The November half marathon was booked well in advance, and I was set to run it with my keen runner friend. I aimed for a new personal best, but I also viewed it as a practice run. My preparation included regular runs between 12-14K, badminton twice a week, and football once a week. After achieving a PB in the Victoria Park Half, I felt confident about my running.

The Setback

However, a week before the planned half marathon, I developed flu-like symptoms. I was shivering and felt weak. Two days before the race, I started to feel better but was not at 100% and still suffering from low energy levels. Despite this, I decided to go ahead with the race.

Race Day Struggles

The day started out a little wet, and I was worried about the weather. I brought a light raincoat, but my friend advised that I would be too hot with it. As an experienced runner, he was right. I ended up tying it around my neck and over my shoulders, but it kept slipping during the race, playing on my mind and adding to the distractions.

The first 11K went smoothly. I paced myself at sub-5 minutes per kilometer and felt relatively good. Then, everything changed. My energy levels began to drain rapidly, and nothing I did seemed to help. Even taking gels had no effect. At 15K, I felt the urgent need for a toilet break, so I spotted a park toilet and took a quick stop. After that, my head started pounding, likely due to a lingering head cold. My pace dropped dramatically as I struggled to find the energy to run faster.

The last 5K seemed like it would never end. I gave up the hope of a PB and decided I just needed to finish. The Goggins in me came out, pushing me to finish despite the challenges with my energy levels. My pace slowed, and it became a test of sheer willpower to keep going.

When I finally crossed the finish line, I felt faint and was very pale. The lady handing out drinks at the end asked if I was okay, a clear sign that I didn’t look well. Meeting up with my friend afterward, he also commented on how pale I looked. I was just glad the whole experience was over.

Reflections

This experience was a stark reminder that plans don’t always go as expected. Despite my preparation and previous successes, unforeseen circumstances can derail even the best-laid plans. It was a humbling experience, but it also taught me the importance of listening to my body and being flexible with my goals.

Have you ever faced a situation where everything seemed to go wrong despite your best efforts? How did you cope with it, and what did you learn from the experience? Sharing our stories can help us support and motivate each other through the ups and downs of our journeys.

Taking a Break

After this challenging race, I decided that December would be a break month. I needed time to rest and recover before starting my marathon training. It was essential to listen to my body and ensure I was in the best shape possible to tackle the next phase of my running journey.

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Feel free to share your thoughts, experiences, and advice. Together, we can motivate and uplift each other on this incredible journey.