Marathon Medals in 8 yrs

26.2 miles (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009) This is my favourite as this picture span across 5 years, an approximate of 169km covered on race day, plus a few thousand kilometers in training run.

The toughest was 2008 Sundown Marathon, completed the race under a Cat 1 thunderstorm in the early morning. Runners were told to take shelter in nearby bus stops, but most of us just ran towards the finish line in the last few kilometers. Stopping and taking a break is not an option, not even in a storm.

Singapore Sundown Marathon 2008, 2009, 2010

The end of Singapore Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon from 2002-2009.
Medals shown here are from 2003-2009

This is the 8th year of distance running, had ran thousand of kilometers in training over the years. Shown here are Sundown Marathon and Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon medals.

Early this week, a good friend Steven captured these pictures to be used as stock photos. Every medal tells a story, facing the unknown, the struggle, the setbacks, the pain, the fear, the satisfaction... hopefully all runners can enjoy their run, it is not necessary to be the fastest, importantly, upon crossing the finish line, you knew you had gave your best.

Mile
1. Hello Start Line - Goodbye Doubt
2. Goodbye Fear
3. Hello Spectators - Goodbye Nerves
4. Hello Little Water Cups - Goodbye Anxiety
5. Goodbye Uncertainty
6. Hello Headwind - Goodbye Good Enough
7. Hello Cold - Goodbye Cynicism
8. Hello Warm Numbness - Goodbye Pain
9. Hello Don't Stop Now - Goodbye Arrogance
10. Hello Pounding Heart - Goodbye Overconfidence
11. Goodbye Giving Up
12. Goodbye the Easy Way Out
13. Hello Halfway Point - Goodbye Obstacles
14. Goodbye Pessimism
15. Goodbye Comfort Zone
16. Goodbye Apathy
17. Goodbye Cramping
18. Goodbye Coasting
19. Hello Wall. Goodbye Ego
20. Goodbye Struggle
21. Goodbye Demons
22. Goodbye Weakness
23. Hello Adoring Fans. Goodbye Previous Best
24. Goodbye Limitations
25. Hello Almost There- Goodbye Disbelief
26. Hello Finish Line - Goodbye Old Me

from the ad of ING New York City Marathon

Steven is an assigned official photographer for the coming Youth Olympic. For the latest photos updates in the coming month: AsianPhotosArts

More interesting & latest YOG updates! Till next post.

关于跑步 - About Running

Recently, finished reading a book in Chinese, 关于跑步, a runner friend lend me this book. In English translation - What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. The author wrote this book between summer 2005 to autumn 2006.

The book was written by an award winning Japanese author by the name 村上春树. Haruki Murakami, winner of the Yomiuri Prize for Literature. The original book was published in Japan by Bungei Shunju Ltd, Japan. The Chinese translation is in complex/traditional character only. No problem with that, although we are using simplified character in Singapore.

In the book, the author talks about running his first marathon in Athens following the route of Phidippides, qualifiying for the prestigious Boston Marathon, ran in the Japan ultramarathon of 100 km without walking within a cutoff time of 11 hrs plus, and marathons both in US & Japan. After a long running career, he took part in the Ironman. He mentioned about his training program, from running 6 days a week (1o km per session) to running 7 days a week. Progressive monthly increament, covering a total distance of 260 km, 310 km, 350 km per month. Also thoughts on distance running and the mental & phyiscal aspects of running long distances.

In the last sentence, the author talked about the pride of running a marathon without walking a single step, he achieved that in all the marathons he finished, not walking a single step no matter how painful it was, even in the 100 km race.

This is what he wish to have on his tombstone.

至少到最後都沒有用走的

At least, till the end I didn't walk.

For experienced runners, this can be a goal to achieve in the 26.2 miles race. No walking (maybe just during drinking) and running the full distance. I'm certain to use this as a motivation in the coming race in a few months time.

the book has this quote (not from the author):
Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional.


Earlier post:
Marathon Medals

Kerry Hartjen's Hedgehog

Vagabond Hedgehog

Rainy Day Hedgehog and ducks

Kerry Hartjen is a fine artist from USA. He is fond of painting small things...especially hedgehog, his paintings are available for sale on the internet.

It is exciting to came across such nice paintings, I will be getting some water color, brushes and start drawing too.