Post-Race of PBIM 2012

A photo at the starting point of the race.

When I was writing my final post of my first marathon, I was trying to write the raw emotions about the race excluding the details of the race. I have intentionally left those out so it will not cloud my feelings about the race. So I did not wrote about what I like and don't like about the race.

About the race, the water stations were good. Generally, there were sufficient water stations along the course. I can actually forget about carrying water along the race. In addition, there were quite a few water stations that provided 100plus. Two of the water stations actually provided cold 100plus which was so welcomed. However, the hot weather was the most difficult part of the race. High humidity where most runners run a much slower time on that day which I found out later. An excuse for me why I missed my target of sub 5:30. But looking back I should have tried a sub 6:00 which is achievable at the race.  The 15 days of zero running during my recent trip to Japan and the injury sustained during the trip actually cost me to run slower. I did not lost the endurance but I think I lost in term of speed. I should be thankful that I get to recover fast enough to complete my first marathon within the time. Anyway, I will take my revenge at the next race.

I was already contemplating of doing another race two days after the first marathon.  But I have tried to set a limit for myself. No more than 2 marathons in a year. So that I can have time for travel and also for recovery. A more balanced life rather than just running and running.  In between, maybe do some shorter races if it can fit into my schedule.

Although the weather is an uncontrollable factor of the race, the other thing which I don't like about the race is the post race. Goosshh....we have ran 42km for more than 5 or 6 hours, we are required to queue in the hot sun for more than 20 minutes for our medal and finisher's T-shirt. Immediately reaching the finishing line, we are given a bottle of water and requested to queue up for the two items. We are supposed to walk after finishing. Not stand and queue. I almost "pengsan"(fainted) on standing. The queueing is tougher than running the last 5km of the race. The organisers are really trying to test our endurance. After the long queue, another queue of the quick breakfast i.e. two slices of toasted bread, two soft boiled eggs, one apple and a cup of coffee/tea. And I can't find a place to sit to eat after getting the breakfast.  My legs were just shaking. So I quickly finished off the eggs and coffee and look for a place to sit.

The legs were just aching after the race. The strange part is even both of my biceps were aching. Eventually I took a proper breakfast at Queensbay Mall at about 10.20am then took a drive back home. Back home, took a shower and immediately ice my knee which is in pain. Lunch comes after that. Switch on the air-conditioning and  roll down the blinds. Took a two hours nap after that. PBIM is brutal as you virtually do not sleep the whole night and have to run a marathon.

The next day, I am already back to work on Monday without any limping. So if you see the video where people is limping the next day after a marathon, the limping is not true! It is my first marathon and I only limp immediately after the marathon. I didn't even limp in the evening already. And I could get to work on Monday and just feeling a bit fatigue. I am back to easy running on Wednesday morning. A short 6km run. Then another treadmill run of 6km on Friday. I could actually do a hike up 84 Penang Hill on Saturday morning preparing for the inter-firm hiking challenge the next week.

Petronas Twin Towers and Maxis Building in KL

Probably I didn't push too hard to finish with a better timing and could recover much faster. Hope to do a sub 30 mins hike next Saturday for 84 Penang Hill. Will have to run the flat and power hike the slopes.  Already planning for my 2nd marathon. Of course, the next two local marathons coming to my mind will be Borneo International Marathon on 5 May 2013 or KL International Marathon on 30 June 2013. My choice will most likely be the KL International Marathon next year and then Borneo International Marathon in 2014.

The memories of the first marathon will always linger in my mind...

A Journey to My First Marathon Part 17 (Final Part) - PBIM 2012

Collection Counters of Penang Bridge International Marathon (PBIM).

Collected my running vest and bib on Wednesday for Penang Bridge International Marathon (PBIM) where there is less crowd. Having to decide whether I should wear the Asics green running vest given for the marathon. Eventually prefer to wear my red running vest which I have been wearing for my long runs. I have read you should not wear new clothes  or shoes to a marathon.

Crossing your 50th birthday and running my first marathon is big milestone in life. In addition, having my long time dream vacation complete this milestone. An eventful year indeed. Now my mission is to finish this first marathon. I remember telling a guy at my gym that I am 50 years OLD and training for my first marathon. His jaw dropped and look kind of disbelieved. That a guy at 50 and wanting to run his first marathon? Or he look disbelieve that I am 50 ? I would like to take the second one though. Doesn't he knows that Life Begins at 50 ??

A quote from Dean Karnazes, “Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.” It is going to be my mantra for this race.

Run Like a Siput

Reach the starting point of the place at 11.30pm and was just sitting at Coffee Bean. Trying not walk around too much so as not to tired the legs since I still have 2 and half hours before starting. Met a few friends who was also going for the race. But the biggest problem is the weather. I am sweating just sitting down. Really humid weather ! It is going to be a challenge with this humidity. Going into a race with no time goal is going to be a lie. Although we are given 7 hours to finish the race. If you want to stretch your marathon ringgit, you will want to fully utilised the 7 hours. My target for first race based on my half marathon for Green Run MPSP would be to finished sub 5:30 since I did 2:23 for Green Run MPSP. I felt it will be a realistic goal.


