My first 10 k

My first 10K

I did my first 10 K on Sunday May 12 2013, it was really one enjoyable experience for me.

Started in mid of April 2013 just after my birthday, my brother and two of my best friends Audy and Manov  were discussing about participating in UI running competition. Back then I was just started to run again and I can barely catch my breath just running for 400 meter. So the thought of joining this 10 k was quite absurd at that time.

But I like challenges, and I decided to participate in this event, I didn’t got a chance to practice properly but I was confident enough to do it because I used to run in long distance when I was in high school for Merpati Putih martial art and up to my college years for mountain climbing.

Just two days before the race, I realize that this UI run is actually for a good cause, money collected from each participant will be utilized to buy a tree in Ciliwung river bank. I always fall in to this kind of idea, and make me even more excited to do the run.

 I woke up 4.30 on the racing day, and after Subuh prayer I quickly preparing my race gears and rush to Depok area. It was still 5.15 when I was arrived in UI campus. The air was very fresh and the cool climate is really promising.

I parked in one of the building near the entrance, and have to walk quite a long distance to the starting line, which I thought really good for warming up my body.

There were around 850 runners in the starting line, with two races the 10 k and the half marathon. As for 10 k we were started around 6.30 AM.

Me, Kresna, Audy, Reno, Manov, Indra and Thysa were get ready in the starting line and off we ran. The first 1 k was really fun but just when I reach 2 k I started to feel pain in my right stomach which made me decelerate to help ease the pain. But the pain was still there, so I started to walk at around 4 k which coincides with the uphill terrain. The guys was already ahead of me, and I started to find myself a pacer to keep me running in a steady pace.

After 6 k, the exhaustion was really tempting me to keep on walking, this was the hardest challenge. I feel like fighting with myself, part of it said that it’s ok to run my body is still in good shape, but the other part said that hey your muscle is not trained to do this you were not prepared to do it.

So from 6k to around 8.5 k I mostly walk, then I saw Manov on the other side of the road and he said go Hendra go, which was really a mood booster and I started to do small run again.

The one of the official informed me that it’s already 9 k, so I began to push myself to really run. Throughout the run I’m using Endomondo to help me keep the time and when I reached the finish line it was indicated 1 hour and 21 minutes. Thysa did great her time was 1.01, this small girl is really something.

Officials handed me over glass of water and a big banana and I finish it directly. It was a very tiring but rewarding experience for me.

Even though the day after the run my legs muscles were aching, but it gives me new spirit to keep on running. What I like about running in long distance is that meditative condition you experience which enables me to see things clearly or to questions many steps I took in this life.

So mari lari guys J