Run Your Journey

18 March 2026

I intended to run yesterday morning. 

This sight didn't motivate me to step out of home...

However I caved in to fatigue, laziness and loads of excuses.

I had just returned from a week long trip to Malaysia and still recovering from fatigue, which took too long to dissipate I feel. It didn't help that I couldn't get up from bed earlier to beat the furiously hot weather and strong rays these days.

So today I resolved to step out no matter what.

Step out and a your journey is formed.

I was pleasantly surprised and grateful that at past 10am, I was still blessed with breezes and patches of shades that I could run under amidst the scorching orange blast of halo from above. I was really running with lots of thank-yous in between breaths. I took it slow as it would definitely take a toll on an already exhuasted body not yet fully restored with renewed energy. But the exposed stretches are good workouts for me to push for faster legwork to run undercover from another patch of shade again! So my easy long run of 12km was infused with some segments of - albeit short - speedwork.

Sections of shades good for "Intervals" 

Interestingly, I discovered that I instinctively turned left to run a route to the next neighbourhood area of Sembawang, instead of turning right to head towards the already planned nature park within my residential vicinity. I wanted cooler area to run in, but my body must have decided otherwise, and hence I found myself already in that direction mode and not willing to turn back. So I went along with the flow.

The points of self-reflection that I gathered today:

• Saw the usual photographer uncle at the same spot near the river, with his camera hanging around his neck, on the lookout for, presumably birds. I initiated a smile and nodded at him. He in return,  responded with the usual awkwardly stiff nod 😂 Still I felt happy and not offended. I felt it a natural response of his. I mindfully became aware of the thought that I would have felt otherwise with questions of whys in the past --- how is it that he would respond to my greeting in this manner since we already are familiar faces? However, today, I was actually smiling inside, after having run my Project Smile over a period of time.

• I was greeted with the lovely scent from rows of Jasmine flower plants planted along the river. It seemed ages since I last caught this whiff of light fragrance - We used to grow Jasmine plants in pots when I was a child, and I was familiar with the scent of the little white dainty flowers whenever I played outdoors near them. This gave me pleasant nostalgia, and added relaxing elements into my running, in the sun. It's smell the Jasmine, and not roses today!

Lovely scenty Jasmine Flowers :)

• I actually felt more energized than I imagined I would be - during, and after my run! Though tired after the physical activity, I actually felt good and that my lethargy after the effort was well justified! 

• During lunch, I was soothingly serenaded by a busker playing and singing yesteryear tunes of Lionel Ritchie and many others on his guitar, and actually appreciated him with a $2 token which I normally would not do so! 😁

• Visited mom and sis and took the walks slowly to their place. I saw another runner running in the void deck presumably trying to prevent getting a heat stroke haha! 😝

• It was a very warm and humid day so I took my walks and navigation amongst the crowds in malls, stations, transportation slowly. I realised I was mostly feeling happy and peaceful though myself smelt really bad despite having changed into a clean top. 😆

My day ended well and I was glad I ran, today.  😊