From 600 Meters to Half Marathon: Rediscovering My Love for Running

I restarted my running journey after almost 15 years, driven by a desire to lose weight, get fit, and because I love the outdoors. I enjoyed track in school and thought it would be easy to pick up where I left off. But my first day of C25K was a wake-up call—I could barely run 600 meters without feeling completely exhausted. I quickly realised running wasn’t a hobby I could just pick up and drop whenever I pleased. It was like I was learning to run all over again. At 35, I had to shift my mindset: it required discipline, lifestyle changes, and new habits.

This marked the beginning of my journey to become a better runner—not just to reach goals, but to actually enjoy the process and not be weighed down by mental or physical limitations.

After completing my first 5k, I rushed to the next goal: the 10k. But that’s when the complexity of running truly hit me. There were so many things to consider—training plans, diet requirements, protein supplements, strength training and even shoe selection. It was overwhelming. Despite the endless advice online, I realised I needed help. So, I decided to work with a professional, and that’s when Vaishnavi suggested coaching. Enter Hari.

Hari was patient and thoughtful. He didn’t just give me a plan; he took time to understand my life, my habits, and my schedule. Sometimes, I’d ask way too many questions or be inconsistent, and I’m sure he wanted to pull his hair out at times, but he always responded with understanding and guidance. He didn’t just push me—he believed in me. And that belief, especially when I struggled with my own confidence, made all the difference.

But honestly, my running journey leading up to the FCM was far from perfect. My discipline faltered. Sleep was erratic, food was unhealthy and life added on illness, travel, and concerts. In the 50 days leading up to my half marathon, I managed just 7 runs, instead of the 35 I should have completed. I felt lost. The thought of running 21k seemed impossible. My longest run had been just 16k, a month before. But Hari never doubted me. He assured me, “I wouldn’t let you run if I didn’t think you could finish.” That gave me the confidence to keep going, and he even set a challenging time goal to push me.

I am a competitive person by nature and I push myself hard, a bit too harshly at times even. But this Race wasn’t about a PB for me; it was just another long run, part of my journey. So I decided to embrace and enjoy it. I learnt a lot of lessons - during the race and especially the day after, reading the stories of all you wonderful fellow runners—I realised a few things that will stay with me for a long time:

1. I need to be more disciplined with my eating, sleeping, and routines if I want my body to keep up with my goals.

2. Strength training isn’t optional. It’s key to running well, without fatigue or injury.

3. The most powerful lesson: community. Running isn’t just about the miles; it’s about the people you share them with. Having friends to lean on, to encourage you, makes all the difference on tough days.

These are the things I want to focus on in 2025. I have a target for FCM 2026 already, but for now, I’m learning to go with the flow and enjoy running—not as a task, but as part of my life. I had already signed up for the TMM HM too before I came under Hari. Running 2 HMs in 2 weeks seems naive in hindsight. But I'm just going to embrace the challenge.

Through all of this, I’ve rediscovered my love for running in a way I didn’t expect. It’s become a core part of me now, even spilling over into my music in ways I didn’t anticipate. I’m so grateful to this community and most importantly to Hari, for guiding me through this journey. I’m excited for what’s next, and I look forward to creating more memories with all of you.