Race Name: Penang Bridge Marathon 2012
Date: 18 November 2012
Distance: 42k aka Full Marathon
Running Buddies:
-
Yana – Register for 10k, came but did not run because of food poisoning that night
- Lat – not new to the running scene but first time running with us, she did the 10k but later regret; wishing she done the half instead
Chapter 1 – The new job
I started on my new job on November 14, 2012, yes 4 days away from the
day of the event. This is due to my brilliant and understanding husband
agreeing on my behalf on my starting day. Anyway that is all water under the
bridge now, and it turns out ok as I did not have time to freak out and go on
last minute training frenzy. The sad thing was I did not get to be in KL 1 week
early and my entire plan for the super delicious very much needed carbo-loading
did not happen… Oh well…. Sigh….
Chapter 2 – The hotel reservation
Lesson learnt from last year, we selected and booked our accommodation
way ahead of time. We check and double check on the dates so that there will be
no problem this year. Anyway on Friday (November 16, 2012) I decided to call
the contact person for the accommodation, we decided to book an apartment since
at that time there will be 6 of us, hence an apartment is cheaper and more comfortable.
The location of the apartment is also a plus as it is within the walking
distance from the event.
Talking to the person in charge, I quickly got upset and annoyed. The
apartment is under renovation!!!! According to him the website where I did my
booking from knew about this. Thank you very much AGODA.COM. Anyway I call agoda.com and have a nice chat with them;
they need confirmation with the person in charge. (Yes, Agoda I am lying to you
about my booking not being available and my flight is tonight duhhhh!!!) They
did their confirmation, stated they will refund my money, sorry for the trouble
and I can get 10% discount on my next booking. (Really 10% oh! how nice yes I
will surely book via your website again NOT
EVER !!!!!)
I send SOS to all concerning parties (running buddies; at this point
there was only 4 of us left) and ask them to look for a hotel room for all of
us. We were lucky to get a room in Equatorial Penang but of course the price so
superbly cutthroat. What can we do, we need a room. On the plus side, the hotel
room was nice, huge and the view was beautiful.
Chapter 3 –
The race
I woke-up super early, can’t really sleep too excited about the race.
Can anyone blame me I waited 1 year for the race …..waited ok not trained ok
:-P …. Got there in time, no traffic because I was early and got to see the
opening ceremony. Seriously you guys there was lion dance and Gang-nam style
performance at 2am.
The race started on time and there I go…. Yeay me…
The plan was to following the 6.00hrs pacers; let me tell you now, IT
DID NOT WORK. I was doing well on the bridge going and returning back but the
stretch on the highway was killing me. My pace was getting slower and slower
and alternating between walking and running became permanently walking. I hit my wall at the in front of Tesco a few
kilometers ahead where the 21k runners did their U-turn. I was really tempted
to turn I did not know where I got it from but the race route that was in my
head keep saying that the U-turn for the full marathon was in front of the
Tesco building but it was not !!!!! Disappointed when the U-turn is still a
long way to go I just don’t want to run anymore (hahahahaha like I can run
anymore at that point)
Anyway the highway route was really long, at some point I was swearing
at the distance marker where it says 5km to U-turn. A returning runner saw me
and smile he said it is not that far you can do it. What can I do? Keep walking
and every now and then I keep looking back and wishing (PRAYING) for the
sweeper. The sweeper bus never came. I thought of quitting, I saw a couple of
place where I can arrange for the group designated driver to pick me up but my
mobile run out of batteries. I am totally useless without my mobile, can’t
remember anyone’s number even mine so I just keep on walking …..
Chapter 4 – The finishing line
In the last 5km to the finishing line, I meet up with the 10k run for
fun group … this is great, this is good, this is F*$#@g amazing Ithought, it will not be that embarrassing finishing
with them nobody will see me I just blend in. Just my luck the 10k runner
finishing line was at a different location. 1km towards the finishing we depart
way. I was really tempted just to blend in with them as it is really
embarrassing but I saw 1 runner in front of me and I knew there are a few
others behind me. What the hell smile and just get to the finishing line there
are still people around. I am sure they have not removed or dismantle the finishing
line sign ….errr I hope ….
Yups I cross the finishing lime at 7hrs 12 min …. Embarrassing? Yes. But my friends was there cheering me on taking pictures and upating them on facebooks instantly. The crowd was great…. I was happy
to finish!!! The amazing part was there this Race Marshall telling me to hurry this
way and saying they will be closing the gate in 5 more minute. Closing the
gate? 5 more minutes? Yeah I can think straight after completing 42k. Anyway I
just did what he asked, just follow the direction he was pointing too. Hey!!!
I got to collect the 42 finisher T-Shirt and Medal hahahahahaha …… Along the
way I was feeling slightly sad as I passed the 6hrs marked. Read somewhere that
the cut off time was 6hrs but I guess they decided to extend the timeline. I am
not complaining :-) Yeay... I got the t-shirt ... I got the t-shirt
Chapter 4 – Returning Home
Collected my t-shirt had a drink of water and walk to the car. I
release my feet from my shoe and walk bared foot from the hotel parking lot to
my room. I was not the only one doing that …. I can't describe the feeling... My feet was singing as soon as un-tie the shoe lace
Anyway I soaked myself fully cloth in the tub, alternating between
cold and hot water. It was heaven. I took a bath and nap for a while. Woke-up
with sore everything…. Have a couple of bruises and blisters at the most
amazing places on my body.
Anyway had my lunch and continue sleeping. I extended my hours in the
hotel, my running buddies left for KL after lunch. I was taking the
flight straight to Singapore later in the evening.
On the flight I proudly wore my t-shirt. Again I was not alone. There were
a lot of us on the same flight wearing the same t-shirt. The feeling was GREAT
(borrowing from Arman – IT WAS AWESOME!!!)
Chapter 5 – Recovery
After completing the (ehem) full marathon I realize I do not really
know what to do after completing the race. What are the do’s and don’ts ? As
anyone in this day and age will do, I ask Google for the answer. Read a couple
of things and decided to write a checklist and post it on my blog. BUT I have
not done it yet!!!! But I will before my full marathon next year!
Yes I will be entering the Penang Bridge Marathon in 2013. It will be held
at the new bridge. I will conquer that bridge and improve my time ….I aim to
finish within 5:30hrs next year …… Next time around I will proudly cross that finishing line :-)
Anyway my race day start at 6.00 am in Pulau Indah, as it was my BIL engagement the day before. I drove myself to Dataran Merdeka and contacted Yana so we can start the race together. Maybe it was cloudy during the start of the race but I can't tell for sure because of the haze.
People in the cars, must think we are crazy to run in the rain but seriously what are we suppose to do? Looking back I think I finish all my races is simply because I don't know how to stop. How do you stop in the middle of the race? Just sit on the road side and wait for help or stop at on of the water station or first aid station. I really need to find.