Everywhere I am reading the people always say if this is your first marathon, your goal is to finish the race, finish strong, enjoy the race regardless of the time. So you have a good experience and probably run more races. My only anxiety for the race is DNF which stands for DID NOT FINISHED. Such a dirty word in the runner's world. Makes you nervous thinking about it. I counter this by telling myself, "TRUST YOUR TRAINING". Although I almost DNS which stands for DID NOT START after the injury from my recent Japan trip.

A quick photo for remembrance

The race starts at 2am with 3,000 marathoners and the humid weather dampen my spirit of the excitement of the race. I have learned not to look at my pace at the beginning of race and just listen to my body and run. It was bottleneck at the beginning of the race as usual. And I didn't really feel good at the first 8km of the race. It was after 8km that the running high kicks in. But that was when I have the first problem at the race. I have the pain at the shin of my left leg which I have never encountered before during my long runs. It is only 8km....and I have 34 more to run. I still try maintaining my pace until 13km. This time I cramp on my abs. Fortunately I did the rightful thing. I brought the muscle relief roll-on medication which I bought from Japan. Just have to stop and did a roll-on the shin and the abs.  Have to slow down the running and it is only 13km !!

Running up the slope of the middle span is tough but the hill running I have done on the treadmill helps a lot. Run right to the end of the bridge and a turn back to Penang. Reaching 21km and I am feeling fine except the pain on the shin of left leg which is getting bearable. The humidity on my run back is really killing. At the water station, they give out those water bottles along the way. Not a green run but very useful. I took a few mouthfuls from the bottle and just shower the rest all over my body. It really helps ! I did that 4 times along the course of the race. Another slope at the middle span on running back. Manage to do some high fives with the cheering squad from AMD showing that I am still in good spirit.

After the 10km mark, I usually take short walk breaks at the water station. This walk breaks are useful to give your legs a short rest. The only problem as you go above 21km the walk breaks can get longer and longer. I have planned before hand that I will count to 40 and I will run whether I feel like it or not and even when I am in pain.

Reaching the end of the bridge and running into the Dr Lim Chong Eu expressway at 28km. That's when I hit the WALL !! I have encountered the wall during my 30 and 32km runs. It is when you just don't think you can run anymore. And I still have 14km to go. I stop and walked about a minute or two. A thought flashes through my mind.

"The Never Give Up" thought and staying strong for the race. I wouldn't want to go back and give crappy excuses to my family and friends why I didn't finish the race. You will never want to set an example to your children to give up when the going gets tough. I pushed myself to run.

The run on the Dr Lim Chong Eu expressway is really long and there are a few slopes along the way. And that's when the 6:00 pacer caught up with me. And I just couldn't keep up with them. No wonder Andrew have told me PBIM is not the ideal race for a first marathon. There are too many steep slopes and not a flat course. When I reached the 33km at the end of the point of Dr Lim Chong Eu expressway, I know I can finished the race and within the 7 hours mark. My decision is whether I would want to do sub 6 now. I decided otherwise. I would just enjoy the rest of the race but not slowing down intentionally. I know if I pick my pace I could finished in less than 6 hours.

When I reach the 36km, a sudden emotion hits me. 8 months of training, running over 1,200km and going to finish the race. The feeling is overwhelming !! Now I understand why people can cry finishing the marathon. However, the last 5km was much tougher than I anticipated. My legs are aching. My body is aching. I have to literally run through pain to complete race. Arriving at the last 2km, the finishing point in sight. Run..run..run...Cheers from the crowd at the last 1km and finishing at 6 hours and 7 mins. I finished my first marathon !!! Not the best time I wish for. But I did it !

Dean Karnazes is right. “Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.”

Finisher's Medal and T-shirt

A Journey to My First Marathon Part 16

The Beautiful Fully Lighted Penang Bridge.

It's Thursday morning. Time to find out whether the calf injury will affect the running and more than 7 months of training will be down the drain. Go to the my usual route where I do my morning run. Getting jitters even before my run. Have to start. Press start on my Garmin watch and here I go. After a few steps, the calf start to cramp. Damn !! Stop and try to massage my calf and hope it will not cramp. Not going to give up so easily. So not me! Try going into a very slow run. Slowly and slowly. The calf is not cramping. Although the slight pain is still there. 1km, 2km, 3km, 4km, still running at a very slow pace. Confidence coming back a bit. With the endorphins kicking in, the pain is getting more bearable. Picking up the pace a bit, 5km, 6km, 7km and 8km. Target achieved. Yup, I could run the 8km although with much a slower pace. Yes, the calf became less painful after a while and I could run the 8km. Can I say I am ready for the marathon ? Nope.

Have to find out if could run with my normal speed tomorrow. Friday morning, back to the same route. This time at my normal speed but this time I did some calf stretches and massages before my run. 1km, 2km, 3, 4, 5, 6km. The blazing sun is out early this morning. Done, although slightly slower than my fastest speed but I could run after that injury. The speed is coming back after 15 days of zero running. Can I say I am ready for the marathon? Nope, again.

