Penang Bridge International Marathon 2006

An adventure of sorts! As they said, if you set your minds and hearts to something real bad no matter what, the insurmountable nevertheless can still be scaled! Impossible is nothing. Though there's always a price to pay for overestimating one's ability! Blisters (running without socks that's why) and lasting muscle sores is the price you pay for not packing properly and also insufficient training. I mean, literally! *careless* But hey, i did it this time around in 2:02 hours, well off my previous mark of 1:50hrs (though i have a feeling that the distance declared felt more like 23km! Cheats!) , though at the same time ruining my spanking new NB 235 race trainers. But twas an effort worth mentioning considering putting in only 4 weeks of running from a zero-clocked mileage lifestyle before. Running on a bridge is a totally different experience. I was actually getting bored with the usual loop around Jalan Langgak Tunku in KL (why can't the FTAAA be more ceative with their road selection?); this track is indeed a breathe of fresh air with the morning breeze sweeping gently, sometimes strongly across your face now and then, especially once you are at the mid-point of the bridge. The funny thing was that, on reaching the mainland side of the bridge, the air smelled more stinky; pollution from Kulim and BM folks perhaps? *hehe* And am most glad to finish it in one piece!

Organisation wise, sad to say the 1st aiders and Penang Amatuer Atheletics Association were pretty poor. 2 out of 5 stars. Getting all panicky without a wrap around my feet, i approached some of them (1st aiders), well, to borrow their socks of course! Alas , none were willing to kindly lend me a single pair! None! No sympathy whatsoever! *Nevermind*. Race was going to begin adi anyhow. So no choice-la, have to pia all the way. At the starting point , most of us did'nt realise the race was actually flagged off already until we were like 1km away from the startin point! Wasted bout 7 mins there. *Sheesh*. And because of their very 'tame' gunshot launch (was there any in the 1st place?), on reaching the sponging stations (2), all the sponges had ran out! And only 3 out of the 4 water stations had any liquid left when i reached!I was'nt THAT slow though. Reason was they had no more plastic cups! Damn dumb! And so they resorted to give runners whole 1 litre mineral bottled water to drink! Can you believe that?!

Haih, 'people' nowadays...

May the spirit of pia be with all, always!

Next stop: Cardiff Full Marathon!