Thanks (but no thanks) to the Kids!

We really have our kids to thank that MY ONE and I were able to complete our maiden 10km run since parenthood began, 12 years ago to be exact! 

It all started with a very innocent question from yours truly after chancing upon the SAFRA Bay Run advertisement in the PIONEER magazine. I was just casually asking whether they think mummy should sign up for the run. When an overwhelmingly enthusiastic affirmation came along, I began to chicken out with excuses like, "It's been half my life time ago that I last did long distance running!" and the mother of all excuses, "I have become so unfit after having all of you especially after all the weight gain cum lost which had caused all the saggy muscles and stretched marks!"

The sportsman in the family, Nigel, then opined, "Mummy, as you have always said, it's all in the mind. If you really want something that badly, nothing can stop you! It's mind over body remember?" Then came the punch line from Claire, "PRACTISE WHAT YOU PREACH!" Still able to recall vividly the ongoings of this conversation in the car enroute to their classes. There was no turning back since.

So I started with 2km sometime in June, increasing one round at the track during every subsequent practice run. Mind you, the kids really did keep track of whether I was keeping up with the training programme with their incessant, "How many rounds did you do today?", but of course encouragement was aplenty whenever I was up to speed. Not to mention, suffering needs companionship, hence MY ONE was dragged in.

Out to prove a point to the kids but we ended up reaping the good fruits of keeping fit, "pak tor" whilst running, sometimes in the rain as well (relieving good old romantic days I would say). I have never been fitter and closer to MY ONE over a sport. Though it feels good to revisit my old love - running, I will be no where close to digging my own grave by announcing to the kids my intent to do a half marathon!