body + soul 9km run

Blackmores Sydney Running Festival - Body + Soul 9km Bridge Run

A few weeks ago, I met up with my primary school friend who is very into music and goes to gigs and concerts. There's one in October by Joshua Radin, I love his songs, but it's 50 bucks and I would not pay. I said it's too expensive.During that time, I was also contemplating whether I should run today because it is the weekend right after my mid terms. I won't have time to train and I'd be exhausted. I was also choosing between the 9km or the 21km run. And then she said... "You would pay 50 bucks to run for like less than an hour rather than 50 bucks to be entertained and all you have to do is enjoy even longer." She had a point. Why would I be so silly to do that when I can actually run for free? I myself do not understand. I chose the 9km instead because I know I will regret with 21km and it is an extra 30 bucks.

Starting point: Milsons Point

As I crossed the finish line today, I started to understand. It is the thrill of being in a race. Not a race against other people but yourself. The people running around you are your helpers. They are your motivation. It's about beating your personal best. It is that personal satisfaction that I crave for. It is a craving only you can satisfy. You see, I had a target for this 9km run. A sub 50 target. My target all these while are set very low because I do not like to disappoint myself. Yeaa I know.. it's sort of lying to myself... hehehe... But this time, I decided to set my bar higher as it is only 9km. It's about time for a personal best. The last time I did a PB was way back last year in April where I averaged 5 min 35 sec per km. I was a wee bit disappointed with my city 2 surf run because it was perfect running condition that day to do a PB. And so, I set a sub 50 target, 49 min 30 sec to be exact, averaging 5 min 30 sec per km for this 9km run.

And off we go! The Harbour Bridge behind.

There wasn't much prep leading up to the run. I was busy preparing with mid terms and I was just exhausted after uni. I did four 5km run in the last one month. Lolx! Another reason why I wanted to run this 9km is so that it will keep me going, I need a reason to run. If I did not have this 9km run, I think I would have just been a bum and not exercise at all.

My race started at 8.30am. Sydney's weather has been pretty warm recently and it is no different today. I haven't ran in such hot weather before. I was thinking to myself ... maybe I should set my bar lower. The little voice in my head was alternating back and forth throughout my whole run. It was between "set it lower, set it lower, just do ur PB another time, it is too hot" and "you're gonna regret this if you do it! c'mon!". As I ran along the harbour bridge, it was blazing hot. The voice of the devil dominated and so ... I stopped. Of course I did not just stop stop. I had other reasons too. To snap some photos of the harbour bridge!! I haven't walk the harbour bridge ok!! And then I started running through the city and it was still so hot. When I reached the 5km mark, I looked at my watch and it was 27.5 min. It took me awhile to work out that I am meeting my target! It was when I started to run through the botanical garden. A tad cooler.

Snap snap... hehehe..crossing the harbour bridge

And so, I widened my stride. It was a slight downhill slope. Angel's voice dominated. Hehehehe... But we all know, when you go down, you are bound to come up eventually. At that point, I saw portable loos and I have been wanting to go to it since the start of the race but the line was too long. I quickly rushed in, did my business, came out....Devil's voice was about to come in but... EYE OF TIGER started to play in my mp3. Doosh doosh doosh.... Perfect timing :) And then When I Grow Up and then ... and to finish it off... Jai Ho!

I sprinted the last 100m. Crossed the line, looked at my watch ... 48:17. Sub 50 yo!!! Official time was 48:22. Still satisfied. Very satisfied. Average 5 min 22 sec per km! Woohoo!!! PB PB!! I did better than I wanted. Never would've thought I would make that time.

Finish point: Circular Quay with the Opera House in the background

So there you have it. A 50 min race but the satisfaction that's probably gonna last for more than a day. 50 bucks for that, I'm not complaining. Plus I ran the Sydney Harbour Bridge, I saw the Opera house, I saw the Botanical Gardens, I ended up at Circular Quay. I got a medal for souvenir and a squishy bottle. Another few things to add to my short list of places I've seen in Sydney :p

And then I start to wonder again ... with many IFs ... What if I actually trained all this while? What if I actually had more motivation? What if I am more disciplined?

Who knows?

Half marathon next year?