A year ago, when people around me started running, I wasn't interested. I focused on working out at the gym, and I don't remember exactly when I started running. However, I recall beginning with afternoon runs after heavy meals. I started with 1 km and gradually increased to 5 km over several weeks.

My first race was a 7 km run with colleagues in southern Vietnam, followed by a 10 km race in northern Vietnam at the end of 2023. Feeling confident I could do more, I signed up for a half marathon in early 2024. During my training period, I ran 10-30 km weekly until May, then stopped until the week before the half marathon. Whatever would be, would be... Nervous, I resumed running the final week to reacclimate my body: 3 km at a 10'10" pace on Monday, another 3 km on Thursday at the same pace due to fatigue, and 5 km at a 9'10" pace on Wednesday - still exhausted! LOL 😂

The day before the race, I learned about three Cut-Off Times (COT): 1:30 hours for 8.8 km, 2:10 hours for 13 km, and 2:50 hours for 17 km.

Worried about disqualification, I barely slept that night. I left the hotel at 4:00 AM and prepared with two colleagues who were also running the half marathon.

At 4:30 AM, the race began. My heart raced at 170-180 BPM from nervousness. I focused on staying calm, maintaining a 9'10" pace for the first 5 km to beat the first COT. By 10 km, I was running at an 8'54" pace, reaching 1:30 hours with my heart rate still at 170-180 BPM, feeling exhaustion in my legs and body.

For the second COT at 13 km (2:10 hours), I alternated between running and walking, pushing harder to make the cutoff. Surprisingly, I managed kilometers 12 and 13 at a 7'40" pace with a heart rate of 176-181 BPM.

The final COT at 17 km (2:50 hours) was challenging. My legs felt heavy, and my flat-arched feet with severe over-pronation caused ankle pain, forcing me to slow down.

I persevered with a walk-run strategy until the finish line. The final kilometer was the most challenging, as expected when the body is depleted. I finished my first half marathon in 3:11 hours - an achievement I could hardly believe 🫨.

The medal and finisher's T-shirt made it reallllll 🔥.

To anyone reading this post "Whatever will be, will be." If you want to accomplish something, take action. Don't overthink or fear failure; just believe in yourself. Thank you for reading my first post. Have a great day and happy running! 🎉 🏃🏻‍♂️