Smashed My First 10K!

Melbourne Marathon 10km 2016

I’m writing this on the high I’m still feeling from Melbourne Marathon 10km race I did yesterday. After months of training, I finally hit the 10km mark. I knew that after last year’s first 5km race, this year I wanted to do the 10km. And I did!

Compared to my first 5km race last year, I kept this year’s race pretty low key. Unfortunately, I didn’t do any fund-raising this year and I didn’t mention on the blog that I would be running the 10k at the Melbourne Marathon. To be honest, I didn’t think I’d be able to do the race because three weeks leading to the race, I was hit with the worst cold I’ve had in many years and it left me completely depleted of energy. I stopped training for almost a month because I could hardly walk, let alone run. I was seriously *this* close to pulling out.

Norlin, LeGeeque and I Melbourne Marathon 10km 2016

Norlin, LeGeeque and I before the race started

I was a bundle of nerves a few days leading up to the race. Heck, I couldn’t even sleep the night before! Still, come race day morning, I was suddenly overwhelmed with excitement and adrenaline, and I knew that even if I had to walk the last 2km (I had only trained up to a maximum of 8km then, so running the 10km would be the longest I’ve ever run so far), I will cross that red finish line.

Before The Race

Race day conditions were perfect. It wasn’t warm but it wasn’t cold either. It was very windy the day before and some of that head wind continued on during race day, but it was tolerable. It was an overcast day with threats of rain but not a drop fell out of the sky throughout the entire marathon.

The Race Starts!

The atmosphere at the race was absolutely fantastic. Strangers were cheering strangers, motivating them to keep going. I high-fived a lot of kids during the run, ate a jelly snake handed out by a lady giving out free sweets to runners and laughed out loud at many of the motivational signs people were carrying (one said “Imagine Liam Hemsworth waiting for you at the finish line holding a puppy“. Another said “it’s a lot of work for a free banana“. Mind you, I didn’t even get a damn banana. ๐Ÿ˜› )

At The Finish Line

I was pretty tired by the time I hit the 8km mark but I could see the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG – where the finish line is), so I pushed myself with whatever fuel I had left. When I finally entered the MCG, oh, hearing the cheers from the crowd and seeing the finish line, seeing Tim waiting for me close to the finish line, I sprinted as though my feet was on fire. ๐Ÿ˜›

Melbourne Marathon 10km 2016

Even though my pace wasn’t as good as I expected, I’m so glad I ran the 10km race. This is why runners are addicted to running; that high feeling you get when you’ve reached the finish line … I can’t even describe how freaking awesome it is. The energy of the race, the cheers you get from strangers, giving your all as you shout “YES!” when you reach the finish line … that’s why I do this.

Norlin, LeGeeque and I Melbourne Marathon 10km 2016

The best part of the run yesterday was running it with Norlin and LeGeeque. Norlin and I ran the 10km and LeGeeque did her first half marathon. Even though we weren’t running together, it was motivation enough that we were running the same race. After Norlin and I had finished our 10km, we waited for LeGeeque to enter the MCG and screamed ourselves silly cheering her on as she reached the finish line.

I have another 10km race coming up in December, and that will be my last race of the year. Next year, I’ll be training for the 15km race and hopefully, by the time I hit 40, I’ll be able to run the half marathon. Fingers crossed, eh? ๐Ÿ™‚

Ahhh … someone bring me down from the clouds now. I’m still high as a kite. ๐Ÿ˜›

Are you a runner too? What was your first race like? If you’ve never run a race before, I can’t recommend it enough!

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10 comments… add one
  1. LeGeeque

    Congratulations for doing so well! The beauty of running is YOU get to choose how sociable this sport is. You can choose to run in a group (like we sometimes do) or you can choose to go solo. And the best thing is, you’re always racing against yourself. If you’re as consistent as you’ve been, I have no doubt you’d be able to do the half marathon in no time. Remember, it’s 10% physical, 90% mental. The half marathon is a 2-half race. THe 16km part and the 5km part. Once you’ve hit 16, it’s all in your head and you can most definitely do it. No questions asked.

    I’ll be cheering you on in your 15 next year ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. MM Curator

    Yay, congrats! Races are so fun. Half marathon is totally doable – I am the world’s least athletic person and I did it! My first race was a 10 miler (my favorite distance), but I ran a half and then a full marathon…hoping to get back to that kind of mileage but I don’t think my knees will hold up, as I was diagnosed with arthritis last year and I doubt I’ll ever be able to go that far again. This past year has been hell with virtually no running – I’ve missed so many good races! ๐Ÿ™ But I’m stubborn so I’m still trying to run at least a little bit and hoping to do a 5 miler in December so we’ll see how that goes. In any case, I miss it a lot so run for me!
    MM Curator recently posted..Fall 2016 haulMy Profile

  3. Grace-melody Moo

    Congrats!!! Your joy is so contagious; I can’t help catching it while reading your post. Keep it up.
    Grace-melody Moo recently posted..OctoberMy Profile

  4. Bee Chin

    Congrats Tine! This is such an encouragement. I had to stop my C25K thing halfway through because my old back pain came back, it was so severe that I can’t walk for a day. My family doctor said no no to running and sent me to physical therapy. My therapist is more positive and think if we work on my back, which includes posture adjustment and back strengthening exercise, maybe it could work out. Winter is coming though, maybe next spring I can give running a try again. Good luck in your next run!

  5. Mel

    Congrats Tine!! Well done! I’m hoping to enter my first tri soon, and have just picked up swimming laps again after 5 years of avoidance.
    Mel recently posted..Dermalogica IonActive Power Treatment – A Facial Worth Getting!My Profile

  6. Coast Runners Shop

    Well done Tine, 10km is a challenging distance!! Sounds like you’re well on your way to building up for the 15km race!

  7. Melissa Devaney

    You are an inspiration–so awesome!

  8. adidas nmd

    I precisely wished to appreciate you again. I am not sure the things that I would’ve handled in the absence of those advice contributed by you concerning such situation. It was actually a real scary setting in my position, nevertheless seeing the very specialised avenue you treated the issue made me to weep over gladness. Extremely happier for this work and then hope that you find out what a powerful job you are always getting into educating the rest thru your webpage. I am certain you haven’t encountered all of us.

  9. Captain Collagen

    Congrats on the half marathon! One of my marathon runner friend feedback that taking collagen supplements helps with the recovery after her run ๐Ÿ™‚

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