Mother's Day last year I was commemorating the day by launching the soft opening for Hulk's -- an opening before the official opening in which friends and family were invited to get discounted memberships and train. I thought it only appropriate and fitting that I do something grand for this Mother's Day, hence the half marathon I ran today.
If there's anything that would ever pick me up out of a funk or lift my spirits for the entire day, participating in a sporting event would definitely be among the top three most guaranteed mood lifters. The aspiring athletes, the cheer of the fans, the potential for a great victory and it being anyone's competition really gets my endorphins flowing. A run is just the same. It has it's fair share of inspiring runners, ranging from those who are very hardcore with their training to those who perhaps are running their first ever run. There's surely lots of cheering onlookers, fans and cheerleaders as the spouses, family and friends (and even strangers too for that matter) cheer on their runners. The potential great victory is actually a plural noun in that the race usually appoints a first, second and third place (and often a forth too) for the men's group and women's group in each of the races being ran. Many races also break up each gender group according to age categories, like the 20-29 group and 30-39. Today's race was no different in that it had all the greatness and mood-lifting powers like previous races I have ran.
I had warned the two other girls running from Hulk's of the fierce competition of the Korean ajjumas (older women). Having participated in races here in Korea now for ten years, I can most definitely say that once I got into the age 30's category the competition split in half in terms of quantity of runners but what it lacked in numbers it most definitely made up for in quality of those participating. A Korean ajjuma out there running is a force to reckon with, I tell you. The younger Korean women, like those still in their 20's, run because they think it's fun or because they're doing it as a couple (with their boyfriend). But a Korean ajjuma, she knows she no longer has the benefit of a youthful age and all the perks that come with it. She's running to beat mother nature's clock and I'm sure many run to burn off the baby pudge (or perhaps to run away from the baby they bore... hahaha). Anyways, a Korean ajjuma, 8 out of 10 times, running a half marathon is not doing it because she wants the challenge or thinks it's fun. She's doing it to kick butt -- her butt and our butts; she's hardcore.
Korean races are awesome, I just love them. And even though the course from the 7km mark to the 11km was all up hill, you couldn't help but be inspired and motivated by those also struggling through the race. Whether it were the random thumbs ups and high fives I got, the little kids trying to cheer me on in English, or the goose bumps I got when the first place ajjuma passed me on the loop around and gave me a smile, there were definitely moments in the race that totally distracted me from questioning why the heck I was even participating in this self-inflicted pain in the first place.
As I approached the 20km road marker, a male runner I had been running directly behind for the past 5-6km suddenly stopped. Instantly I put my arms out to stop me from colliding into him and I yelled out "come on, only two more kilos!!!" He looked back at me -- he looked exhausted -- and then he started running again. We had ran so far and so long, and to give it all up, give up the struggle now, would just be so self-defeating. He continued his way with me to the finish line and I had told him earlier I was going to sprint the last part to the finish line -- I was going to give it all I had. "Run fast... run NOW!!" he yelled to me and with that I began my finish line sprint. I sprinted towards that finish line and as I did I caught sight of Snickers. He stood there smiling -- his smile was so big. I crossed the finish line knowing full well I had totally exhausted my legs, so much in fact that I seriously thought I was going to puke.
After had crossed the finish line, I then waited for my running teammate to finish. Both her and I had set goals. I knew I hadn't trained very well for this particular run so I put my goal time at 2hrs and she had hers at 2hrs and 15mins. I clocked in at 1:54 and she at 2:05. Both of us had beat our goal times so it was quite a successful day. Snickers and I ended up treating the crew of us to lunch, we figured it was the least we could do to show our support. They had all worn our Hulk tank tops, our cheerleader even took an early morning train and made a poster and gifts to help cheer us on, and us two half marathon runners had totally kicked butt.
I was still very much feeling the positive vibes of the race, long into the evening, so I headed into Hulk's to train. My feet, with their blood blister on one and a puss blister on the other, weren't really agreeing to me training but I got in a decent workout despite some very sore feet.
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