A Weekend To Remember...

During weekends, people usually get up late and stayed at home to rest. Others go to church and went straight to malls afterwards to take a stroll.

Me? I just got back from a dreadful, tiring but a satisfying weekend.

8 months ago during my first run, I watched in awe on how runners finish up their 21 kilometers run. I watched in astonishment on how they can withstand the pain, heat and the distance to complete such run. I even told myself, not even one person could ever talk me into running that far.

Whoops.

November 21, 2010, I finished a route not all runner could even complete. It was a route that will definitely brings the best out of all runners. It was a distance that will simply push each runner to their limit. It was that run that could determine one’s patience and perseverance.

Hence, it was the 32 Kilometer run.

As I’ve stated before, I was jittery. Even before the run began, I was nervous. I was shaking, evident to the fact that I went to the comfort room thrice in less than 20 minutes. People were warming up, taking short jogs and stretching. Others were taking their pre-runs vitamins like hammer gel, beans, etc while me, I’m just waiting in the starting line, hoping that the short rest is enough to propel me into the finish line.

4:30AM. It was a dark early morning as thousands of runners piled up in an effort to finish the run. Runners with several fashion trends patiently waited for the official start of the race. As the gun start fired, there I know that I’m part of the longest run of that day and it was the perfect time to face my fear.

For the first 19 kilometers, I ran slower compared to normal speed because I know I had to endure a longer distance and I had to conserve my stamina. I was neither even tired nor exhausted during that distance. I even kept telling myself, “Is this it? No challenge at all”. I even took only 3 out of 8 possible water stations.

As I approached the 22^nd kilometer, cramps starting to set in. It was in McKinley Hill that my leg started to feel a nagging pain that hindered my run. At first, I tried to brush it off, quoting myself “No Pain, no gain.” As I continue to run towards Heritage Park, the pain of cramps set it off. I tried to keep on running but simply to no avail. It was in the uphill climb of Lawton Avenue that I started to doubt myself whether I could finish the run or not.

On the 26^th kilometer, I was so relieved that I finally passed through the dreadful route of Heritage. As I started to run at a slower pace in the Lawton Avenue, my thoughts were very simple. I just need to pass McKinley Hill then I’m back in business. As my route finally started showing signs that I could still complete the route in my desired time, I started to feel confident knowing that it’s just a matter of time before I can see the word “FINISH”.

As I passed through Rizal drive, I saw one signboard that made me smile. It was written in a large font containing text “31K. Turn ->”. It was that time reality starting to set in. It was that time I questioned myself, “Am I really just 6-8 minutes away from completing this run?”

Reality did set in.

On the last turn towards the fort, I finally saw the word that has been eluding me for the past 4 hours.

“FINISH”

Alas, I’m a 32k finisher.

Never in my wildest dreams had I ever imagined completing this run. I never imagined that in my 26 years of existence, running will be my secondary sport behind basketball. Never had I imagined that I could run 32 kilometers for the fact that one year ago, I could not even run one complete fastbreak in basketball.

Everybody can call themselves runners. Everybody can run like 100 meters and call themselves runners. But not everybody has the mantra and the dedication to sacrifice in training and complete long distance runs. If half marathon is not enough, add 11 more kilometers to it as I used to say.

I’ll enjoy this moment for now knowing that I have just done what others deemed as impossible. I’ll let this sink in for a while. I was fortunate enough that God blessed me to have the energy to run despite my cramps. I’ll rest this sore knees of mine, knowing that this might not be the biggest accomplishment in my life when it comes to running.

Dream bigger, as they used to say. Well, it’s never too late to dream of a full marathon isn’t it?

Well folks, I just did. I dreamt and I was rewarded with a reality, a reality with a gold medal and a finisher shirt that says “I survived 32k” :)

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Time To Rewrite History

One month ago, i can still recall posting on my FB status "Just completed my pre-suicidal act.. i just registered myself for 32k run this November.."

Now, I can't believe that it's really happening.

In less than 48 hours, the biggest run of my life will officially unfolds. November 21, 2010 4:30 AM, i will be one of the many aspirants hoping to add another milestone to our resume when it comes to running.

Probably, i'm also one of the runners who are dreaming on conquering the last step-ladder to a full marathon of 42.195 KM.

