My first full marathon challenge!
At this age, well into my mid-50s, could I really do it?
I took on the challenge with half worry and half anticipation.
Looking back on my life, sports were far from me.
In fact, I don't have any sports that I can do.
If breathing is exercise, then that's the only thing I've done so far.
Since I have legs, I walk, and if I go to the mountains, I follow. That's all.
When we ran at school, I was always the last runner.
No matter how hard I ran, I was always the last.
But sometimes I made it to the podium. When three people were running or a friend I was running with fell...
While practicing for the physical education class in my third year of middle school, I ran hard, but the PE teacher told me to run again. He said I ran too halfheartedly. Haha
But after living in Cambodia for a long time, I somehow started running. I was walking, and my neighbor was running slowly, which looked cool. I followed him, and a few years passed.
Even though my neighbors suggested that we go to a running event in another region, I didn't go. More than anything, I valued what I was doing and what I had to do...
But starting this year, I just joined without thinking.
April 7, 2024, Sihanoukville International Half Marathon
December 1, Angkor International Half Marathon
December 8, Batambong Half Marathon
December 22, Angkor Indochine Full Marathon
There were a lot of marathon events this December.
Thanks to that, I was able to participate in a full marathon. I'm really grateful.
I only participated in the full marathon, but I didn't actually finish the run. My wish was non-stop run for the full marathon.
After 37km, I stopped running once and couldn't run again.
I walked like a defeated soldier. Even my shoes felt heavy as I walked.
I took off my shoes and socks and walked barefoot. I think I walked more than 5km barefoot.
With 1km left, I put on my shoes and slowly started running again. I didn't want to go to the finish line barefoot and worn out like a defeated soldier. Because there were photographers...
That's why I had to participate in the event.
Because it motivated me to push myself again.
The marathon event team let me run together,
The fellow marathoners who ran together,
The tuk-tuk driver that picked me up early in the morning,
The hotel was like my home it always let me sleep,
The bus that took me to Siem Reap,
My parents who gave me a healthy body,
The friends, siblings, family, and meditation members who always cheered me on,...
The younger daughter, who came to Cambodia a few days ago and gave me a gift for running.
My teachers, who told me to practice for 30 minutes every day, more than anything else.
I'm just grateful for everything in the world.
People are beautiful!
The world is beautiful!
Coexistence is heaven!
Thank you to the universe!
Thank you let me live in Cambodia!
