How Writing On Medium Motivated Me To Start Running (Kinda)

A Python with legs

Short article here: I used to completely hate running (sorry for being lazy), and would refuse to run at all. Writing on Medium for a couple of months changed this. Here’s how:

Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT)

I live in Singapore, and males in Singapore must serve in the army for 2 years or go to jail. After our 2 year service, we become known as NSMen which just means that we need to occasionally go back to the army for maybe 2 weeks per year. Combat-fit NSMen also need to take a yearly individual physical proficiency test (IPPT) or risk jail time.

TLDR — I need to take a yearly fitness test for army stuff.

The IPPT consists of pushups, situps and a 2.4km run. If I don’t meet the minimum requirements and fail, I need to go for remedial training (and burn my Saturday mornings)

My IPPT in 2021

I failed. My 2.4km run took 16 minutes and 28 seconds (I think it was 28 seconds) which is absolutely horrendously atrocious! This is the kind of timing you would expect that obese kid in your class to hit (no fat shaming here — just statistics). And I’m a relatively slim normal-sized 24 year old (at that time) guy!