I started this blog as a journal to document my progress as I start to pick up running, and serve as a form of motivation along this road. At the same time, I figured it'll be a great place to pen my thoughts as I explore various aspects of running and my barefoot journey.
I've never been much of a runner as a kid. I was fat and slow, always coming in last. As a consequence, I hated running, even up to my university days, although I started to pick it up again grudgingly to improve my cardio. Even then, it was sketchy at best. I'd had bursts of running fever where I'd force myself to the tracks three times a week, followed by long laxes before I revisited it again.
This year however, I'm resolved to make running a part of my life.
It started with one of my training partners sharing how he trained for his impressive cardio - a one hour run on almost a daily basis. At first I brushed it off as an impossible feat for me to achieve. After all, I hated running and even 30 minutes was torture, how would I ever make an hour?
Keeping in mind how I hated running, this is a big deal to me, even if it's piddling to regular runners.
But the seed was planted, the damage done. Every time when I was training, I couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, I could do it too. After all, my body was lighter, fitter, and stronger than it used to be, and I was at the prime of my life. If not now, then when?
Around the same time, I chanced upon the book 'Born to Run' by Christopher McDougall. I had clocked a few runs by then and was surprised by how well my body was handling it. The book cemented my faith in myself and inspired me to reach higher. A marathon maybe, and work my way up to an ultra? If I couldn't run fast, perhaps I could at least run long and endure.
I know I'll never be the fastest runner on the planet, but I'll be happy just to complete one. I'm excited to see how far I can push my limits once I set my mind to it.
And so it begins, a journey to discover what I'm really made of, and hopefully I'll survive to achieve my goals.
