Runner's High

I picked up running in 2005 in Hong Kong, and have been doing it ever since. My first running event was the 2005 Harbor 5K Run, follow by the Standard Charter Marathon 10K Run in 2006 all in Hong Kong. I started running on the treadmill at the gym at least 3x a week, and began reading all sorts of data, research and information on running. In 2008, I started training for the 2009 San Francisco Half Marathon which I finished in 3 hours and 20 minutes, and I was going to do it again in 2010, but I missed so many training days due to writing my Thesis, that I couldn't catch up with the mileage. However, I did re-joined the group in their last week of training when they were tapering off their mileage.

Running has become part of my life, and I enjoy it more especially with the camraderie of a group more than running alone on a treadmill. I've modified my running routine a little since I am afraid of damaging my joints which would become more salient in my 'older' years. My right knee aches when I run long-distance. Even though I've discovered KT tape, which works really well, I think it's good to exercise moderately, and enjoy it rather than dread the effects of aches and pain when I over-exert myself. It's just not worth it at all. I no longer enjoy running on the treadmill in the gym at all, instead I like to do outdoor 45-minute cardio by doing intervals of 1 minute fast running and 4 minutes brisk walking. I still want to do 5Ks and 10Ks, and another half-marathon, but I'm not planning on doing a full-marathon at all. I think I've proven enough to myself that I could run, and finish a race when I put my energy and commmitment into the training. It's time to move forward with a running routine that suits and fits me perfectly, so that I could continue to enjoy it, and discover the meaning of health in the process, and appreciate the movement of the human body. May there be more running days ahead, with beautiful running mates to share the path with! They make it all worthwhile and inspirational! Cheers to a lifetime of running!

Above & Below are photos I've taken of my running days. They make me smile and feel strong! ;-)