Running - The mental challenge
Ever since the mid-terms holidays started, I try going to the gym more often in an attempt to improve my physical capabilities. I had joined an after-school activity called "Kampung Run" in school, where a group of students had to run through the Kampung in Indonesia. "Kampung", for my European readers, basically just means "Village" in Indonesian. In recent years the trend has changed, and often it is referred to as "Home". Many expatriate like to use the word "Kampung" to mention the slum areas (or lower class areas for that matter) for it is 'home' to many people.
The area which I run is not dissimilar to the scene in which the picture depicts.
However I digress.
What I mean to say is that because the activities only occur once a week, I did not to see any improvement, rather just a stagnation in my physical capabilities. I was thus surprised one day to find that I broke my running record for 5 kilometers (although on a treadmill) when I went to the gym the other day.
Yesterday I was rather troubled by the results of my calculation involving my physics Internal Assessment. Being pestered by my friend to go to the gym, I went rather reluctantly but still expecting to at least have maintained the same time as before. I was surprised to find that I was very tired from running and that I wasn't able to run at all. Rather I had a very bad timing for I had to stop twice during my 5 kilometer run.
I soon realised that running was a mental challenge rather than a physical challenge. It is possible to run far without the physical capability (albeit it is harder) as long as you have the mental strength to keep going. It is important to mentally prepare yourself for the task.
So for all those trying to keep fit, have the determination and mentality to keep fit. I promise you that you will run further than you ever had before.
Cheers,
Matthew Tan
The area which I run is not dissimilar to the scene in which the picture depicts.
However I digress.
What I mean to say is that because the activities only occur once a week, I did not to see any improvement, rather just a stagnation in my physical capabilities. I was thus surprised one day to find that I broke my running record for 5 kilometers (although on a treadmill) when I went to the gym the other day.
Yesterday I was rather troubled by the results of my calculation involving my physics Internal Assessment. Being pestered by my friend to go to the gym, I went rather reluctantly but still expecting to at least have maintained the same time as before. I was surprised to find that I was very tired from running and that I wasn't able to run at all. Rather I had a very bad timing for I had to stop twice during my 5 kilometer run.
I soon realised that running was a mental challenge rather than a physical challenge. It is possible to run far without the physical capability (albeit it is harder) as long as you have the mental strength to keep going. It is important to mentally prepare yourself for the task.
So for all those trying to keep fit, have the determination and mentality to keep fit. I promise you that you will run further than you ever had before.
Cheers,
Matthew Tan
Hey Matthew, like you have in the past, I'm 15, and taking IGCSE exams (In no less than a few weeks in fact). Stumbling upon your poetry blog intrigued me and brought me over to here.
ReplyDeleteI had a quick flick through some of your insightful thoughts, especially regarding education, and you intrigue me with your views on the world around you, with a sense of maturity that I don't see around people my age today.
Will have to sit down properly and read your thoughts but keep on thinking, growing, expanding and posting. You've just won over another loyal follower.