Thank God I'm in this country, Boy!
(Rephrased from John Denver's 1975 hit, Thank God I'm a Country Boy)*
The picture on the left is the picture of a 99 year old man in England who still runs many marathons and is a spokesperson for Adidas (Impossible is Nothing). Sauja Singh was a farmer in Punjab till he retired at 82 and started running as he was bored. He migrated to the UK to live with his son after his wife passed away and there has been no stopping him. He plans to be the fastest in the 100 year old marathon category next year!
Today I completed the 2010 Standard Chartered KL Half Marathon (21.1km) in 2h 12m (unofficial time).
Thank God I am in this country where I am able to run in this peaceful country. Thank God that the climate is conducive for running and training throughout the year. Thank God that my great grandfather for deciding to volunteer to come to Malaya to work as a bonded labourer, even though he came here thinking that it would a land of honey and nectar here then. I am a third generation Malaysian, more Malaysian than some of the nation's leaders, i.e. one ex-Mentri Besar who is descendent of an ?illegal immigrant. Thank God my parents did not run away from this country after the May 13 riots. Thank God for Amma to have the foresight to know that education is of paramount importance for the future in spite of all the turmoils that we were through. Thank God that I found good productive friends. Thank God that I have the peace of mind, good health and the luxury of being able to train for these runs without being worried about the next meal.
Thank God. Alhamdilullah!
*A little bit of trivia on John Denver. It is ironic that he sang the song 'Leaving on the Jet Plane' and succumbed to a flying accident! Also ironic that such beautiful songs about his wife Annie whom he later divorced! Talking about writing songs about their other half, the world thought that Lionel Ritchie has a romantic husband that the girls used to go ga-ga when he proclaimed that he wrote all those lovely love songs thinking of his wife. Only much later did the world realise that all the while he was having an affair when the divorce proceedings come to light! There went his image and his record sales! Bottom line, the more you hear about these things, the more you do not know whom or what to believe. Not knowing certain things seems better - Ignorance is bliss....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/funny_old_game/4631111.stm
(Rephrased from John Denver's 1975 hit, Thank God I'm a Country Boy)*
The picture on the left is the picture of a 99 year old man in England who still runs many marathons and is a spokesperson for Adidas (Impossible is Nothing). Sauja Singh was a farmer in Punjab till he retired at 82 and started running as he was bored. He migrated to the UK to live with his son after his wife passed away and there has been no stopping him. He plans to be the fastest in the 100 year old marathon category next year!Today I completed the 2010 Standard Chartered KL Half Marathon (21.1km) in 2h 12m (unofficial time).
Thank God I am in this country where I am able to run in this peaceful country. Thank God that the climate is conducive for running and training throughout the year. Thank God that my great grandfather for deciding to volunteer to come to Malaya to work as a bonded labourer, even though he came here thinking that it would a land of honey and nectar here then. I am a third generation Malaysian, more Malaysian than some of the nation's leaders, i.e. one ex-Mentri Besar who is descendent of an ?illegal immigrant. Thank God my parents did not run away from this country after the May 13 riots. Thank God for Amma to have the foresight to know that education is of paramount importance for the future in spite of all the turmoils that we were through. Thank God that I found good productive friends. Thank God that I have the peace of mind, good health and the luxury of being able to train for these runs without being worried about the next meal.
Thank God. Alhamdilullah!
*A little bit of trivia on John Denver. It is ironic that he sang the song 'Leaving on the Jet Plane' and succumbed to a flying accident! Also ironic that such beautiful songs about his wife Annie whom he later divorced! Talking about writing songs about their other half, the world thought that Lionel Ritchie has a romantic husband that the girls used to go ga-ga when he proclaimed that he wrote all those lovely love songs thinking of his wife. Only much later did the world realise that all the while he was having an affair when the divorce proceedings come to light! There went his image and his record sales! Bottom line, the more you hear about these things, the more you do not know whom or what to believe. Not knowing certain things seems better - Ignorance is bliss....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/funny_old_game/4631111.stm
"I am very happy that I have been able to do this and it's God's gift that people like me are able to do it for others who come later on, I feel the good work that I am doing is more important than getting the fame."
Fauja Singh, near centurion marathoner.
Addentum: Results are out, Yahoo...(Out of 2,878 male runners in Half Marathon)
| Rank | BIB No | Name | Nationality | Race Category | Gun Time | Net Time |
| 664 | 8156 | ASOKAN SHAMUGANATHAN | Malaysia | Individuals - Half Marathon | 02:13:23 | 02:12:19 |
| Rank | BIB No | Name | Nationality | Race Category | Gun Time | Net Time |
| 216 | 8156 | ASOKAN SHAMUGANATHAN | Malaysia | Half Marathon (Men - Veterans) - Half Marathon | 02:13:23 | 02:12:19 |
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