I plan to run my second half marathon this November. I cannot believe that me who hated running has managed to do a half marathon last November and am returning to the same one this year with the hopes of improving my time. People have ridiculed me, they have told me that I don’t have runner’s legs and yet here I’m persevering. Gosh, it feels good — to not quit, to not back out.

With my trusty smart coach app I have a good 12 week training programme personalized for me. I’m in week 5 now and it is so good to see some progress on my running times. I have 2 days of easy runs, usually alternating with a day of speed-work or temple runs and a day of long-run starting from 5-6 miles and increasing by about 0.5-1 mile every week. I have come a long way from being a complete rookie in 2008 to now having done a couple dozen 5Ks and 10Ks and a half marathon. It may seem immodest but I’m quite proud of myself for having come this far. Ironically, the one thing that I hated most of my life is what I love now and is also what keeps me sane.