X'mas Day -UltraMarathon 2005

Though it was raining quite heavily, it didn't stop me from doing the UltraMarathon once again. I finished in 10hr 1min 43sec for completing the total distance of 52.5km. Last year I took almost close to 12 hrs. I intended to do 6 laps but then, decided to stop at 5 as i could not carry on any further. Plus, my mind was not at ease, kept thinking of my nephew.

I called him the night before, if he was interested to participate. He was so excited and even got his 2-friends and a cousin to join in.

Luqman did his 1st 2laps too fast and on the 3rd, I managed to catch up with him at the 6km mark and we ended up walking back to the starting point. He was complaining of pain, and had a slight headache. Had advised him earlier to take his time, but he was too ambitious to finish the race before 5pm. He overworked himself and couldn't carry on with the 5th. As for the rest of the kids, they left after running the 1st round.

After completing the 4th lap, his dad took him to NUH. He was being observed for that day and was put on IV drip and was given an injection for his pain. Doctor said it due was heat exhaustion and he was obviously dehyrated.

I was partly to be blamed for his condition. Knowing that he did not train for this event and ignoring his pain when he expressed it again while we were taking our break. I insisted that he should just continue by walking the final 2 laps since he still got lots of time.

I should have listened to him because he was already listening to his body. And yet,i left him to walk alone while i continued with mine. Now i feel so bad. This is the problem when you think u have full confidence in thatthe other person, when u actually do not know or choose to ignore what was happening to him.. his mental and health status, his limitations.

I should have known better. I was taught to acknowledge pain. Pain is the 5th vital signs which should not be ignored. Really .. I am to be blamed for all this. Spoken to his dad, but not to his mum yet, who is my sis-in-law. Surely, she is mad at me. While she was there, she saw her son in pain and wanted him to stop, but we refused to listen to her.. "she knows her son better..." I have not spoken to her since...

I only got to know that he went to NUH when i called his dad the next morning.. why didn't they call me that same day/night to tell me about their son?

Think i better pick up that phone, talk to his mum right now.. or latest by tonight.