The final test, my long run on Sunday morning for 20km. If I could do this long run at my normal speed, then I should be able to do my marathon. Waking up at 5.15am in the morning and started to run at 6am. As usual, I get to be king of the road, running so early in the morning. After 10km, my legs still holding up. Another 10km to go. The weather has turned cloudy and it is really a nice day to run without the hot weather. Take a gel at 10km and continue my run. After skipping long runs for two weeks, this is the real test. Fortunately, the endurance has not dropped. I could still keep running after 10km and the body is feeling great. 15km...16km...20km...20.5km. Yes ! My body is ready. The slight pain in the calf do not pose any problem in the long run. My body can still run the longer distances.

My first marathon I am ready !! Tapering for the next week. Only 12 km for the long run. More than 8 months of training and more than 1,200km from my running log. Have to get myself mentally psyched up for the race and get the pre-race anxiety off my system. Running a marathon is 50% mental that's what they said.  Collecting my bibs and running vest this week. Penang Bridge International Marathon here I come !!

The Final Part of the Marathon Journey....continues...

Tokyo and Kyoto. Adding salt to the wound. Part 2

Temple at Asakusa.

Have a good night sleep and hope to wake up with a painless leg. The first thing I wake up I thought the pain on the left leg is not there until I moved my leg. The pain is still there. It is just that if you don't moved it, it is not painful. If I pressed softly against the calf, still painful. Have to try to walk and see what happens. So slowly get out of bed, putting my feet on the ground. Standing up and start to walk. It is no good. The calf is still painful when I walked. I have to walk with my right leg and slowly dragging my left leg. I will have to work two steps and slowly for one step.

Breakfast at Starbucks, Kyoto

It was raining outside and I switched on TV, realising that the weather was bad around the area. Anyway, it is difficult to do any temples visiting in the rain. Better to take more rest and after that going to Starbucks just next to the hotel for breakfast. With the rain and the condition of my leg, visiting temples will be out of the question. Will have a hard time climbing up and down those steps. Decided to go to the Kyoto station earlier and just walk around Isetan Departmental Stores at Kyoto station and do some shopping. Since it is easier to limp around in a shopping complex.



Walk into one of the pharmacy at the Kyoto station. Spoke to the elderly pharmacists, "Sumimasen. I have really bad cramp on my left calf. (Pointing to my calf). Any medications for it?" The elderly pharmacists guided me to right shelves selling all those medications. Looking and deciding, finally decided on a roll-on type and the medications doesn't smell. Immediately, applying it. Hope that it can recover within a day. Forget about thinking of running in Japan. My grand plan of running in Yoyogi park is out of the window. Just hope that the injury doesn't get worsed and I can walk for the rest of the four days in Japan.

Ueno Park, Tokyo

Fresh seafood at Tsukiji

Going back by shinkansen in the afternoon to Tokyo, I have still been able to limp around visiting Ginza and the Shinjuku area where the hotel was. The pain was quite bad when I walk down the stairs. I was trying to use the lift and escalators as much as possible. With a limping left leg, I still managed for  three days to visit Tsukiji, Akibahara, Ueno Park, temples at Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree, Shibuya, Ginza and on last day to Odaiba. Odaiba is actually an artificial island connected by the rainbow bridge at central Tokyo.

Views at Ueno Park

Sakura Boulevard at Ueno Park in Autumn. 1,000 sakura trees with no sakura.

No smoking in public places. Designated smoking zone at Akibahara

I wouldn't wanted to visit a doctor because if it is a muscle tear and it just need time to heal. The cost of visit to the doctor which I know will be expensive since it is in Japan. As I have travel and medical  insurance covered so the cost is not the major problem. What I am afraid most is the doctor will generally advised you not to walk. Which I cannot afford not to walk as I am here to travel. I just have to bear with the pain and limping around. Fortunately, it gets better each day until the day I was schedule to fly back on Friday evening. However, until Friday I still experience pain in the calf and was still limping.

Shibuya. Shopping area for the young

Apple store at Ginza

Temple at Asakusa

No running for so many days and my marathon is less than 3 weeks away. When I am back to Malaysia on Saturday, the pain in the calf is still there. Just have to rest a few more days. I try to rest until Tuesday or Wednesday to see if the pain is still there. Eventually, have to rest until Wednesday. That is 15 days of complete no running. And there is still a slight pain in my calf. Must give it a try on Thursday morning and see if I can run with this pain in the calf which most people will object if you ask. Just worried that it will aggravate the injury.  If I cannot run, I can really say sayonnara to 7 months of training and my first marathon. Even if I can run, can I get my speed and endurance back on time, since it is only 17 days left to the Penang Bridge Marathon and it is 15 days of zero running. Keeping my fingers crossed for the run on Thursday morning.

Sunset view from Tokyo Skytree

Tokyo Skytree at night

Replica of Statute of Liberty and Rainbow Bridge at Odaiba