I usually participate only in 10KM fun runs most of the time. In 2022, I participated in my first ever Half Marathon and this year, joined 2 more HM events. The idea of running a full marathon came up during conversations with my running ARSG @takbongbanayad friends, leading me to register for SCSM 2023.

In early August, Adidas Runners Singapore (ARSG) initiated the marathon training season with a 16-week plan. I committed to following it diligently and over the 16-week journey, I incorporated various runs, including easy runs, hill repeats, long slow distances, and intervals. Weekdays (and Saturdays) were dedicated to adhering to the plan, with long runs shifted to Mondays to reserve Sundays for family day.

During the training, I observed some improvement in my speed. As I got comfortable with speed runs, my focus then shifted to increasing my distance. Although falling short in 2 separate earlier attempts due to cramps, a successful 30KM run in Punggol marked a turning point, albeit with intermittent walking and casual jogging to prevent cramping once again.

In the weeks leading up to the marathon, I adhered to my routine runs, prioritizing injury prevention. Confidence in finishing the marathon was high and I've set a mental target for a 4:30 finish.

Of course, things don’t always work according to plan. I was doing well the first 17 KM and even noticed that I may have been running faster than my planned race pace. However, I started having a stomach ache by kilometer 18 and started slowing down. By 22KM, I started feeling cramps on my right calf and left thigh that I started walking it off to relax my muscles a bit. In my training experience, the slower I run, the more prone I am to cramps. I decided to continue walking and look for the nearest water/aid station. I continued to walk/jog/run pace as much as I can all throughout the remainder of the run. In the end, I was able to sprint to the finish line with a feeling of accomplishment.

I AM A MARATHONER

Up next #2024RevengeRun 

📸 sportograf.com

(originally posted in my Instagram account)