Reason to run

Many times, friends came up to me and ask what's the reason behind for me to keep running. I always look at them with a blank face without knowing how to answer them. I never thought about reasons that keep me running. Perhaps health? Keeping fit?

Anyway, a wedding of one of my running mate yesterday has got me ponder on my run since I returned from Australia over 2 years ago. When I started off running while I was in Australia, it was due to wanting to loose weight and going for races was so that I won't give up running and put back on weight. I used to train and run on my own then. I reckon I was very disciplined in my training maybe because I was just a student then and my time was plenty ad flexible. I ran 3-4 times weekly with 2 days of resistance training.

Things started to change when I graduated and returned home to work. I found it difficult to stick to my usual training plan of my student days. Plus clearly I can run later of the days here as the weather is much warmer here. But along the way I got to know a friend thru a long-time-friend name Alex. He was as crazy as me then, running for every races across towns, cities, and countries. We started catching up on our training routine, sharing tips and meet up at different races. Since he's very much a PR guy, along the way our circle of runners got bigger. Alex eventually started a group with the name "Team Powered by Jesus" based on the phrase he always wear on his running vest. And since all of us within this runners circle are Christians that're actively involved in church, too.

I think the motivation for myself has change since as I believe these bunch of runners are the ones that keep me running till today. Though I've always trusting God's strength to keep me going throughout every race, I thank God that there're people out there who're like minded. I guess it's the same living a christian live. As much as we trusting ourselves to God to strenghten us in our walk with Him, it's much more meaningful to have other Christians coming together and hold each other up. We can't live by our own.

Coming back to the running mate's wedding, I realised being in Team Powered by Jesus is not only about coming together for training and pick each other up in races. We're also get to share our own ministry back in our respective church and live. Clearly I felt that we've touched a big part of her live through her wedding yesterday.


So one of the reasons that keep me running? Because of this lovely group of runners and triathletes in Team Powered by Jesus!

Subang 10km Run August 2007

Singapore Marathon December 2008