So You Want to be a Runner?!
I usually get my best ideas for writing when I am either sitting outside near the beach with a fresh coffee or inside a plane, thousands of meters above the ground. The latter is the case right now while typing this blog entry started en route from Europe to Australia with the prospect of competing in the 2024 Sydney Marathon.
Two years ago, the mere thought of this would have sounded quite absurd but running has become a healthy habit that I don‘t want to miss anymore. Sometimes, I am even fortunate enough to combine competing in races with work trips such as the previous adventure Down Under. And all of this is happening despite that I am not really a typical runner.
My first marathon took place in Hà Nội, Vietnam, and was quite chaotic due to traffic near the finish line. Since then, I have completed another seven full marathons and one 45km race while my attempt at making it through a 100km competition was cut short at 73km.
I was certainly not prepared just yet for such a distance and still haven’t been able to train properly and consistently for the 42.195km / 26.2 miles due to work commitments, which include lots of travel. So why exactly would I be so foolish and sign up for more than 30 races in two years?
The nature of various challenges is what drives many people to get out of their comfort zone and long distance running is definitely not comfortable for the average human being. Almost everybody can do it, no matter what pace, but many underestimate the mental aspect that comes along with it.
As far as I am concerned, many a times I get the following response when I mention my upcoming competitions during work trips.
“Oh, I didn’t know you are a runner.”
Never really known for dressing to impress, I have become very good at hiding the extra few kilos on my jelly belly. My Body Mass Index is just below 25, which puts me on the verge of having too much weight for my height. I am 1.81m tall and usually wiggle between 79 and 82 kilos.
During pandemic days, that was a lot worse as my weight peaked at 95 kilos and I was terrified when I looked at some sightseeing pictures. For what it is worth, though, running isn’t necessarily the perfect solution to lose weight but always comes in connection with improving other aspects of your life.
Most notably, that would be nutrition and I am fully aware that a six-pack is likely never going to happen, at least not under my current stressful work environment.
The good news is, that almost everybody can be a runner.
You don’t need to be faster than one hour for 10km or run a sub three hour marathon. The latter would definitely be above-average and I am rather aspiring to finish closer to four hours first before pushing wild dreams into my wishful thinking.
Running has gained more mainstream popularity throughout the last few years with many global and regional operators hosting competitions all year long. Every pace has its place, though, some races have specific cut-off times to open the closed roads to the public again.
Apart from that, it’s everybody’s game to practice and many sports venues offer free access to hobby runners, some even host weekly training sessions for running clubs. I have been lucky enough to find such a club, even though travel has gotten in the way of attending the weekly runs more regularly.
While it would be nice and far more enjoyable to have like-minded people around, there is literally nobody stopping anyone to just grab the shoes, sports clothes and get some fresh air. Running for me is the perfect way to not only maintain my personal fitness, but also improve my own mental health.
It has been a slow progress of improvement so far and not as steady as I was hoping for, but in the end they are just numbers. My race times are still only average but I was able to beat my records for all but the 10km and 21km distance this year. For the time being, longer distances are the more desired direction with a select few more Ultras planned for 2025.
If anyone would have told me that one year ago with just one mediocre marathon under my belt, I would have certainly called them bat-shit crazy. But in just 12 months, I have made many new friends who share the same passion and perhaps even inspired some of my old friends to give it a shot.
What exactly do you have to lose? Some money for proper shoes, time to train and a little bit of your sanity? That train has left long time ago, but we only have one health and it will become a lot harder with age to maintain and improve your own balance.
As far as the 2024 Sydney Marathon is concerned, it was not a personal record for me. The official race results show a time of 4h30 and 35 seconds, my second-fastest after Seoul earlier this year. I changed a few things and simply couldn’t maintain the pace on the second half after trying to stay on target time for the first 25km.
But it was also the biggest race I have competed in so far with nearly 25,000 runners and a lot of spectators alongside the course in the streets of Sydney. We ran across and under the iconic Harbour Bridge and finished next to the Opera House, a truly unforgettable experience.
The next even bigger challenge is just two weeks away — my first World Major in Chicago. In the Windy City, more than 47,000 participants crossed the finish line and they expect a new record for this year. And hopefully, I will be among those on October 13 to hang the medal around my head with a big smile on the face.
Even with ten such long distances under my belt already, I don’t take anything for granted. Yes, I very much would like to set a new record for myself in two weeks from now. It will be a different magnitude to soak in for sure. But the top priority will always be staying healthy, because there is always another race.
But first, there will be a 21km slow run under race conditions in Kalibo on the first weekend of October with my Run Aklan family. Basically, I get the best of both worlds in running. Isn’t that something to cherish and look forward to?
To anyone reading this: Best of luck in your running exploits, no matter where or how fast they will be. Stay safe, sane and healthy! And beware of stairs after a race.
