The Run

Woke up at 3.35am in the morning to prepare for the Penang Bridge Run. As like the past 2 years, I sign up for the Half-Marathon category. My target this year? Same as last year, "To complete the run in one piece and continue my PBM medal collection." This year however, I have a bit of a concern. The distance to cover is 25km instead of the 22.3km in the past. This is due to the change of starting and finishing line from USM to Queensbay. Don't belittle that 2.7km. It can be a very long and difficult distance when you've continued putting one leg in front of the other for the past 20km (3hrs).

This year's event is organized by the Penang state government. Online registration is introduced and it makes life easier for people like me who mostly prefer e-banking than conventional way of forms and receipt. If there's any news or update, I get it through email. Very convenient.

Another thing worth mentioning is the time management. For the past 2 years, runners were not flag off on time. It was delayed by at least 30mins. This year, we have a simple 10mins lion dance performance before the half-marathon was flagged off and yet we were still meeting the 5am stated flag off time.

At the very last minute, I decided not to bring along my Touch + armband to the run. Might be too bulky for long distance running.

My run started ok. Just as I was reaching the flyover to go onto the bridge, I can see cups scattered on the wet floor and some workers are sweeping them. Clearly, that was a water station and those are the after effect by the full marathon runners. Not a drop of water was left for us. I'm not sure if we're suppose to be provided with waters at only 3km into the race. Anyway, up ahead, there were people distributing PowerBars Gel. I grabbed one, at that moment, I heard a Chinese lady behind me screaming very loudly at the PowerBars Gel people. She sounded very angry and shouting in Malay complaining that why there are no water left. She said it was not fair as the men Half-Marathon ahead of us had finished all. Kelian punya PowerBars Gel people, kena scolded like that when it was not their fault in the first place.

With the PowerBars Gel in my hand, I continue running. At the uphill climb towards the bridge's mid-span, I get very thirsty and started to get tired. My eyes are closing down...I don't know why...haha, maybe tired till no energy to open eyes? Ran till I reach the top point of the bridge and then I walk downhill. Not far ahead I can see water station!! Quickly rushed over there, grabbed a bottle of mineral water, further ahead is small cup of 100Plus. Grabbed 2 and gulp it down. Boi, was I thirsty. Seeing that I had PowerBar in hand, I took it hoping to see if it really works. Managed a quick glance with my half open eyes and see that it is banana flavor. I got that sticky yucky thing down my throat with the help of mineral water. By that time, I had a stomach full of water.

Continue running. Eyes opening seems to be bigger now. I think it's the immediate effect of powerbar. Just now I was so tired, but now after awhile, I can continue running. The sky is still dark. There was constant strong wind blowing and I was cold. Catch up with a few full-marathon guys and I joined them, tagging behind them unnoticed. When there's someone to follow, I'm more motivated and can run a little bit faster.

Lost the group of full-marathon runners not long after, they are too consistent in their speed. Later on, managed to find another lone marathon guy and I run with him side by side. No, didn't manage to see his face nor flash him a smile. I think his number is A0103, but not too sure though...cannot trust my blur mind at that moment. That was when I almost reached the other side of the bridge, the mainland side.

I am surprise. There was no funny disgusting smell at this side of the bridge today. Usually, when I pass by here, I can smell the unbearable funny smell even in the car, with the windows wind up. But not today. That's good.

There was another water station at the far end of the bridge, only water, no 100Plus. Take some water and thereafter, it was a mixture of walk and jog. More walk than jog to be exact. The sky starts to brighten up. The feeling of my legs were different at that moment onwards. They doesn't seem to be mine anymore.

Reaching the mid-span of the bridge, an uncle walk past me and motivated me. Telling me go faster and that we're almost reaching. I told him I'm very thirsty and thus cannot run anymore. He kindly offer me his bottled drink and I accepted it, pour 2 mouthful and return the bottle to him. He then gave me his powergel. Seeing how the powerbar energize me up earlier, I took it from him. His was strawberry flavor. With no water in hand now, I just take the gel and force it down my throat.

Tried to jog again. As the bridge was sloping down at that time, running is easier and from my place, i can see the water station right ahead. Only 100Plus available this time. Started running again but I can feel my stiff leg is about to get a cramp. If I continue running, it will surely cramp up. I only walk from that point onwards, in great difficulty; body bend slightly forward, the good leg pushed more and the bad leg was almost at a dragging point. Time is running out, I need to finished it by 8.30am to secure a finisher medal.

Met with the fun run participants at kilometer 6.3 of the bridge. It was the point where they make a u-turn and head back to Queensbay. There are so many of them, a sea of orange moving thing! (fun run gets orange t-shirt). Close-up, these orange thing looks more like tourist in a museum than runners. Most of them were busy taking photos, some holding hands enjoying the moment, some just sit around resting and talking.

Back to my run: I kept pushing, the medal is the target. I talked to myself a lot that time. I think sometimes, I might have accidentally say out loud coz i notice people beside glance towards me. The cramp finally attacked when I was 10mins away from the finishing line. Sit by the road side and stretch my leg out for awhile. Luckily it goes away a little and I quickly continue my walk.

Ran to the finishing line when it was about 100m ahead. Still, medal as a target. Reached the finishing line at 3hrs 35mins and luckily, medals are still available. Yay!

Meet up with my family, who is also participating in PBM in fun run category. We waited for the lucky draw where the grand prize is a brand new Proton Saga. Stupid me forgot to tear the small part of the ticket and drop into the drawbox, and there goes my chance to win any of the lucky draw prizes. Many draws went uncollected because the owner of the lucky numbers might have go home, there are many re-draws when the numbers went uncollected. Penang CM was there to give his speech and help out in prize presentation. The event ended at about 10.20am.

As announced by State Tourism Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang in his speech, next year there will still be The Penang Bridge Marathon 2009 which will be taking place at 20 Sept 2009 (20092009). Who wants to join me in conquering the bridge next year?

Improvements needed: need to have sufficient water at all water stations, need more signboards to let runners know of their status/distance away from the finishing line.