As of now, jitters are starting to set in. Doubts, fear and the imagination of how long the route will be are the ones that running through my mind. I began to doubt myself whether i could really do this or not. I doubt whether my knee could hold for more than 3 hours of punishment. Friends who advised me before to skip this 32k is now turning to be a good idea.

Well, too late for that.

I'm hoping for the best. I'm hoping that weather would be an ally. I'm hoping that water stations are properly placed. I'm praying that i could withstand the pain and fatigue in order to withstood the greatest challenge ever faced me in the field of running. Like I've said, I've been an avid fan of this sport and completing this route will mean a lot to me.

Determination, Dedication and desire. 3 D's that i will remember throughout this run. I've conquered enough grounds for a rookie that now i find even more challenging route. Running from Manila Hotel all the way up to SM By The Bay and returning back to Manila Hotel is probably long enough for me to cover my stamina. Jogging,sprinting and rounding the wide school area of UP is probably fast enough for me to cover my speed. And countless hours in the gym working out to keep myself in the best possible shape is hopefully enough for me to complete this route.

As people used to quote, "Run Mike, Run". Well, i will. But when the going gets tough and my knees prevent me from running, then it's the perfect time to change the slogan to "Walk Mike, Walk".

But surely, i will give this run my best shot to complete in a best possible time.

Time to rewrite history.

32K to be added in the growing list of my achievements, or will it be first among my failure?

We'll see.... :)

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A New Beginning

Survey says that we people tend to do at least one stupid stuff in our lives that in the end, we will fully regret it.

People says that when people get heart broken or fallen deeply in love, we usually do something stupid or weird that we don't even care the outcome just so as long as we can do that certain something.

Yes, it is proven a fact that people go through these stages.

Including me.

For the past 4 months, i was blinded by a certain someone. I was down and depressed when i lost her. I did stupid stuff that my closest friends never imagined i could ever done in my entire life. These things haunted me as time goes by, wondering how could i ever done these things to myself. Questions began circling around my head, asking myself do i simply deserve this.

The past 4 months, i rebelled against my parents knowing they were the cause as to why i lost someone. I blamed myself being a Chinese and even blamed Chinese tradition as to why this tradition has to be surfaced and i have to suffer to their so-called beliefs. I blamed God and began to doubt whether there was even one. I was so hard to myself, telling myself if i could have done things differently than these things would not have happened.

Pretty stupid, huh? Well, it was really stupid and childish and i regret making those mistakes.

Now i realized the simple slogan, "Everything happens for a reason".

Better yet, I got bumped in the head and i finally woke up... in reality that is.

Closest friends keep asking me "Mike, kelan ka magigising?". Well, the time is now. I faced reality. Simple as that.

I tried to defy the odds of hoping to do the impossible. People doubted me, telling me it was simply impossible. Just 2 weeks ago, i just won the biggest battle that have faced me in 26 years of my existence. Now i ask myself, do i still deserved to be knocked down when all the happiness is out there for me to grab? Is it the end of the world just because i lost someone? Is there really no reason for me to live here in this world just because of one incident that happened on July 10,2010?

A simple answer. No. And the once arrogant, confident, young man named Michael Kent is back.

Bitter? I've matured enough to dispose bitterness inside me. Regret? We made choices in life that we need to face their respective consequences and regret is something that doesn't exist in my dictionary anymore.

When one door closes, another opens. This is one slogan that i would remember for the rest of my life. From Jennylyn Ong, God gave me a chance to know a better girl in Sheila Gaw. When things didn't work out, God gave me another wonderful opportunity in someone named Leah Andrea Amutan. For the past year, God gave me all the perfect memories that i would never forget being with her. As they used to say, "All good things must come to an end". Sadly, we parted ways on July 10,2010.

Who's next? I still don't know. But one thing that i'm sure of.. There will be someone after Leah Andrea..

Moving on is a phase and i can say I'm 80% closer towards that goal. I learned my lesson. It took me 2 years to move on from Sheila. 2 years is a very long period of sadness, bitterness and depression. Now, let's try 4-5 months as i try to close out one of the saddest chapter of my life.

Now, it's a perfect time for a new chapter. A new beginning that would make the book of Michael Kent interesting once again.

All it takes is one bump in the head. And of course, reality as well. :)

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