Zech:hongyee 1st 42Km - I always thought it was impossible.

Hi Everyone,

Thanks Seow Eng for all the encouragement. It was my first 42km run. All the while, I have not been training very much, and at most I was only able to clock a distance of 10km. Before the race, I carbo load for a week, and hydrated myself sufficiently for the day. I have completed a 21km run last year and I knew running 42 km would be quite crazy, because after running 21km, I would still have another 21km to go. At the end of the run, due to the lack of training, preparation and planning, it caused both of my legs to suffer extreme pain.

During the race, I managed to complete the first 21km in 2hr10min, but after crossing the bridge, both of my legs started to cramp up. Hoping to relieve myself of the pain as I continued to jog, I tried to stretch and massage to no avail. In order to continue the race, I had to engage a different set of muscles, which will only allow me to walk. Hahahaha! So I struggled with the cramp, and walked for the remaining 21km. Every single step was such a pain, but it was also a decision I had to make to complete the race or not. At times, especially when I was walking along Tampines Road, the temptation of giving up and going home was great. I told myself that I cannot give up, as my friend once told me, you will feel everything is possible in life, once you finished the marathon.

There is always a lesson to learn in everything in life, but the lesson is engraved into you more when you are in pain or stress, because it comes with a price. From this marathon I have learned that one should never underestimate the distance of 42km, even though you have completed 21km. In addition, to go through a long journey happily, you will have to plan ahead, be discipline in your training and in sticking to your plan. I love to run fast and complete the race, but to run a marathon, I have to control the urge to run at a faster pace in order to run far. So discipline in sticking to your plan is very important.


So guys and gals, as for now, the backlash for my poor planning, training and lack of discipline, has caused me great pain whenever I take a step to move for the past 2 days and it has reduced my walking speed by 4 times that of my regular walking speed, even an old man walks faster than me now. Sigh!!

But at least I have completed my first 42KM. Hooray!!! I'm now looking forward for my upcoming one. 


.:There is More to just a Run:.
Being a Christian has never been easy for me, because i am the first generation of Christian in my family. I used to be a Buddhist. But now i am a Child of Christ. From this run, God has showed me more of Himself, that He has always been there for me, has plans for me even before i was born. However, I had to make that choice to be with God and choose Him. Choosing Him was not easy, carrying the cross daily is just like running a marathon. You have to first make the step to register for the run, which is acknowledging him as the Lord and Savior, then disciplining yourself in your training, which is in praying and doing your Quiet Time. You have to stick to your plan in terms of not running faster, which is to have faith in God.

After doing all these, it is all about experiencing the journey. With lesser preparation, more pain and temptation will come along the way. Just like me, there was the temptation of going back home when i was in Tampines and the pain i had to suffer. So as Christians, if we lacked discipline and the preparation, then when all these temptations and pain creep in, you will give up easily and experience more pain.

Despite of all these, i had finished the race, because i did not give in to the temptation and pain in every step i took. But most importantly, i took the first step to register for the run, else i wouldn't be able to say that i have finished the run.

God Bless, hongyee: Zech