PBIM 2010
It's the annual Penang Bridge Marathon. Here is where I started my long distance running 4 years ago. This year, in the 5th year I finally switched it from Half Marathon to Full Marathon.
Because it involved closure to the Penang Bridge, they wanted to have the bridge to be reopen as early as possible. So the Marathon start time had to be early too, at 2am in the morning! The night before, I had dinner at 5.30pm and I was in bed by 8pm. Being the usual piggy that can sleep anytime anywhere, I had a well rested night. Awake by 12.30am to prepare for the loooong run.
We were flagged off 3 minutes earlier that 2am from in front of Queensbay Mall. First we headed towards Bayan Lepas. Turn around at Seagate and then head towards the Penang Bridge. It was all good until when I was on the bridge, I start to see lightning flashing. And by the time I reach the midspan of the bridge running towards Mainland, I start to feel headwind. I tried running behind runners about the same pace as me to shield from the wind, it helps a little. But after about 1 to 2km, my 'wall' slowed down so I had to overtake him. By then it was hard to find runner running at about my pace.
I was a bit pissed running at the stretch from midspan of the bridge to the tol at the mainland due to the lack of water station. The planning of the water station wasn't very smart. In the middle of the bridge was a water station (~12.5k) and there wasn't any water after that until the end of the bridge right before the turnaround point (~17.5k). Ok, maybe from the look of it now, 5km wasn't that long but after more than 10km into continuous running, when the tiredness starts to kick in, 5km feels long. More so that we need to fight headwind along the way. Right after turnback, when we're at the opposite of the bridge, there was another water station, which is just, like, 1km away!! (~18.5k). Why not move the drink station @17.5k so that it is balance between the other 2 drink station?
The wind was even stronger after the turnaround point. Hiding behind other runner didn't help to block the wind this time. The rain started when I was at approximately km20. It poured very heavily to the point where I felt the rain 'hitting' hard on my skin. The rain felt so refreshing and cooling, it has been awhile since I last run in the rain. I was kinda chanting "I love the rain, I love the rain" as I continue to run, more happy than ever. The rain was so heavy that I couldn't really open my eyes to look ahead, so I just had my eyes on the road and only check ahead once in awhile. At that time, we had a lot of Half marathon runners merging with the marathon runners. I had to avoid them left right center. But, I still had a lot of fun running under the heavy rain :)
The rain allows constant hydration too...haha. Water practically just drips into my mouth, and they taste sweet :)
The rain slowed to a drizzle as I reach the end of the bridge turning down to Jelutong Espressway (~27km), running past E-Gate, Tesco and all the way to the turnback point at Maccalum Street (~33k). It was amazing running on the Jelutong Expressway. I drove so many times along this stretch and this is the first time I was actually running on it! Driving seems so long but the run doesn't really feel as long, which is weird. Maybe it's the feel good feeling after the rain. At this point, the rain had stopped.
After the u-turn, I start to feel like my left calf is about to cramp up so I stopped at one of the medical tent to get it iced. As I started running again, the shin in turn feels not too good so I stopped at the next tent but they ran out of ice. As there's nothing else I can do, I try to talk myself over it. Tried slowing down and tried to use more of the right leg instead. "But I wanted to achieve sub-5hrs target!". After awhile, I started pushing again. I really wanted to achieve a sub-5 target.
I felt really tired when I pass E-Gate again (~37k). Stupid water station ran out of water, forcing me to drink 100 Plus. I don't drink 100 Plus during run because I will get stomachache. I took 2 small sip of it, fearing tummy pain but even then, I get some pain after a few minutes of consuming the 100 Plus.
With a lot of pain in the feet, knee, shoulder, and practically everywhere!, I continue to run. On top of that, running even harder because I am very very close to achieving target. A few friends call out to me at the Gold Coast roundabout, cheering me on...it feels great to see familiar faces. They help me to hang on there. As I reach HSBC, there was a truck with a big clock showing the marathon time 4:57:00 (official time). 3 more minutes to reach the finishing time towards my goal!! At that time also, another group of running friends were there to cheer and gave support. It keeps me going. I crossed the finishing line with 4:57:58 on my watch (net time). I'm not sure what was the official time like but I sure hope it is something below 5hrs. Will have to wait for the timing chip results.
I was in a lot of pain after ending the run, but nevertheless, very very happy and satisfied.
I am proud to say "I AM A MARATHON RUNNER!"
Because it involved closure to the Penang Bridge, they wanted to have the bridge to be reopen as early as possible. So the Marathon start time had to be early too, at 2am in the morning! The night before, I had dinner at 5.30pm and I was in bed by 8pm. Being the usual piggy that can sleep anytime anywhere, I had a well rested night. Awake by 12.30am to prepare for the loooong run.
