My first 5km…

I don’t run. I dislike it intensely. Something about perspiring in public just puts me off the whole exercise.

I did toy with the idea of walking the full 5km during the mini-tri but that’s just lame. Hence, two months away from the big day, I decided perhaps it was time to embark on my first 5km run.

Disclaimer: The closest I’ve ever come to smelling 5 clicks was the enforced regular school 2.4km run. Oh and once on a treadmill i chalked up 3.5km, but I walked half of the way. Doesn’t count.

Knowing full well I was going to need a lot of help, one Wednesday evening, I sought out my colleague and fellow mini-triathlon(er) Sarah Porter to go with me to the Nike Run Club SG. The route would take us from Wisma Atria down to the Botanic Gardens, a quick round inside and back out again. As an added incentive, we got to run in a pair of Nike’s to get a real feel for them.

Digressing from the whole running bit for a moment, up till then, I never realised how hard it was to choose the right pair of shoes. For Sarah who has had a knee reconstruction, her shoes must have proper arch support to stop against her ankles and feet bending inwards (pronanting). For myself, lower back problems and all, i needed something with some arch support, so it was a pair of Nike Air Span 6’s that i eventually bought. Shame though cause I really liked the look/feel of the Nike Lunar’s – very bouncy!.

Back to the run. It was hell. Seriously. At one point, i thought I was going to pass out. Fitness aside, i stupidly wolfed down some pasta salad an hour before the run. Yes, this is the sort of running idiot that I am.

I did make it to the end though, big thanks to Sarah who eggged me on and Meng who patiently ran alongside me dispensing tips on how I should train up to complete the full 5km.

‘Regulate your breathing throughout the run. Build up by walking 4 minutes, running for 12 and keep doing that for more than 30 minutes. Aim to increase your time by 10% each week and make sure you’re falling on the front of your foot.’

It’s been three weeks since I completed my first 5km. I’ve not since repeated the feat BUT i am comfortably running 3.5km thanks to friends (Lyn, Knut, Sarah) and family (Lani and Shuen) who have been supportive running buddies.

I’ve still got a long way to go but at least I’m making headway.

My running mate Sarah... I'm so tired I can barely open my eyes!