun start, I walked.  I let the eager ones get ahead of me and I waited until the crowd is thinner before I started running.  On certain intervals throughout the route, I kept putting my hands up, sitting on my head or way up above my head and shaking them from time to time.  I don't want to have a repeat of the fat fingers hehehe.

Still alive and kicking

I clocked at 1 hour, 32 minutes and 6 seconds but I am still waiting for the official chip time.  I did not meet my target of less than 1.5 hours, but it was a good try and still is a good run even if I got tired too easily.  I'm thinking it's probably that time of the month or I just simply lacked practice.  What's important though is that I finished the race strong and am still healthy by my standards hehehe.      

So why am I paying up for an event where I get my body beaten?  It's really kind of hard to explain, but when you're into running, you somehow get it.  And while on the running route, I do ask myself that same question from time to time.  I just remind myself to go on and finish the race.  When that is not enough, I think of those kids who will be the happy recipients of new running shoes and it never fails to give me a boost.  Actually, it's not just about the shoes but what Milo Marathon believes in, which is this:

It's not just about winning and getting a medal...but about building champions in the game that is called life.

P.S.  We were not able to go to the Taba Congress anymore.  When the adrenaline rush wore off, we were all dead beat.  Maybe next time.  

P.P.S.  Finally got my official time - Chip time: 1:30:18 (Source)  I missed my mark by 18 seconds...not bad hehehe.