Challenge...

I am a casual runner for more than a year now. I run for fun and for health reasons. Although there are times that I want to make this my primary sport, I am still hesitant. I'm scared to push on my limits.

Everytime I run, I encounter disturbing muscle pains to the point that I can no longer run. These usually occurs at my lower back and hamstrings. I fear that worse things can happen, like injuries due to the existence of pain.

A lot of articles say that runners should train two weeks before running. But this is not always the case for me. I only train (my longest) for one week. This is the reason why I'm almost sure that there is a great possibility of acquiring injuries for me if I continue to run longer distances, more than 3-5k.

But this fear didn't changed my mind. Instead, I took it as a challenge. I ran 10K last 35th national Milo Marathon.

I always run with my running partner (and girlfriend) April, but she was given a free 5k runner Milo package this year. I still decided to try 10k. It had been my first running event without her on the same category.

It was a rainy morning. But the race needed to go on. I felt strong that time, I am wearing my Vibram Bikilas and my strides felt perfect. As I approach the 4km mark, I started to feel the pains already, and I started to walk in ten steps, then jog for 5 mins then walk again.

Few meters had pass when I saw April's brother got past the 5km mark. He applauded me, maybe for still continuing to run despite the pains I am suffering then (yes, it was obvious from my run).

As I reached the 5km mark, I remembered April, how she is always telling me that nothing bad can happen and that I can push myself as far as I can..that I have the capacity to surpass even just one level above from what I previously accomplished. So I told myself not to walk anymore. It had been a long and cold (due to the rain) run but I kept on pushing because I don't want April and the other people with us to wait for me for a long time.

I felt the pains, but I didn't mind them. I still ran. I ran and ran until there came the moment where my body didn't feel anymore pain, maybe my body got immunized.

Fortunately, I finished, and April was there waiting for me. She was proud of me and I was proud of myself too. I finished the race even if I ran alone and I didn't get any injuries that I was afraid of. I passed the challenge...