Re: I’ll be doing my first Half Marathon!

Once upon a time..

Well, it’s actually 2.5 years ago. As a non-runner I absentmindedly signed up for the Melbourne ‘Run For The Kids’ 15km course 7 weeks before the race day. My colleague Paul C. and I had this conversation*:

PC: Don’t worry about it! There’s an app you can use that gets you from Couch to 5K in 8 weeks.

MT: ..

PC: OH wait, you’re going for the 15K..?

MT: yea..

PC: .. Good luck Melly! (tapped on my shoulder and walked away)

*I have his permission to share this.

But for those of you who followed my journey back then know that it happened – but not by luck. It takes a lot of hard work (and thanks to those who have supported in different ways)! (FYR: https://runforthekids2015.gofundraise.com.au/page/TjoaMelly)

What happened since?

I continued running (just short 2-3km leisure run), not because I love running (the ‘runner’s high’ people talk about remains elusive) but because it would be a waste to stop altogether when you’ve trained up your stamina. I even tried a 12km race in Singapore in the same year 2015 to see how it’s like running under a different weather (never will I do that again – the high humidity made my hands swelled into a balloon!).

Mid last year, I injured my back and stopped running while nursing it back to health (and secretly happy about it – the stop running part, not the back injury).

Why the rambling Melly?

Due to my workplace’s fun run initiative, a few days ago I signed up for half-marathon (21.1km). For some reason, I thought simplistically that running is a linear thing: I did 15km before in 1.5hrs, surely another 6km will take additional 1/3 of the time? Incorrect, dumbo. By any optimistic prediction considering all factors at this point, it will take me at least another hour of running from before.

At my peak performance during the R4K race in 2015, I was running at 5:50min/km. After not running for a year, my pace is more at 8:15min/km. As with many things in life, you don’t use it you lose it.

Anyway,.. I am realistic about this and just hope to finish my first half marathon!

As with R4K race, I am fundraising. So here I’m appealing for your support. Still am running for the kids as before, just supporting a different charity this time: Compassion Australia (focusing on releasing children from poverty, physical or otherwise).

Ways you can support:

Give: https://melbournemarathon2017.gofundraise.com.au/page/MellyTjoa Train with me

Run with me on the race day Giving me tips/advice Pray for injury-free training runs and race on the day Spread the word

What’s next?

A few reasons it’ll be harder than I initially imagine:

Longer distance (obviously, and the extra hour+ does sound daunting to me) Limited time (10 weeks isn’t a long time to train myself back and up the distance) Am older (as some of you said when you try to convince me to downgrade to 10K instead hahah) But seriously, my main challenge is the weather i.e., winter months means a season of nosebleeds

and general poorer health to me a tropical creature (I use the heat packs people use in snow weather here in Melbourne). Also, hip bones start hurting and back grows stiff.

I know, I may look 20, but sound 50 – although I’m sure I’ll get there soon enough, unless I hit the coffin first. Anyway, a reminder that things aren’t as they look, nor as they sound!

My pre-training starts tomorrow morning (Sat 5 Aug) as I’ll go for a 5km run to gauge my current baseline, and we’ll go from there. 10 weeks to go before the race day, expecting hard work, dreading the weather, but also looking forward to good nights sleeps!

Thank you very much for your time,

Melly

P.S. Sorry if this comes as a spam – if you’d like to be removed from the mailing list, just let me know, I’ll happily remove you and you’ll never know if I reach the finish line before the cow comes home on the race day.

The 21.1km course map