Island Ocean Marathon, Langkawi Part 2

Thanks to Vivien Tay for the photo. At the last 1.5km of the run. 

Waking up early morning and have to be at the starting point before 4am. The marathon starts at 4.30am. There are about 1,000 runners and a lot of Singapore runners came for this event. This event should be called an ultramarathon as we have to run more than 42.195km as the organiser has planned an extra 1km of running on the beach of Pantai Cenang. Most runners are more at the relaxed pace in the beginning. There will always be a competitive spirit among many of them chasing for their PB (personal best).

Thanks to Vivien Tay for the group photo before the run.

I started at the far back as usual and joining the crowd. There is a fireworks at the start. Running on the road and already there is a slope not far from the start. After a short distance, we are required to take a left turn and running an extra 1km on the beach. That's when the route gets a bit dark at times. Fortunately, I have brought a clip-on flashlight used by ultramarathoners which Andrew has loaned me. One lady actually trip and fall on the beach as there was a stone on the beach.

After that it was back to road running again to the Langkawi airport. This is another dark stretch of roads. The consolation is due to the darkness you can see the bright stars in the skies. Have not been seeing that for quite a while living in the city. This is one run that I have not bothered to look at the pace from start right to the end. I have only looked at the distance and time. Totally disregarding the pace ! It is a run for fun and not for PB. If I take longer to finish my race I get more value for my marathon registration fee.

Then it was running on the road along the beach which is the most cooling part of the run with the sea breeze.  However, without mobile toilets, it is pretty inconvenient for the ladies. The guys just dart off on the side of the road in the dark. At the 18km mark, the sky starts to get bright and time for a photo shoot. I have carried my mobile phone in my spibelt so as to take photos along the course. The amazing part is I actually did some photo editing and immediately upload to Facebook during the race. It is live reporting of the event during the run.

The rolling hills actually started from 18km up to 35km. I lost count the number of hills that I ran.  I think probably five in total just for this stretch. These hills are definitely not my friend. And it showed my lack of training on hills at this point of the race. End up with lots of walking up the slopes and then running down. One of the water stations offer big bananas and the surprise is the coconut at the 29km. And I was telling one young couple, at a marathon the race actually starts at 30km. That's when you know whether your body will hold up. Also at the 25km distance marker, there is a message on it that said "You entered a marathon with hills ? You Idiot." Kind of rubbing it in. Calling us an idiot.

Coconuts at 29km

But it is really a tough route. That's where the first time marathoners may really start to walk at this point and right to the end. I heard some first timers finishes at more than 8 to 10 hours for this run. I am really not surprised. My personal opinion is this marathon is not for first timer, or even second timer like me. We are still trying to tune our body to run a marathon and rolling hills are definitely too tough at this time. It would be ideal for those who has run a few marathons and looking for more unique experiences.

The hills are over !

At the highest point of 35km, a volunteer was telling us this is the highest point of the course and the rest will be flat. I was telling him, " Torture over is it ? ". We actually drive past this part of the course the day before and I was already telling myself to walk the slopes and run down if I have to. There is actually another slope at the end of the course before you reach the finishing point. Coming down the slopes at 36km, the only thing in my mind is walk and walk. I am just running out of momentum to run with the scorching sun at that time of the day.  That's when Andrew and Jun Liang appear in the vehicle which we rented. There were probably wondering where I am after so long. But they keep seeing my posting on Facebook and the last one was at the 35km. So Andrew accompany me to run/walk about 3km and at 39km water station, we have Coke which I was dying for at this point with the blistering heat !

Struggling at the last 1.5km of the run. Did you notice the ice cream on my right hand?

For the last 2km, I just dig deep and run the all the way with Jun Liang accompanying me. I just realised it is so nice to have running companion when the marathon gets tough. Three of us run to finished line and both of them run it twice since they have already completed theirs. Finishing with a time of 6:37 and my moving time is 6:01. So almost 36 minutes on water stations, taking photos and facebooking.

