Yesterday’s run was a short one. Just 8 KM for our team’s usual Tuesday night 12+ runs. We decided, to ensure the future of our running endeavors, we needed to first secure another endeavor we have in life, specifically the endeavor that finances our running, our daytime jobs. And as much as we enjoy running–in fact, continually adding the numbers every week–we’ve been going home later and later on Tuesday nights. Not a very good thing, considering we pride ourselves for setting good examples for our fellow country men.

Our decision was not an all reduction policy, though. Dropping our 12K Tuesday to just 8 is really just part of the story. Our Tuesday nights was redubbed, “maintenance night.” Eight kilometers, we think, should be enough to keep the blood flowing until our “New Day of Reckoning,” Saturday. That’s when we go for kill. And because we our not bound to stay at work til after 7pm, we could start early. Maybe before the Sun is down. My excitement does not waver one bit.

Last night, knowing our run was a short one, I left no reservations. On multiple times, approching intersections I saw the blinking green man. I’d normally slow down and allow myself to wait for the next one, resting a little bit. Last night, I always ran for it. Sprint! A couple of times, in fact, the red man appeared while I was right at the middle of the road. But that’s fine. Civilized countries give pedestrians more lee-way than others.

And towards the end of the last kilometer, I decided to speed up. It was the first time I realized how much energy I had left. So I gave it my all, sprinted for about 200-300 meters (after about 7 kilometers already) top speed. It was so fulfilling! I was so happy for myself. I finished with an average pacing of 7 and a half minutes per kilometer. I’m so so so happy!!!