Positive lesson drawn from Botak Paa-Tibayan 42k.

After the incident last sunday, I decided to look at it on the positive side. Maybe perhaps I took the event too seriously (Not to break a PR but to finish it with a good time) which only turns out to be discouraging. I said to myself, Why not take it as another long sunday adventure run as I haven’t been doing my long distance consistantly. From there, I draw out some valuable positive lesson to learn.

1. Know who are the Organizers of the event.

Before deciding to participate in a race, make sure you know who are the organizers! The mistake I often make is that I often look for events that has a longer distance (above 10k). without knowing who are actually organizing it! . On top of that I take it for granted that these organizers will professionally do their job.  It is wise to ask yourself  if it is worth your time and money. If you felt no confidence in these organizers than better  don’t participate!

2. Decide whether you want to make your personal best or just another long sunday distance run.

In the near future, I will have to decide which event I want to make my personal best and which one will I take as another long sunday distance run. If  I have thought earlier of making last sunday’s event as one of my sunday’s long distance run, I would have not taken it seriously. I was thinking of completing the said race with a good time. Well, for last sunday’s kind of race with confusing routes, lack of road Marshalls, water and so on it is best to used it as a build up run for the next marathon.   

3. Appreciate those who have work hard for the event.

Eventhough it may turn out to be the “worst” and “ugliest” as many of us describes last sunday’s event, I personally felt that there should be some credit given to those who try to put up an event when others are not ready to. Well, I thank Botak for taking up the challenge to organized the first full marathon for this year. They took the challenge, they provide the way for improvement. So, If those other organizers who already planned or planning to have their event towards the end of the year, they better learn from Botak! They better humble themselves and start planning things well. Don’t let History repeat itself!

 4. Thank God that it is just the begining of your running career.

There’s a saying, “there’s never to late for anything”. In other words, its still early! As long as we are still alive, we will keep on growing and learning. That if you are willing to put yourself as a humble student! Another saying, “Experience is the best teacher” Percisely! We will never improve if we never experience failure!. So, what most of us experience last sunday whether it is the failure on behalf of the organizers, or whether you fail to complete the race, or experience cramps, injuries, or whatever experience …it’s just the beginning of your running career!  

Last but not the least, Keep Running! your escot will make sure that you’re still on the run.