A one-live cat’s life

Sending my h@ppy feet friends hours before registering in the Bondi Barefoot Race asking advice what i need to do prior the race.  Helpful as ever they told me: Sunblock, run with the lightest shoes, run in the compact area where the water meets the sand, and take short steps. Okey click goes register 10KM i though as i looked at the race results last year they are fast on 4KM and might leave me the last person to run.  Too proud forgot about the principle "its is not how your PR went but it is important that your finish the race" i did not want to be the last.  Click .. 10KM registered.

At 730am i am at the bus stop to Bondi Beach.  Was a bit hungry no breakfast as not use to eating brekkie before race, well on a 6am race.  Arrived the race area there are indeed more people running the 4Km.  No baggage area so just left my jacket and shirt on a bench (mind you with my ipod shuffle and apartment keys - which did not get lost or got touched when i got back). 

Few 10KM runners.  The route will be 10 laps at the beach.  Looking around, I am just the Asian. I also get a few looks as i am Asian and of small frame.  Now i know why they were looking…it was a difficult route!  AND! it was on the loose sand part! The first 5 meters of the beach has been cordoned for the race.

First 500M i was doing well, not after which runners go past me, the
sand was getting dugged up deeper as it gets more difficult to run.
I tried to keep my pace, found the pylon area which is runners don’t run to.  It was easier, but still difficult.  1st lap i told myself now i know why they say it was challenging in the website.2nd lap it was getting tougher, as it puts a lot of pressure on your calves to bounce back and take another step.  It was not an effort of getting tired to speed up but doubling effort on your feet to make the next step.  2 and a half lap my foot is blistering as sand goes in my shoes (well i wasnt the last yet in the pack). i saw that most or it was just two runners me and a man was running with shoes. I took it off and toss it to the medics/lifeguards and kindly asked them to look after them.  damn! it is easier BUT…it was like running on snow! not that i ran in snow, i mean the sand is cold! so cold! specially every time you step your feet gets buried.  I tried to endure the cold wind and the cold sand, the challenge on the inclined loose sand for one more lap, plus i heard a spectator saying she is still going, as i look tired and maybe look really putting a lot of effort on the race.  I got affected with the comment and my insecurity complex took in, i told myself i don’t think i will finish this race. I was not tired but my feet are giving in.  I can not do it anymore i quit.  I feel disappointed and frustrated but not really sad. complex feeling.  The participants were really competitive, i heard someone saying one friend running "no excuses" that they did not do well.  Another lesson learned
1. never run long distance on a track where your foot never set foot on
2. train a few times on the track of the race to get your body familiarized and adapted to the environment.
3. swallow pride and its not always doing the best but finishing the race.

I felt bad so after finishing the event so i remembered the suggestion my colleague, Mike, asked if i have done the Bondi-Bronte-Bondi walk,
but as i look at the map i just did until Tamara’s bay.  Again another
reason to go back.  yes i want to so go   back there!  It was a hilly
but with paved walk, nice view of the beach and the bay, the scenery.
Back to Bondi  and stopped at the weekend markets. It was a worth
Sunday "race" to Bondi.

Anyway No excuses but I am not a beach person, i havent run on loose cold sand alright? :p i did runs in warm compact sand. I will try to re-try running in the beach in the Manly race.  And this time will do training in the beach! 

Quiting this race doesn’t mean i will be quiting my running "career" ei!

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 4th, 2008 at 5:22 am and is filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.