surprise progress

Wow, ok, so after about almost 2 months since i last posted stuffs in here; a lot had happened during training. And surprisingly, I was able to do some races (running). As for training, things have been going ok. I can still do my training pretty fairly. Although not much with the team, but I managed to put in time for those swim, bike and run. I did train with the team tho about 2 weeks ago. Biking and running. Although there was an unpleasant event, but yet, still the team managed to carry on with the training. And it turns out the event was not as bad as I thought it was going to be.
As for races; i managed to do two running races. One is a 4-miler and the other is a half marathon. Both came out with a surprising result. I did the 4-miler in 31:13. that means I ran at abt a 7:48 pace average, in which I didn’t even know that I could run that fast. So, yes, that was great. Then, last week, I ran a half marathon. And the result was 1:50:20. that, too, was a surprising result. I did not really have any target goal per say, in terms of finishing time. Although I did want to finish under 2hr. a 1:59:00 would definitely make me quit happy, but after knowing the result, I felt even better and happier. With that result, that means I ran an 8:25 pace. That is also an unexpected. Really really did not know that I could run that fast, especially in a half marathon race. Although my running coach (teammate j) predicted that I would finish around that time. Still, for me, that is definitely keeps me on track in my training. and, and, guess what? On top of that, i found out yesterday that I was actually the top ten in my age group. That is definitely something for me. Maybe not for some of you guys/girls…
The reflexion?
Well…for a while, I never thought I could be this better in terms of my athletic performance. I do know I am still not the best, or fastest. But yet, i and I think some people around me could see and notice the improvement that is happening within me. And, in terms of the training with the team, I felt like i’m one of the guys that has become the benchmark of performance. I felt some teammates started to think that they can beat me; they want to beat me; they want to be faster than me. And, I think that’s ok. I think I accept that challenge. I accept that role and responsibility. Because that has also become one of my drives of motivations. The motivation to keep going and growing. To still strive for the better me. Better performance; better insight, better understanding, better ways to encourage people around me.
I remember in the beginning of the year, I realized that I am walking into the unknowns. Well…, guess what? This is it. This is one of the unknowns. I had never been in this position before. God definitely challenges me thru all these; thru the event that I’m in, thru the people that are around me; and thru things that I never thought I would be doing. Thank God for everything and for always being with me.