Penang Bridge Marathon 2007 – 24th June, 2007
This is one of my dreams to achieve this 22.3km half marathon in Penang Bridge Marathon. I was start thinking of this since 5 or 6 years ago (can’t remember) when I’m still studying at college. Two of my housemates were successfully finish the run within 3 hours. I’m really proud of them when they show me the cert and the medal. Last time, I was finding a thousand reasons to avoid the run although I really hope to try at least once in my life.
In the middle of March, 2007, my brother is asking me to join for a 5km Marathon in Ipoh. Without further consideration, I decided to join for the run held on 25th March together with my brother and his friends. The result is considered quite well for an untrained people who can finish the 5km run in 40 minutes. After that, my brother’s friend is offering the Penang Bridge Marathon. At that time, my hidden dream is opened again.
15th April, 2007 - 69 days before the date, I have decided to jot down my hell training schedule and progress for this ‘Tough Challenge’.
6th May, 2007 – An experience to test my progress whereby I was join for the 10km Marathon at Ipoh. The night before the run, I really cannot sleep. This is not because of I’m nervous for tomorrow run but is because of the weather is hot like I’m in desert. But anyway, day has passed and I’m successfully finish the line in a record of 1hour and 5 minutes in 10KM. I’m getting a certificate and a medal for this run. This make me feel exciting when I received the medal. I’m getting interested to make this as my hobby. Well, I mean collection of marathon’s medal.
10th June, 2007 – 2 weeks before the Penang run. What I have done in the month of May?
Every weekend of the month of May, I was not in KL. Hehe… quite enjoy
1st Week – Ipoh (Ipoh Marathon)
2nd Week – Genting Trip (no exercise in this week)
3rd Week – Pangkor Island trip held by company (Er… I think Telematch consider is an exercise)
4th Week – Perhentian Island trip with friends (Snorkeling & Canoeing is a good exercise)
After the 10km Ipoh marathon, I realize that my current exercise is not enough to face for this 22.3km Penang marathon. So what I have done is double up my exercise like going to fitness more often ( 3-4 times a week). I also jog in the garden if I’m back from work early. Let me tell you what I do in Fitness Centre. ….
Go for Cardiovascular training (track mill) – minimum 5km or 30 minutes whichever come first.
Sit up – 15 times per set. I go for 3 set.
Playing around of some of the gym machine to build up my chest and abdomen muscles. Lastly, I went for sauna for 5 – 10 minutes.
22th June, Friday.
I’m getting very excited when I just off from my work. I’ve parked my car in my season parking lot for 3 days. I’m taking bus express back to my hometown to meet my brother who also joining for this marathon. I reach Ipoh around 10pm and just have some chit chat with my brother regarding the run. We plan to have a last practice before the run early in the morning. Tonight is a horrible night because I CAN’T sleep. Is not because of I’m nervous for this run but the weather is extremely HOT. I think could be 30° for the whole night.
23th June, Saturday.
I’m not sure whether I have enough sleep for yesterday night but I still go for my last practice before the run. Me and my brother go for a jog around 5km nearby my house and I feel that my legs was pain. I’m getting worried to run for this long distance 22.3km marathon. After the practice, we go for breakfast (the light one) and wait for my brother’s friend, Teh who also a kaki runner. While waiting him, I tried to rest as much as I can and eat lightly. Teh is going to fetch us to Penang and meet his group of members in the highway. Wow.. what a big group of runner I ever seen. There have total around 20+ kaki runner who joining for this marathon. They have a Club name which called “Wong Yi Tui”. Most of them are veteran and their stamina is much better than me. We have total 7 cars which have a same objective on that day. We reached Penang around 4pm and straight away go to collect our T-shirt at Queensbay Mall. It takes quite a long time to wait for the T-shirt and finally around 6.30pm we reach the hotel. We dinner at the hawker center nearby the hotel and back to the hotel around 9pm. Ops, is almost 10pm already, I really have to rest or else tomorrow will not perform my true energy. We told the hotel people to give us a morning call at 2.30am.
24th June, Sunday.
The phone is ringing, but me and my brother really don’t want to wake up. The phone is keep on ringing although I already hang up the phone. GRRR… OKLAR.. have to wake up and shower and get prepared for the battle. I’m bringing along with a Power Bar & Power Gel to boost my energy which I bought from Queensbay Mall while waiting for the T-Shirt. I have also put Livita into my pocket and last but not least the analgesic cream to avoid my muscle pain. My half marathon run is start at 4.30am but we still in the lobby of the hotel when the time is almost 3.30am. Because of the big group of gathering and we need to wait for each other and our tour guide, Teh to bring us to the starting point. Many of the road were block for this run, we already late while we reach there. While walking to the starting point, the gun is fired, Bang!.. What the? I haven’t reach to the starting line yet.. its still have extra 1 km from the starting line. So, actually I’m run for 23.3km marathon.
I’m start running with my normal speed at the first 5km. Listen my favourite music from my Ipod and start running comfortably. While running, I was face too many blockage on the road, I feel that the contestant is too slow.. so I try to over cut them as many as I can. There have 3 drink station, 5km, 10km and 15km. I started get exhausted while I’m in the middle of the bridge. Power Gel really got effect when I using it at 15km station. I felt I got more energy to go. When its almost in the finishing line about 1 km to go, I was so excited because of the music and the crowd that I heard from the finishing line. Finally, I make my own record which is 2hours and 50 minutes in 22.3km. My aim for next year is full marathon, 44.6km.
