Penang Bridge Run.. suffer in ecstasy!
I did it!!
I finally did the Penang Bridge Run!! This run is a momentuous event for me, in more ways than one!
1) It's my first race in a year and a half (my last race being KLIM '06 half marathon distance), and I'm heading straight for the jugular by doing a 22.3km!! Suffer beb!!
2) Doing the Bridge is something I've been wanting to do for a long time. And it'll probably be my only PBM for a long time (if I go off to US, then it'll be a few years before PBM can happen for me!).
I woke up earlier before my alarm could do the job for me, at 2.40am (I only wanted to get up at 2.45am).. ??? Why ah?? I have to admit, I was feeling pretty nervous the entire day. Did the usuals to get ready... big business, so I don't get no funny bowel movements during the run, and also a quick shower (I actually like to feel fresh before a race, even though I'm gonna sweat like mad anyway!). Since I've already got my race kits all prepped up several hours before that, I just downed some Accelerade I made last night, just to put in some electrolytes and isotonics, etc, so I don't get no cramps. I also downed a small chunk of PowerBar (even though I could still feel last night's pasta dinner). Since it's a long race since a year and a half, I didn't want to take any risks.
So kau far away, man!!
Met up with Pek Fui at the lobby, and I drove us to RECSAM to park our cars. But then, really celaka, even with the map of Penang, I managed to take a wrong turn, and faced a closed road. After several wrong turns in Jalan Delima housing area, we managed to find our way out to the same road we were in. We parked at a housing area just adjacent from Jalan Delima, thinking that the starting line wasn't TOO far away. We jogged our way not knowing that the registration line was almost 2km away!!! Basket organizers... no road signs or anything to indicate where everything is! Already wasted some running energy just GETTING TO the registration point.
Met Albert from NB Bukit Bintang on the way to the USM field. When we finally got there, we saw a HUGE queue outside USM, and for some strange reason, the bottlenecked everybody to go into the field, while collecting our registration cards. What the hell? Squeezing two people in at a time... while 9998 others were trying to get in as well? When we finally got in, we had to jog right away to the starting line, which was basically almost a kilometre away, and only to find out we're doubling back to the main road through the school field. We didn't even have time to piss!
When we did get to the starting line, it was only just in time for flag-off! It was like I haven't stopped running since I started jogging from my car! *Sigh* Anyway, not intent on letting these adversities hamper my race, I decided to keep positive.
The race itself..
Since I didn't have time to recover from my 2km "warm-up", I knew I've already wasted a bit of unnecessary energy. So I ran at a fairly comfortable pace, so I won't get beaten up too quickly. One thing I didn't like about these big races was the fact that more than 50% of the half-marathon participants were school students!! Even before 1km into the race, a lot of them were already walking, and this has always been a pain for us. We have to run, keep a steady pace, concentrate on relaxing, and try to dodge these kids all at once!
Ah? Water only kah??
My only source of distance markers were the water stations, which was supposed to be every 5km. I hardly doubt that was true. Anyway, water stations only had water, and no sports drinks. Luckily for me I went on the idea of carrying my waterpack with Accelerade (and two Powergels), even though it's added weight. I pity the full-distance runners!
*Sniff sniff*.. what the hell is that smell?
For the first half of the race, I managed to run non-stop (except to take water at the first water station) at a steady pace (averaging around 7.40-7.45 min/km). Along the bridge, we were all barraged with funny smells, coming from the industrial activity just below the bridge. I though I smelt either salty fish, or salty veges (ham choy), or something! It wasn't very comfortable, to say the least.
Saw Jamie running on the opposite side of the bridge! Seeing him gave me a sudden jolt of mental energy to run!!
At the second water station, I took a bottle of water, and downed a PowerGel, as I had already begun to feel rather heavier in my motion. My lungs were feeling a bit like it was burning, like it was not getting enough air. I attribute this to inadequate training. After taking a piss next to the wide drain, I walked for about 2 over minutes, before continuing on my running pace. Each time I started running, I had to start slow and slowly work up the pace again.
Eh, another familiar face!!
At this point where the u-turn comes back up to the bridge, I met KRunner aka Rohaizad, and we were both walking. Rohaizad was run/walking due to recurring knee injury, which stopped him from properly training for the race, so although his knee was OK throughout the race, he was stopped due to lack of stamina as well. We both run/walked, chatted a short while, and continued our usual running pace. For the remainder of the race, I mostly run/walked my way back. There was a point, the nagging thought in my head went, "wah liao, so long more to go.. die lahh, how to finish??". My lack of stamina made mental havoc in my head, until I thought I was gonna give up. But again and again, I reminded myself about how I must mentally pick myself up and keep going, even if I had to walk... if I can't do this, then how would I have the mental strength to continue with my music life and everything else??
The sky has also begun to slowly break into light. And I was nowhere near the finish line. I passed Rohaizad a few times, and him passing me a few times as well, until he picked up it about 5km before the finish line to finish the race. I still run/walked all the way, and when I saw the "1km To Go" sign, I felt a sudden surge of energy to keep running again. I ran steadily down back out from the bridge and on the road heading towards USM. As I got nearer, I tried to pick my pace, but to very little avail, I almost felt so spent! When we entered the USM grounds, I gave it all I got and sprinted (albeit slowly) to the finish line!! Clocked my watch at 2:54.38.
At the finish line, I was virtually gasping so hard for air (and a drink!).. I don't think I've ever felt that spent before! Tried looking around for water or any fluids, but there was no stalls around to serve them! Bloody hell??? They were all on the opposite field, where the Fun Run 10km runners finish. Basket!!! What kinda organization is this? And they had to barrage my ears with a terrible-sounding Malay rock-kapak band... playing all the wrong chords and singing out-of-tune! So I proceeded to walk to the drinks station on the opposite side and lined up for Milo. BASKET!! When it reached my turn, I was only allowed ONE cup of Milo.. BIATCHH!!!!! What the hell?? Damn kiamsiap, man!!! Other races I've been to never had that ruling before.... KNN!! CCB!!! MCH!!! ARGGH!! I walked to the Spritzer stall, and bought myself a large bottle of water, and Spritzer Pop! What a relief.
I went back to the finish line again to see who I could meet, and also to wait for Pek Fui to finish. Saw Jamie just finishing, and gasping for air, like fish out of water, as well. He told me his run didn't go all that well, and all the running plans from training fell apart, due to unexpected back cramps!
To Jamie: Again, I must say you've been quite an inspiration to me anyway, man! Sorry that your run didn't go as well as expected!
Finally saw Pek Fui finish as well. Met some other familiar faces, too! After stretching and relaxing a bit, we proceeded to walk back to the car! Oh no.. that's another 2km away!!! Let's just say, as we were walking back to our car, i felt like I was dragging a tonne of bricks on my legs! Thankfully, Ryan Teoh saw us, and offered us a lift back to our car! Thanks Ryan!!
Back to the hotel it was... woo hooo!!
Reflections:
I don't want to even bother analyzing too much. I was not fully trained for PBM, but I just had to make do with whatever I could handle. Luckily enough, I didn't experience a single cramp (esp at the calf area) at all. I guess I was quite prepared in that area, with the eating I was doing the last few days, and also drinking Accelerade, and downing a Powergel (out of 2 I brought with me) during the race.
2:54.38 for 22.3km wasn't too bad for me. After all, my last race was March last year and also a half-marathon distance (KLIM 06 - 2:43.54). It was a good race run for me, nonetheless, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Not the organization of the race though.
Can't wait for my next race!!
Read about the rest of my Penang escapades here!
Labels: penang bridge marathon
posted by Julian @ 1:37 PM
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