City to Surf

-The Starting line-

I've actually wanted to do a city to surf run for quite a while now. Its just that I never had the chance since it was always near mid-semester exams. This year I was going to give it a miss too.. since I only found out when it was on one week before the start date. But that is just where the story begins.

On Thursday night I had dinner with Ali, Lisa and Ed at Hawkers Cuisine. Surprisingly the food was not bad.. I must admit I had some negative preconceptions about Hawkers.. given our history and all. Anyways. This is when the sale begins. Edshi had just entered the city to surf and the race was on... to convince me to do it with him. LOL. At first I was thinking.. yeah I wanna do it.. but I'm not ready.. I don't have time.. I shouldn't. But the more Edshi asked and briefed the more I felt bad. I knew I was just making excuses... excuses to not do it despite knowing its on my list of things to accomplish. So finally I agreed and got Jie to register me since I didn't have time to make the register myself.

It took her an hour to get me registered (and yes I know that because she wouldn't stop whinging about it). But I was officially entered into the run. What this meant was that now that I had started something I HAVE TO FINISH IT.

Me before the run.. Nervous!

Edshi Before the run ...Confidence!

So on Sunday morning I met Edshi and his friends at Esplanade Park bright and early and ready to run. I was scared... petrified really since dad told me it was 15km from home to the city .. and we were planning to run for 12km!!! THATS CRAZY. But we had to do it.. and deep down I knew we could (tho mind you none of my family members had any faith in me.. they were all betting against me!).

~The run~

After 20mins the reality of what we had just done to ourselves have really set in.. along with the shortness of the breath. I was really scared of the road ahead. But at the same time we were still quite optimistic. Pushing each other to continue!! It wasn't even 2km and I had already wanted to turn back.. it seemed like forever already and I was beginning to doubt whether or not we could last. And then we hit the first drink station. *breathe* The first 2km seems like forever.. it was really difficult. And it was then when Edshi told me that there would be a drink stop every 2kms. And here I was thinking we were half way already when we had only done 2 or the 12km T.T I was certain we wouldn't make it but at the same time we still had the willpower to push on!

-The Road Ahead-

Ok so we ran a lot of the way but we did have our little mini breaks every now and then for example from a traffic light to a tree.. haha it was these small walking breaks I think that go me over the line :) That and pushing each other to do it! After the 6th km I was looking forward to each following drink station.. and it became the immediate goal... to just make the next drink station.

-Enthusiastic Edshi Can do it!!-

Edshi: "Noelle is this really the time to be camwhoring"

Noelle: "YyyeEEeeSSS!"

At 10kms was when the pain truly fell off the breaking point. I was in soooooo much pain I really wanted to cry.. but I didn't want to slow Edshi down .. tho I know I made him take more breaks after the 10km mark than before. It was just so killing me and my legs were seriously threatening to abandon body. The last 500meters was supposed to be the easiest run .. you know when the finish line was in sight. But not for me. It was more painful than anything. Edshi said that we had to run it to the finish line.. we just had to.... But I just didn't have it in me anymore. I really wanted to collapse there and then. But I was so close... really so close!!! So with one last effort I made it across the line. Actually Edshi should have finished before me.. but he was so nice he let me cross the line before him. We really should have crossed together. I complained soooooooo much. Sorry Edshi I really am (I take back all the times I said I hate you =D). And thank you Edshi for the encouragement and letting me cross first.

-My Reward.. A Yummy Apple-

We made it and I'm really proud that we did. We made it in 88 minutes apparently. *proud*

SooooOoo...

next year...?