Recently, there was an email sent out by my company requesting the employees to participate in the Penang Bridge International Marathon as representatives. Those who join will be given T-shirts, and they would be participating on behalf of the company. Having worked and lived in Penang for more than 3 years now, I felt that running on the Penang Bridge was something I had to do at least once. You know, it’s just like climbing the Mount Kinabalu if you stay in KK. Anyway, the timid me only joined the lowest level of Fun Run, which is just a 10km run. In fact, it is not even a valid marathon, because the full marathon itself is 42km, while half marathon is 25km and quarter marathon is 10km, but the quarter marathon is only open for teenagers! That means no matter how fast I finish my Fun Run, there won’t be prizes or medals, just a piece of certificate. Oh well, I’m not complaining, considering my condition. *LOL* It has been AGES since I last jogged regularly. I still remember about 3 years ago, I was an active member of this nearby gym. In fact, I visited the gym at least 3 times a week, sometimes even 4. Here is what I did whenever I visited the gym:

- Run 30 minutes on treadmill as warm up, sometimes cycle if no treadmills available
- Join the classes (either Yoga, aerobics, modern jazz, latin aerobics) for 1 hour each time
- Continue with doing weights for at least 30 minutes with my instructor

Impressive or not? I still can’t believe that I managed to go through that routine for 6 months continuously! My stamina rocked! Then, I started to do my Masters degree part time, and stopped going to the gym.

Fast forward 3 years, I can’t even remember the last time I went jogging. Therefore, I thought I better not overestimate myself and start by joining the shortest ‘marathon’. And I was right! Just yesterday, I attempted to run around my apartment (approximately 400m per round with slight incline) and I was panting like mad only after the first 5 minutes! Seriously, I felt like I was SO out of breath I could just collapse then and there. It was that bad. However, I continued walking and forced myself to complete 5 rounds, partly running, partly walking. I believe I had used every morsel of strength I had by the end of the 20minutes run. And that was when my confidence shattered. How am I going to finish 10km in the stipulated 2 hours? How? I’m so going to fail.