How I Started Running 10k

I love my job but miss my long morning runs. What used to be a daily affair is now once a week - when I'm off from work. 2km to 4km runs just don't cut it. To me, nothing beats the sweat and euphoria (runner's high) I get from running 10k first thing in the morning. It beats coffee and dare I say it.. it's even better than chocolate.


Early morning runs are fabulous. I took this photo during my run this morning. The place is so serene. There is a sense of peace in nature, surrounding little places like these throughout Singapore.

This love for running is a recent thing. Something I took up as I approached 40. I was never athletic when young and honestly, I hated running.


When I was young, the only time I'd run was during the actual 2.4k run that was compulsory for all students once a year. That and PE classes. Or when I was late for a class or an appointment.

Once out of school, I avoided running unless I had to. Hated it. I'd rather swim or cycle or dance instead. Need calorie burning aerobic exercise? A long walk down Orchard road, hitting the malls along the way was my version of 'running'.

After pregnancy and child birth, I really ballooned out. From 50kg, I was 78kj before the birth of my second child. The baby and placenta was about 5kg at most. The rest of just me. That was when I actually took a serious interest in losing weight.

I did consider slimming pills until I read about Andrea De Cruz's case. She had liver failure from taking Slim 10 pills -- a popular weight loss pill sold at reputable pharmacies all over Singapore. She nearly died. To cut the story short, her other half, Pierre Png (then boyfriend, now husband) donated half his liver to her, saving her life.

Striking diet pills from my list, I thought of dieting. Didn't last long as I love food too much. In any case, starvation diets or fast weight loss methods just aren't sustainable. Once you eat normally, you'd balloon out again, so food intake should be in moderation, allowing treats now and then to avoid binging.

Exercise was my final hope. That has to be paired with sensible eating habits. I started running every morning. On days it rained, I climbed up and down the stairs.

I started off with 2k jogs, which became runs. Over time, I increased that to 4k, 6k, 8k and eventually 10k when I had the time and on weekends. Through these runs, I gradually lost weight, going down from maternity dresses (I wasn't pregnant. Just looked that way) - to size XL to size L and finally, size M over the months.

Then when I left my previous job, I ran 10k every morning.

What started off as a way to lose weight became more of an addiction.

I had insomnia. Couldn't sleep at night. Couldn't think in the morning. Needless to say, my work was very badly affected. Running helped me beat insomnia. After a good run in the morning, I'd sleep through the night. Something that had eluded me for months.

I was depressed a lot those days. Okay, maybe more feeling down as I hadn't actually reached clinical depression, but I was rather moody. Starting the day with a run got me off on a better footing. I felt better throughout the day for it, even after the endorphins had worn off. Also, the time I spent running was time I spent communing with my God. Time I'd sort things out in the quiet environment, so close to nature. it really helps me stay sane in all circumstances.

You know what?
If you have a weight problem, feel stressed, or depressed, or suffer from insomnia, don your running shoes and just do it. Go for a run. It really helps.