Not the easiest choice to make

The Sundown Marathon was something I had been looking forward to all year.

Last year's inaugural night marathon was memorable in many ways - I bravely but foolishly turned up at the start line despite a severe lack of sleep (due to my newborn baby's hunger cries in the nights), and falling asleep twice while hobbling along the route in Tampines and Bedok. It was easily the hardest and my slowest marathon. So, to be able to cross the finish line meant a lot to me, having overcome severe temptations to give up.

This year, I felt better, more confident. At least I had proper rest. My only worry was whether my back injury would hamper me. I told myself that should my injury flare up, I would just walk to the finish line. Otherwise, I would keep on running as long and as far as I could.


During the race, the non-stop pounding provoked niggling aches and stiffness. I was simply not able to do a decent run. Walking became labourious. I fell further and further behind the endless stream of runners overtaking me.



At the 14km mark, a sea of thoughts ran in my head - do I walk, and risk making the injury worse? Or do I fall out, take a cab home, and rest?


I am glad I'm no stubborn fool. Had I continued, I would have worsened my injury and risked more complications.



So I made the most prudent decision. I walked away from the marathon route, headed for the East Coast Service Road, and hailed the cab home. Immediately, once I sat in the cab, the throbbing aches dissipated.




I am indeed disappointed that I could not finish my 8th marathon. How I wish I could run the midnight race and finish it by the dawn.

Though this injury might have cut short my race, I pray that by the next race (the OSIM Singapore Triathlon), I would be completely recovered and ready to run again.