Looking towards December

This evening I had a pleasant recovery jog at KLCC park. First with Gan (2 laps) and then with Jamie and Kenneth (3 laps). We talked about the upcoming PJ half marathon and the Singapore Marathon in December

I have registered for 3 races this September.The first was yesterday - the Putrajaya half marathon. I was very satisfied with my time - 2 hrs 04 min 32 seconds. The main reason for being satisfied is my half marathon times for this year has been quite bad - around 2 hrs 15 to 20 minutes for three races. These are the same times I was runing way back in year 2000 when I ran my first my half marathon in Penang. So I was quite pleased at my time at the Putrajaya race.

My mind is not in the next two races; the PJ half marathon this Sunday and Shah Alam 10km the following Sunday. It seems I am always drifting towards the Singapore race in December 2005. Last year's race was a disaster of sorts as I really suffered in the 21 km race. First my left foot became swollen and painful at the 10 km mark. Secondly my right knee started to hurt soon afterwards. It was downhill from then as I alternated between walking and running over the last 11 km. I finished the race in 2hrs 16 minutes, my slowest time in 4 years.

That is why now in September I am looking towards December when I would again line up on a warm and humid morning in Singapore to run the race again. To erase the memory of last year's race and to redeem myself, I must train to make sure the outcome this race will be almost certain and have positive result. But in running, there is always an element of uncertainity on race day; " Will today be my day ?"