Unrequited Love?

It was a month since I joined a race. The last was when I bitched about Run For Home. Yesterday, with a little more conscience and patience, and what I call loyalty to my alma mater, I joined the 5k fun run of Dean's Cup in UP.

Well, of course, I didn't do my assignment (stretch, striders, etc) so I ended up panting in the first quarter of my run. Duh, bad shape indeed for me. As I mentioned in my previous posts, I cannot seem to speed up in 5k, and this has become my barrier in joining 10k races.

Anyway, this afternoon, I tried to do baby steps of a recovery run in my village, and perhaps it was because of my massage (which was more of a hilot), I felt pain in my shins, thighs, and even on my butt.

Which makes me realize that I love running but it does not love me back.


Don't get me wrong, I am in no depressive state now, not even lamenting. It is a fact of life for me. I am, and will always be, a beginner in the sport. I do easy 5k runs for some people and I gasp to breathe. I practice, and I ache. As early as now, I feel so much "birth pains" in running. My coach says it's natural to feel these pains since I am a beginner. And as such, I really have to be patient.

I honestly think running does not love me back, because as early as now, I am faced with these challenges (pains, very slight improvement in my time, very slight improvement in my weight), but it doesn't matter, really. I can't go moping like a busted manliligaw right? It's really up to me, if I choose the path of courtship and persistence, or I totally give up and choose another sport....

What's it gonna be?

I choose to be persistent, and maybe in a few years, like a loyal and worthy suitor, it will realize the passion I have, the dedication and commitment I am willing to give, and maybe someday, it will begin to love me, too.