Running to the finishing line. My 2nd marathon completed.

On our way to the ferry, there are still participants on the route. We actually wind-down our windows and clap for them. It is already more than 9 hours and they are still not quitting. We later find out that the last participant came in at 11:40 hours. A never give up attitude. That's the spirit of the marathon !

Double thumbs up for finishing 

I was telling Andrew when I was struggling at the last 5 km, I told him "Don't worry ! I will finish it." The mental toughness coming at the right moment. On our way back to Kuala Kedah on the ferry, we met a group of runners from Penang going back. A few of them was first timers and took more than 10 hours to complete the race due to lack of training. There is one guy who run it for his wife's birthday. He carried a banner "Running for XXXX. Happy birthday." He told us he cramped 3 times along the course and was given medication to ease the cramp. The volunteer ask him "Do you want to take the car ?". He says "No. I have to finish it." He finish it in more than 8 hours. What a touching moment ! Probably bringing his wife to tears.

Hard earned Finisher's Medal of IOM

A video that summarises the Island Ocean Marathon in Langkawi

IOM is a hilly course but well organised event with fireworks at the start, energy gels, bananas, coconuts, Gatorade, Revive, Coke, Red Bull and ice-cream along the course. This marathon is not a race but an event to be with friends or meet new friends and enjoy the scenic view of Langkawi.

Island Ocean Marathon, Langkawi Part 1

Sunrise at Langkawi. Photo taken at 22km of the marathon.

This my first trip going with a group of runners for a run. And my conclusion after the trip is "It is fun". Runners understand each other running jargon and jokes. We also know that what we need to eat before a run and the rest and sleep that we required. The Island Ocean Marathon (IOM), Langkawi is the first marathon on the island of Langkawi organised by The Marathon Shop. The other marathon organised by The Marathon Shop is the River Jungle Marathon(RJM) which was actually offer as a combo series. Two marathons at a cheaper price.

Eventually I decided to only run the IOM which is in Apri but skip RJM in September as I will be in overseas in September and I wanted to run the new bridge of the Penang Bridge International Marathon in November. Trying to limit myself to two full marathons in a year for the time being.

We departed to Kuala Kedah on early Saturday morning and have a detour to Sungai Petani for breakfast. On arriving at Kuala Kedah, we met quite a few runners from Penang also taking the same ferry to Langkawi. A few of them is wearing the Malakoff Run t-shirt which is absolutely striking in colour. There are 7 of us in the group and we managed to rent a 7 seater vehicle. We have wanted to make this trip to be a "makanthon"(eating feast), "minumthon"(drinking feast), "chocolatethon"(buying lots of chocloates which Langkawi is famous for imported chocolates) and finally a marathon.

We have our lunch at a Italian restaurant in Kuah town, and what to runners eat for carbo-loading? Spaghetti and pizza, of course. And I just realised that runners can really eat. No dieting for us. After lunch, we started buying chocolates and drinking some imported beers which is extremely cheap selling at only RM3 per bottle. We can't be drinking at night so now is the time just to drink some imported beers and headed to our hotel. However, we are split into 3 hotels. Andrew and me was supposed to be staying at the TM Resort, Langkawi which is only about 1 km from the starting point at the Resorts World, Langkawi (formerly known as Awana Porta Malai, Langkawi).

Resorts World, Langkawi

The resort only has only 16 rooms and we have booked through Agoda more than 3 months ago. Unfortunately, the management has really screwed up our booking and our room has been given to somebody else. At that moment, we are damn tired and wanting to rest. We wasted two hours and at the end we just give up, cancel the booking and requested for a refund. So we are left with no place to stay and extreme tiredness !

Fortunately, Andrew has a friend who has booked Holiday Villa at Pantai Tengah which is very near to TM Resort and his friend's roommate cancel his trip and he is staying alone. So he called him and we managed to check into his room by just having an extra bed. Holiday Villa at Pantai Tengah, is a much better hotel. In addition, we also got a free upgrade to a RM520 room. A blessing in disguise !

