First of all, I want to thank New Balance for all the help and support rendered. Thank you very much! Not forgetting my close friends and running friends. Thanks for all the advices and concern given when I was down and out. Thanks for all the things you taught me and the encouragement given, no matter how small. Andy, Xia Xia, Jiapei, Meichun, Jacqueline, Sandy, Alex, Edmund, Aileen .. just to name a few .. Thank you.
All right. Let’s not go through all my races again here. They were already written down in my blog.
Over the past year, I ran more and I ran longer. I ran new routes. I started reading more stuff on running. I improved (thank goodness!). I met more wonderful people who shared the same passion as me with running. I learnt a lot of new things. They included stuff related to running and not related to running. They included stuff about me and as well as others around me. Most importantly, I learnt about life.
I learnt to be even more humble. The more you run, the more you improve, the more you will realise that the people who are much better than you are actually keeping quiet. They will just come to the race, complete it .. and go off.
I believe there are people who are born runners. These are the people who can easily hit a sub 4 or even better, like sub 3.30, with much less effort required compared to the others. For the others, like me (as always), we have to rely on hard work. I always believe that there is no free lunch. If you want something, you have to work hard for it. Your foundation has to be good. In order for that to happen, you have to train for it. It is also this very process of training for our goals that makes achieving them taste much sweeter.
Do not impose your own standards onto others. Just because you can do it does not mean everybody also can do it. Everybody had their own weaknesses and bad points. Learn to accept theirs. Just like how they are tolerating yours.
“早知道我就跑快一点! (If I had known earlier, I would have ran faster!)”. I have learnt not to say this golden statement. The run (or any other matter) is already over by the time we say this. Does it change anything? Nope. So what’s the point of saying it? Will you register this as a lesson learnt in your mind? Hopefully yes. If not, you will be repeating the statement at the end of the next run. If we were able to predict everything beforehand, none of us will need to work. We will just be spending our money betting on the next 4D. The same goes for the statement “为什么你不跑快一点? (Why did you not run faster?)”.
I learnt to appreciate. I saw my friends falling out of action due to injuries and illnesses. I myself had burnt out my body and also hurt my legs, forcing me to a rest and only able to watch other people run. Now I learnt to appreciate the moment when I can run. Appreciate your good health. Appreciate the people running next to you. Appreciate the road you are running on. Appreciate the scenery around you as you run. Appreciate the wind blowing onto you. Appreciate the rain drops hitting onto your face. Appreciate the sun shining onto you. Appreciate the simple fact that you can run. Appreciate what you have. For they may not be there for you tomorrow.
I learnt not to push the blame. It is not because the race route is too steep. It is not because the weather is too hot. It is not because there are insufficient water points. It is not because the organisers did not provide isotonic drinks. It is not because suddenly it rained during the run. It is not because there are no supporters cheering you on. It is not because your MP3 player died on you before you start the race. The reason actually is very simple: You. Learn to take on whatever that comes along the way. Train for what you know is there. Train for what you guess will be there. Mentally prepare for what you do not know is there. Do not be scared of pain. It will always be there. Embrace the pain.
Give more than what you take. Do not expect anything from running. You will get back more than what you had wished for. I read this from “Born to Run”. It is a very good book. Everybody should go read it.
Lastly, what makes a good runner? I am still searching for the answer. There seems to be many answers for this question. Does it depend on how fast you cross the finish line? Does it depend on how many medals you managed to squeeze into the cookie can? Or does it depend on how many people you can bring into running? I am still searching. Maybe I will find the answer as I run more.
As 2011 approaches, new challenges are awaiting all of us. Among us, we are branching out into our own interests. Some are still running. Some moved into Ironman. To me, I still like running. I slowly came to realise that crossing the finish line of a full marathon does not seem to give me that much kind of kick anymore. Maybe that was why I had signed up for my first 100km race in Jun 2011. I am not sure how can I complete it. I am even more uncertain whether if I can complete it. The training programme is already more or less drafted out. By following it diligently, maybe I can finish the race. Maybe.
Go out and run. Enjoy the freedom. Enjoy the movement. Use your feelings to guide you. Run with your heart.
Run, Jacky! Run!
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