Bucket List Moment

 

I’ve been an on-and-off runner for years. Multiple 10Ks done, but the 21K always felt like that unfinished chapter. I would plan for it, aim for it but lacked discipline and there would always be something getting in the way.

Last year, I finally registered for a run in the first week of February — hoping a deadline would force discipline. But true to pattern, I didn’t start training until December and almost gave up again.

Then came an unexpected SMS — the race was postponed by three weeks. I took it as a sign and started to plan with much more seriousness this time.

Weekday short runs squeezed into tight schedules. Early weekend long runs. Strength training in between. Plenty of slip-ups. Days when even 1 km felt impossible. But I kept showing up — through work chaos, kids, home responsibilities, everything.

Two weeks before race day, we had to move houses. Training derailed. No running at all. Just a little strength work whenever possible.

Day before the actual race I was too skeptical since I had not run for last 2weeks. Had a late nighter because of kids and woke up at 3:30am to reach the race location on time. 

21 km. 2 hours 50 minutes- ticked it off my bucket list. 

Not perfect. Not ideal. But done. And that feels incredible. 💛

And surprisingly, I didn’t even need the recovery leave I had pre-planned — strength training really came through. That was my biggest takeaway from this entire episode. Never skip strength training!