With hard work comes great reward!

After another crazy week, and a terrible nights rest,

today I proved to myself once again that I can do anything I put my mind to!

I was set to run a 10km race this morning, but quite honestly,

I did not feel like I had trained enough for it.

I had not really gone for a proper run since my last 6km race mid-February.

Last race, I did 6 kms averaging at about 5 mins a km.

Today, I did 10 kms, again, averaging at about 5 mins a km.

I was amazed to know that I could finish 10 kms under 1 hour

(even with the small hills that seemed to kill my speed and energy).

So here are my results:

Time: 51:46

119^th out of 348 runners (males and females of all ages)

61^st out of 205 (adults 18-39)

20^th out of 134 (females of all ages)

12^th out of 86 (females 18-39)

It has now been 2 months since I began paying more attention to my fitness levels

and setting fitness goals for myself.

Just as of lately, I’ve been working out 3 times a week with my trainer at the gym,

and I have been practicing and playing soccer 2 times a week.

I could not be happier with how far I’ve come!

Now, it’s time to reward myself for all my hard work!

I’m off to Sri Lanka for a week!

Comments

In a World Full of Noise, Let’s Show Understanding

“Not everyone processes uncertainty the same way, and that’s okay.” The past few days have been unexpected. What started as a normal Saturday - coaching at the gym, breakfast with a friend, catching up on work with the TV on in the background - quickly changed when I heard a loud “boom” coming from outside my apartment. At first, many of us in the community assumed it came from one of the many nearby construction sites. But, within the next few hours, the loud sounds came again and again, and word spread that these were missiles and drones being intercepted in the sky. I’ve always felt safe here in the UAE, and believe it or not, to a certain extent, I still do. Like many other residents here, I have a lot of trust in the country I’ve chosen to call home for over 11 years. I’ve seen it overcome challenges in the past, such as COVID and floods, and I’ve witnessed how much the leadership cares for the residents, particularly over the last few days. That said, it’s no secret that I a...

Living Out a Dream

“Have you ever stopped and thought: “Wow. I prayed for this. It’s here. It’s happening.”? I recently received a message from an old student from my very first school in Canada. It was a simple note, but it sparked reflection in me about where I’ve come from and everything that’s happened over the last 15–20 years. At my age, I often look around and see many of the people ( my age ) settling down; getting married, having kids, buying homes ( A dream for many, especially women. ). And sometimes, I can’t help but ask myself: what am I doing with my life? However, that message from my former student reminded me of something I often forget: I’ve already been living a dream. When I left my first teaching job in Canada, it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. I absolutely loved my students, and together we had built a really special bond. But at that time, I had a dream to travel the world; to immerse myself in different cultures and to learn from people whose li...

Back on the Dubai running scene

“The beauty of running is in its simplicity; just you, your breath, and the road ahead.” After a long hiatus, I finally made my return to the Dubai running race scene! When I first lived here between 2012 and 2017, I took part in many road races and absolutely loved the local running community. Even after moving to Vietnam, I kept the momentum going for a while, completing a few 10km, 21km and even a full marathon, especially in my first year there. But as I got more into CrossFit in 2018, running gradually took a back seat. Since then, I’ve continued to run, but without the same structure, purpose, or goals I once had. That all changed a couple of months ago when I decided to reignite my running spark and even joined a few run club sessions. I’ll be honest; those group runs have really pushed me out of my comfort zone! I’ve always loved a nice, long, slow run, but short and speedy intervals? Not so much. Still, being surrounded by people who share a similar mindset, who challeng...

One Rising Star

Search This Blog