We were flagged off 3 minutes earlier that 2am from in front of Queensbay Mall. First we headed towards Bayan Lepas. Turn around at Seagate and then head towards the Penang Bridge. It was all good until when I was on the bridge, I start to see lightning flashing. And by the time I reach the midspan of the bridge running towards Mainland, I start to feel headwind. I tried running behind runners about the same pace as me to shield from the wind, it helps a little. But after about 1 to 2km, my 'wall' slowed down so I had to overtake him. By then it was hard to find runner running at about my pace.
I was a bit pissed running at the stretch from midspan of the bridge to the tol at the mainland due to the lack of water station. The planning of the water station wasn't very smart. In the middle of the bridge was a water station (~12.5k) and there wasn't any water after that until the end of the bridge right before the turnaround point (~17.5k). Ok, maybe from the look of it now, 5km wasn't that long but after more than 10km into continuous running, when the tiredness starts to kick in, 5km feels long. More so that we need to fight headwind along the way. Right after turnback, when we're at the opposite of the bridge, there was another water station, which is just, like, 1km away!! (~18.5k). Why not move the drink station @17.5k so that it is balance between the other 2 drink station?
The wind was even stronger after the turnaround point. Hiding behind other runner didn't help to block the wind this time. The rain started when I was at approximately km20. It poured very heavily to the point where I felt the rain 'hitting' hard on my skin. The rain felt so refreshing and cooling, it has been awhile since I last run in the rain. I was kinda chanting "I love the rain, I love the rain" as I continue to run, more happy than ever. The rain was so heavy that I couldn't really open my eyes to look ahead, so I just had my eyes on the road and only check ahead once in awhile. At that time, we had a lot of Half marathon runners merging with the marathon runners. I had to avoid them left right center. But, I still had a lot of fun running under the heavy rain :)
The rain allows constant hydration too...haha. Water practically just drips into my mouth, and they taste sweet :)
The rain slowed to a drizzle as I reach the end of the bridge turning down to Jelutong Espressway (~27km), running past E-Gate, Tesco and all the way to the turnback point at Maccalum Street (~33k). It was amazing running on the Jelutong Expressway. I drove so many times along this stretch and this is the first time I was actually running on it! Driving seems so long but the run doesn't really feel as long, which is weird. Maybe it's the feel good feeling after the rain. At this point, the rain had stopped.
After the u-turn, I start to feel like my left calf is about to cramp up so I stopped at one of the medical tent to get it iced. As I started running again, the shin in turn feels not too good so I stopped at the next tent but they ran out of ice. As there's nothing else I can do, I try to talk myself over it. Tried slowing down and tried to use more of the right leg instead. "But I wanted to achieve sub-5hrs target!". After awhile, I started pushing again. I really wanted to achieve a sub-5 target.
I felt really tired when I pass E-Gate again (~37k). Stupid water station ran out of water, forcing me to drink 100 Plus. I don't drink 100 Plus during run because I will get stomachache. I took 2 small sip of it, fearing tummy pain but even then, I get some pain after a few minutes of consuming the 100 Plus.
With a lot of pain in the feet, knee, shoulder, and practically everywhere!, I continue to run. On top of that, running even harder because I am very very close to achieving target. A few friends call out to me at the Gold Coast roundabout, cheering me on...it feels great to see familiar faces. They help me to hang on there. As I reach HSBC, there was a truck with a big clock showing the marathon time 4:57:00 (official time). 3 more minutes to reach the finishing time towards my goal!! At that time also, another group of running friends were there to cheer and gave support. It keeps me going. I crossed the finishing line with 4:57:58 on my watch (net time). I'm not sure what was the official time like but I sure hope it is something below 5hrs. Will have to wait for the timing chip results.
I was in a lot of pain after ending the run, but nevertheless, very very happy and satisfied.
Some of us who train together in preparation for this marathon
From left: MeeLan, Liza, ChinChin, PeckYee, me me, er...don't know who
From left: MeeLan, Liza, ChinChin, PeckYee, me me, er...don't know who
I am proud to say "I AM A MARATHON RUNNER!"
Photo stolen from Andrew's FB album :P
Labels: Healthy living
posted by LieWei at 10:27 PM
3 Comments:
from a non marathon runner point of view, manage to finish 42km marathon is already awesome regardless of how much time you used to finish it.
By
ladycooper, at Nov 21, 2010, 11:45:00 PM
Haha...though not running, but am exhausted after working till morning tht day, slept till this morning..
By
Woody Allen, at Nov 22, 2010, 12:16:00 PM
chuckie, r u one of the volunteers helping at PBIM?
I would like to thank all the helpful and young volunteers working in the odd hours making the event a success. Thank you so much to all the St John Ambulance members, Scouts, Girl Guides and all other helpers!!
By
LieWei, at Nov 22, 2010, 1:14:00 PM
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