Run Free!

 6 May 2026

I thought I was inspired to clock another 15-16KM after having done that for the last long run.

Alas, my physical self was still, recovering ... I didn't know from what ... but I was lethargic, both in body, and mind.

The lateness of my starting time didn't help at all.

I knew I had to just run, no matter the pace; no matter the distance.

So I gave up any goal for that day and ran however I could, and it turned out to be a blessing and a very pleasurable experience. I was once again well-connected to nature surrounding me in the park.

My focus was on the natural inhabitants of the park. No longer on the pace I was clocking, nor how far I had accumulated in the rounds.

And so I was blessed to have chanced upon all these little critties:

Oriental Magpie Robin

Red-Eared Slider --- not sure was formerly a pet released recently or already a thriving individual here.

This Monkey Grasshopper was chomping down on a leaf!
 It was my 1st time witnessing a grasshopper eating leaves.

Also stopped mid run to admire shrooms on the forest floor.

Golden Trumpets

Experiencing a Moment of Autumn Vibes

Another good run day, not cos of the run itself, but the spirit doing so! 🙏 

Snakes Galore! ( And An Odd Reptile On Tarmac)

It's slow, long run day of Reptiles in the Park!

While I have similarly encountered few snakes on the same day in the park before, today's snakes were rather openly viewed near to me. I managed to get good footages of them.

They were also pretty chill. One luminous green, and the other black.

The beautiful luminous green Oriental Whip Snake

Black Spitting Cobra

One reptile however stood out. 

Just as I was running out of the nature park and entering the urban section of the park, I spotted a turtle on tarmac.

Presumably the Giant Asian Pond Turtle

Was a pet released in a wrong place? Or has it crawled out from it's usual spot in the park? After all, I have seen one or two such turtles in the forest of the park before - and once, witnessed a female trying to dig ground near the footpath, presumably to lay eggs.

It tried to move away from me as I approached it. Hopefully it genuinely belongs here as I observed some muddy marks on its shell.

I wished it luck and jogged off to continue with the rest of the few kilometres back to home ground.

Wildlife On The Run

My runs often got interrupted whenever I needed to investigate some nature of interest.

In fact, it has become such a norm, unless I was bent on focusing on a harder workout for that particular day. This habit derails my plan to improve on speed, form and breath... especially on my longer run days. 

Very often I run at parks or connecting pathways. There are often patches of green and bodies of water here and there (even along roads). I would have my eyes peeled for birds, insects or other wildlife, if not some interesting looking, or beautiful plants. I have turned my runs into nature watches like what I would do on hikes!

And so, my pace and timing get compromised quite a bit! 😅 However I am not complaining. In fact I am thankful for the many "harvests" I have accumulated thus far... 🙏

Is this a bee?

A katydid nymph?

Smooth-Coated Otter family

Black Spitting Cobra

Striated Heron

Sometimes my runs slowed down to a walk --- and became an actual hiking activity instead! 

In fact sometimes I spent so much time searching for a sound of an animal and bird or that I would spend a great deal of time and tries just to get a better shot of the nature I spotted. Before I knew it, a good 20-30 minutes had passed and my heart rate had gotten to almost resting pace. To get back the momentum and rhythm to catch up on my distance and journey, I needed to restart and regear the body engine.

Not all such ventures (adventures or mis-adventures?) end with "a catch". Sometimes the long time spent may be in vain. Nature after all could be elusive. And I have also learnt that the more you pursued, the more they fled. And the mindset and attitude has to be fine-tuned  - to let nature take its own course. To acknowledge and embrace the fact that sometimes we cross paths to say hello, sometimes we are on our own ways - and that is ok. 

And we should apply this to our life pursuits as well, and I am still learning... 😊