Holiday Villa, Langkawi

After checking in we are just too tired to enjoy the hotel. We just took a shower and go for a short nap. Later we took a trip to visit the starting point of the race at Resorts World, Langkawi. Then it is dinner time at Pantai Cenang. The runners are really a group well connected people. Within a short time, a big group of us are gathered at this chinese restaurant in Pantai Cenang. 4 tables of runners of which two tables are from Penang. Unfortunately, no drinking session because of the run tomorrow.

At the starting point of the event

There is no time limit for this event and this event should not be called a race. No finishing time and no timing chip. The organiser mentioned that they will wait until the last runner complete the race if that person doesn't give up and continue with the race. So timing is not critical in this event but more for fun, the company of runners and friends and the scenic view of Langkawi. This kind of set the atmosphere of the event where you are not running for a PB (personal best). So a number of FMVs (Full Marathon Virgins) actually registered since it doesn't has a cut-off  time. How wrong they are when they run this marathon ! The route is definitely not for first timer !

To be continued ....The actual day of the marathon...

Moving forward 2013

North-South Expressway near Ipoh, Perak. A nice shot for "Moving forward in 2013". 

The start of a new year. Another strings of new year resolutions? Well, I finished my first marathon. So what's next?

After the confidence of running the first, I will be back for more agony and joy of running another marathon. I was planning to run the Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon on 30 June 2013. The registration for this event has not been opened yet. However, there was a more interesting marathon that came out a few weeks back i.e.  The Marathon Series 2013. Two marathons at a combo price. The Island Ocean Marathon in Langkawi and The River  Jungle Marathon in Hulu Langat.


My final decision was to run in The Island Ocean Marathon on 21 April 2013 as I just could not resist the temptation of running the scenic route in Langkawi especially with Andrew keep tempting me to run and he will make all the transport and accommodation arrangements.  In addition, this will be the first marathon in Langkawi. The organiser for this  marathon get very good reviews for their River Jungle marathon.

Langkawi is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah and a duty-free island.  We used to make fun of it naming the island "Lamkaoyee" (which mean "Hugging a Chair" in Hokkien).

How about the River Jungle Marathon? Currently, not decided. But highly unlikely. As I have a overseas trip in September.

I have been to the island and the offshore islands of Langkawi several times and have never got tired of it.

My first visit to Langkawi was in 1987 where the island has just been promoted as a tourist destination by giving it a duty-free status. Three quarter of the island is still covered with rubber plantations and you have to drive to travel around the island. We did not even arrange for the hotel accommodation as we assumed a past colleague was arranging it for us. We end up staying in a hotel room with 7 persons as that was the only decent accommodation we could find for one night. The other nights we end up staying in a house in a rubber plantation. An unforgettable experience.

One of the offshore island of Langkawi is Pulau Payar which you can travel directly to Pulau Payar from Penang on boat. Pulau Payar is also a marine park. I remember my first visit to Pulau Payar many years back when it was organised by my friend's company. He just asked us to join the trip. Such an amazing experience then ! Have you try diving down catching lobster at night with your bare hands carrying a torchlight with only a snorkel?  I was swimming without swim fins and step on a sea rambutan in the dark. My right leg just got numb after that. So I have to basically swim with one leg after that. A really scary experience !

Most runners for this Langkawi marathon will be going for the scenic route and taking pictures along the way. Running fast does not seems to be on people's mind. It is not a complete flat course based on the elevation of the route.

Another run I have signed up at the end of last year is The Malakoff Run 2013. A 17km run on 17 March 2013. I could not particpate last year as I have just started my training for my first marathon and was trying to concentrate on the training. It will be pretty flat course. However, the running map has not  been provided yet which is strange. And it will be nice pre-run before the Langkawi marathon. Although I would very much preferred a half marathon.

Some of heritage buildings whch we will see for the Malakoff Run at Esplanade