23/09/2025
My Journey to Kuching Marathon 2025
I’ve always been more of a hiker than a runner. Running was just a weekday routine — 3 to 5 km, enough to sweat, but never something I took seriously. I had never joined a marathon, never even thought I would.
Then in May, I decided to sign up for the Kuching Marathon. It felt like a crazy idea, but I thought: why not? My hiking endurance was already solid, so I just needed to work on my running form and build up the mileage.
May to July: Progress & Setbacks
The training started well. My endurance carried me through, and every week I could feel myself improving. From April’s 40 km monthly mileage, I ramped up to 180 km by July. The progress was real — but so were the side effects.
By July, I noticed running at pace 6:00/km suddenly felt much harder. I blamed it on poor sleep. At the same time, I started to feel some shin pain from the rapid mileage jump. What I didn’t realize was that hypertension had entered the picture. My dad has it, and at 51, it seemed like it was my turn too.
August: Frustration & Adjustment
In August, I slowed everything down. Training moved into Zone 2 heart rate, which felt painfully slow compared to the speed I had built earlier. It was frustrating, but necessary. I also focused on recovery — massage, physio, and shin treatments.
I started to understand that endurance training isn’t just about pushing harder, it’s about listening to your body.
September: Race Week Reality
On 20th September, just one day before the race, I finally saw the numbers: my blood pressure was 165/103. My doctor advised me not to run. I told myself I’d just go for a “slow run” 😅. That’s when I fully realized — yes, it was hypertension making my training feel harder since July.
Race day came: 21st September, 1 a.m. start. I tried to sleep at 7 p.m., but only managed to doze off around 9-something. By 10:30 p.m. I was awake, getting ready. The excitement and nerves were real.
During the race, by the first 10 km, my heart rate was already shooting up to 170 bpm. I knew I had to slow down. It wasn’t about chasing a time anymore — it was about finishing safely.
The Finish Line
I crossed the line in 5 hours 20 minutes. Not the goal I had in mind back in May, but it was a victory in its own way: I finished my first marathon. No injury, no collapse — just the knowledge that I had faced something bigger than myself and made it through.
Looking Back
From hiker to marathon finisher in just a few months — with all the challenges of hypertension, shin pain, and frustration along the way — this journey taught me more than I expected. It wasn’t about speed or time. It was about resilience, patience, and health first.
And this is just the beginning.
我的古晋马拉松之旅 2025
我一直以来更喜欢 爬山健行，而不是跑步。跑步对我来说只是平日流点汗的方式 —— 通常 3 到 5 公里就好，从来没认真跑过，也从没想过要参加马拉松。
直到 5 月，我决定报名参加 古晋马拉松。当时觉得这简直是疯狂的想法，但心里想：为什么不呢？我有登山带来的 耐力底子，只需要改善 跑姿 并逐渐增加跑量。
5 月到 7 月：进步与隐忧
训练一开始很顺利。我的耐力支撑了我，每周都能感受到进步。跑量从 4 月的 40 公里，一路增加到 7 月的 180 公里。进步是真的 —— 但副作用也出现了。
7 月时，我发现以 6 分配速 跑步突然变得 异常吃力。我以为是睡眠不好。与此同时，小腿胫骨也开始疼痛，因为跑量增加太快。那时我还不知道，真正的问题是 高血压。我父亲也有高血压，而我 51 岁，似乎也轮到我了。
8 月：放慢与调整
8 月，我放慢脚步，训练改为 心率 Zone 2，感觉比之前慢得多，很挫败。但这是必要的调整。我同时专注在恢复 —— 按摩、物理治疗、处理小腿胫骨疼痛。
这让我明白，耐力训练不仅仅是拼命加速，更重要的是 倾听身体的信号。
9 月：比赛周的现实
9 月 20 日，也就是比赛前一天，我终于看到血压数据：165/103。医生劝我别跑。但我还是笑着对自己说：“就慢跑吧” 😅。那时我才彻底意识到 —— 原来从 7 月开始训练变难，是因为 高血压。
9 月 21 日凌晨 1 点，比赛正式开始。我尝试在晚上 7 点入睡，却直到 9 点多才迷迷糊糊睡着，10 点半又醒来准备。紧张与兴奋交织。
比赛开始不久，前 10 公里 我的心率就飙到 170 bpm。我立刻决定放慢速度。这已经不是为了成绩，而是为了 安全完赛。
冲过终点
最终，我在 5 小时 20 分钟 完赛。虽然没达到最初的目标，但这仍然是一次胜利：我完成了人生中的第一个马拉松。没有受伤，也没有意外 —— 只是带着满满的经历与体会跨过终点线。
回顾
从一个只跑 3-5 公里的登山爱好者，到短短几个月内完成一场全马 —— 还要面对 高血压、小腿疼痛与训练挫折 —— 这段旅程教会我的，比我想象的还多。
它不再只是关于速度或成绩，而是关于 坚韧、耐心，以及健康优先。
这只是个开始
