My Turning Point, My First Run!

My Past

Swimming is my love. I was (actually) trained as a competitive swimmer when I was 6 years old, represented the Sarawak state at the age of 11, but due to some reason, I was forced to quit when I was 12. I return swimming at the following year (13 yo) in another team, but, again, with some reason, I quit again. And that was the last time I ever had a proper training in swimming.

Year 1999 Sarawak Age Group

Year 1999 National Age Group

Year 1999 National Age Group

Year 2000 Sarawak Age Group

Year 2001 MSSMB

Swimming had always been a very important part of my life. After I stopped swimming, it seems like I lost something important. Emptiness. I lost my confident, I lost my self-esteem. Cause it seems like swimming is the only thing I knew. I tried other sports: Basketball, volleyball, ping pong, badminton... but I'm afraid that I will fall down (especially if I need to run backwards), I cannot predict the balls, the weight and stuffs... They also hurt me: I was hit by netball in the face, and my arms hurt after playing volleyball. It might be normal to the players, but not for me. And if you bring me out for hiking (my mum's favorite), the only thing I am thinking after I started is: Get me out of here! (The jungle feels like a cage to me)

Uni Swimming Life

And yet, as time goes by, I grew up, and, by God's grace, I went to university. Although this uni has no swimming pool at that time, they have a Uni-swimming team. I joined, and got the chance to be a swimmer again! But because we didn't have a coach to train us, we basically train by ourselves. Despite that I had stopped swimming for 6 years, I still managed to win 3 medals. Lucky me!

MASUM 2009

MASUM 2009

MASUM 2009

Last year, I managed to win 2 medals.

MASUM 2014

MASUM 2014

MASUM 2014

What happened between year 2010 and 2013? At first the competition clashed with our uni's final exam date (2010 and 2011), and then year 2012 I went to the competition but didn't win (haha!), then year 2013 I quit due to my studies, and that was the worst year I ever had!

The Alarm

The whole year in 2013, I didn't even exercise. Not even a light jog. I was too lazy and I thought that walking up and down the stairs was enough for me. And despite of my no-exercise life, I continued to eat the same amount I used to have! (I'm a big eater). So as time goes by, my body grows wider, and I start to feel heavy. (I don't even have the courage to step on the weighing scale) 

It was until the end of year 2013, where me and James' whole family went to Taiwan for a family vacation, then I realized, there's something wrong with my body. During the trip, I enjoyed the food: from deep fried to spicy to oily... everything! My stomach grew bigger day by day, as if I'm pregnant (Ughhhh...) It didn't get better even after the trip! And THAT's the moment that I said to myself, "THIS IS NOT GOOD!". I thought I'm still "young" enough to enjoy life. But the fact is, my health is getting worst as I grow old. And if I didn't make any changes on my lifestyle, I'm gonna be doomed!

Scoliosis

Oh yea, I forgot to mention, I don't really like to run because I have this thing called Scoliosis, and my back hurts very much if I run too hard. Swimming is the best sport for a person like me *wink*

My sexy spline!

Ok back to the story.

The Marathon Trend

The power of FB: Is you can see what your friends do no matter where you are or where they are, as long as they post it on-line! And that's where I start to realize more and more people had started to do this marathon thing. At first I really don't know that this kinda "sport" exist (sorry I'm dumb...), but after meeting with some of them, I start to know "Ohhh... Marathon eh!?" Haha! Then I think hmmm ok, next time if I have the chance, then I'll join one!!!

Then one day in 2014, I saw this Rainbow Run pamphlet at my church and I was so so so happy that I quickly poison some of my friends to go running with me! If I'm not mistaken it's around April or May, and the run is on November. So on that very day, we registered and wait for the day to come! I notified James and tell him that I will be joining this 7KM run and then I forgot for how long, he later tell me that our hometown Bintulu will also be organizing a night run on September and ask me if I wanted to join or not, since I will go back on that time. Then I think, oh well, since I will be running on November, why not take this as an experience first? So I registered, together with my mum. And so the night run in my hometown became my first run!

My First Run!

5th Sept 2014 - Maju Sarawak Night Run (5KM)

It was super crowded! I managed to ask some of my hometown friends if they are joining, so I met them before the event start. We waited and joked and did some weird warm ups together by following the people leading on stage then after... how long...? (I forgot haha!) We finally start running! Oh, yeah, we are waiting for the I-forgot-who to arrive to start the race. (Sorry I have bad memory hahaha!!!) Since it was night time, the weather is quite cool for me so I keep up quite a good pace. The thing I worried the most is my shoe - I wore my mum's shoe which I feel not comfortable with but that's the only shoe that I'm okay to wear that time. I forgot (again) why I didn't bring my own running shoe... XD But thank God, the shoe "performed" perfectly that night, and I only had problems on my back on the last 1 km.

Nike+ Running App shows 6.07KM.

As you can see from the image above, we were (at least I was) "cheated" an extra kilometer on the race... So I actually completed the "5 km" race when my back start to feel pain. That's how I comfort myself! At least I "completed" the "actual race" non-stop! Haha! So the last 1 km I walked and light jog a little when I feel okay. Here, I would want to thank my childhood swimming best friend - Tieng, for accompanying me in this last 1 km. Her comfort and care really melts my heart. I'm grateful to have such a wonderful and caring friend!!! ♥

Finally completed the run, together with Tieng!

And so... this marks the end of my first run! After this, I feel like I just want to keep running, join more runs and make a collection of the medals! (So this is my motive?!) Just kidding~ I want to take this as a motivation for myself, so I won't stop exercising and keep fit. Life nowadays are really stressful, we really need to have more awareness on how to manage our stress in the right way and at the same time living a healthy lifestyle!

Lastly...

Before start running, I ever wonder... One day, when I leave uni life, I will return to my life where I stopped swimming, and there will be no more swimming competitions for me. What will be my motivation to keep exercising? But after the runs, I am grateful I found the answer - Marathons! And now, I'm actually hoping that someday, I will step out of the pool, and try Aquathlon, since I really don't want to stop swimming! But... swimming in open sea is a problem for me... Hope I will overcome this problem by that time! Haha! And if everything is well for me, especially my spline problem, I hope that someday, I could try triathlon at least once in my lifetime!

I'm grateful I still can exercise despite my sexy spline! Moreover, it makes me appreciate all the moments when I can move! Thank you Lord for this thorn! :)

To the Future!

My next target: Half Marathon! Then the next next target... Overseas Marathon!!! I want to try doing half marathon with Nike Women in San Francisco!!! Such a great ambition I have, huh? Teehee!

Run to the future!~

xoxo,

rainelly ♥