What? Another marathon?

After my Langkawi marathon, the first thing I told Andrew is I will never run a full marathon again. It is just too tough. Then I continue to say that this statement will last for a week before I will start to change my mind again. Running a full marathon is tough but it is a challenge that keep coming back to lure you into it.

I have mentioned before that I will only run two full marathons a year. So far I have only registered for two, ie The Island Ocean Marathon, Langkawi in April 2013 and the Penang Bridge Marathon in November 2013 which will be running on the new bridge. I have resisted the River Jungle Marathon which is offered as a combo series with the Island Ocean Marathon and of course, the KL International Marathon as it is just one week after the Penang Run 2013-2014 2nd series. So I thought my running timetable for 2013 has been set. Two full, 3 half and one 17K. Keep me fit for the whole of 2013. Although many of my friends do at least 4/5 marathons in a year or more.

Borneo International Marathon.

But because of the election on 5 May 2013, the Borneo International Marathon in Sabah was changed to 4 May 2013 and then was just postponed to another date. Then they reopened the registration again probably some participants have to drop out since the date has been changed. It was finally postponed to 25 August 2013. Why do they have to reopen the registration ? And the timing is just perfect. In addition, I have wanted to visit Kota Kinabalu this year or next year. The flight fare to Kota Kinabalu is  less than RM200 for to and fro. So I will get to go on a holiday and run a marathon. What a perfect excuse !

The stars are all aligned for this marathon. So quickly go online and register but it is the full registration fee, RM130. This will be more of fun marathon rather than a PB (personal best) type of run. I was telling my friends, all my races seems to be more for fun. And this marathon, a lot of "Penang lang"(Penangites) will be there. Andrew has promised to take us for cheap seafood. And I heard it is a flat course as compared to hilly terrain in Langkawi.  So 3 full marathons this year, one in April, August and November. Definitely not another full marathon for this year !

Running Unites People

Runners United to Remember.

"Running unites us and brings us together because, in the words of the great Bill Rodgers, "We sweat the same. We struggle the same." Running is a simple, primitive act, and therein lays its power. For it is one of the few commonalities left between us as a human race. Toeing the starting line of a marathon, regardless of the language you speak, the God you worship or the color of your skin, we all stand as equal. Perhaps the world would be a better place if more people ran." (Dean Karnazes, Why Running Matters).

Penang Run 2013 - 2014 1st Series - Race Recap

The first piece of the puzzle medal. 

A half marathon three weeks after the Langkawi marathon. I noticed my motivation for running is down the dumps after my Langkawi marathon. The lack of motivation is really bad when I was doing my usual runs for the past 2 weeks. My mind and body is screaming for a rest. But this is start of the 1st  series and it is the first piece of puzzle medal so no chickening out. Or should I say no DNS (did not start).

The Penang Run 2013 - 2014 series are all point to point course which means it doesn't loop back to the starting point. The organiser has arrange for transport from the finishing point, SMK Telok Kumbar, to the the starting point, Esplanade. We have to arrive at the finishing point before 4am, 1.5 hours before the start of the race which means I have to wake up at 2am and drive to the place before 3am. Reaching SMK Telok Kumbar, I noticed that they are already a lot of runners waiting at the school. The bus transport was not too much of a problem and we arrived at Esplanade quite early. Then it is waiting for the race to start. Most people who took the bus transport really is lack of sleep.

Runners waiting to be transported to Esplanade

The start of race at 5:30am and I always thought that the race will running on the new highway towards  the Jelutong expressway. Until we start we running through Beach Street and subsequently towards Jelutong Road, then I realised we will be running the old route towards Teluk Kumbar. This old route is actually quite historic as we run across the heritage zone of Georgetown and running past one of the famous mural (where the sister and brother were on a bicycle) and then the older houses along Jelutong Road. An interesting road to run on. Then after we past RECSAM, the route gets a bit boring  where we will be running along the route to USM and towards Bayan Baru. The most inconvenient part of the route is running past the big Bayan Baru roundabout. The traffic was heavy at that time. And we have to run pass the factories at the Bayan Lepas area and also the airport. The fumes from the factory buses are a bit choking.

The famous mural at the Heritage zone of Penang

Heritage Buildings along Beach Street

The hilly part of the course comes in the last 2km after reaching the Teluk Kumbar town. The road at the town is pretty narrow and slightly heavier traffic. You have to really be cautious running across this area. After that we finally get to the hilly area of the route which is shady at certain stretch and I really enjoy this part of the route. The highest slope comes in the last km of the route and a lot of runners actually walk at this slope. This is properly due to lack of hill running. I finally try to pick up my speed at the last km of the route and I don't have problem running up these hilly slopes which is not that difficult comparing the rolling hills at Langkawi.

At the finishing of the race

But it is a race that my body and mind are complaining due to inadequate recovery after Langkawi marathon. I have never entered a race where my mind is already complaining at 4km of the race. Fortunately, it gets better after 6km and the last 5 km is also tougher than usual. Couldn't make it in less than 2:30 but finished at 2:33 according to chip time.

It is still a well organised race except for some traffic controls at certain parts and the distance markers which I don't remember seeing any.  The first piece of the puzzle medal is in the bag. Time to really give my legs and body a rest and looking forward to have a more enjoyable race at the 2nd series on 7 July 2013 which is on Georgetown Day, a public holiday in Penang.