I did it!

Yes ! I did the marathon this morning and got the "tee-shirt that money can't buy"!

It was BAD! I got cramps in both legs, calves and a stitch in my left side around the 35k mark and walked the last few kms because the stitch just wouldn't go away. I was trying to jog still, but when I saw runners by the side needing help from the first aiders around the 40k mark, I decided that I should focus on finishing the race rather than on my timing! But when I saw the finishing line, adrenaline kicked in, and I sprinted (well, more like hobbled quickly!) to the finishing line! It's the most amazing feeling in the world to cross that line. That's why I run. And the camaraderie is great, cos we're cheering each other on to cross the line, and we high-5 each other when we're done.

The Singapore Marathon has this tag that I like - "Run your own race". And that's what a marathon is all about. Yah, there are the elites who run for the money, but there are scores of others who do it for all sorts of reasons, and we're not competing with each other, it's just the test between your body and your mind and spirit. Many people put signs on their backs, like running for Jesus, running for a person, running in memory of the 5 dragon boaters who died etc. There was someone who put the sign "For the teeshirt". I liked that. Cos to me, the teeshirt symbolizes an achievement attained through sweat and pain. It means SOMETHING. You can't buy it, you can't borrow it. You have to earn it.

Right now, I'm not looking forward to the days of pain while I'm recovering, but I'm already thinking whether I should try doing it again next year, to try to improve my timing. It's true. Marathons are addictive.....and I'm hooked!