Sundown Full Marathon 2011

Right. Where shall I start? Oh yeah, sometimes disaster can strike twice! It was the same event last year where I did my half marathon and had plenty of issues with my right knee. So much so, it left me sidelined for 6 weeks. Well, this year I was more fortunate and did finally manage to finish my 11th marathon, safe and sound. But of course, there's plenty of drama to go with it :)

The bus ride from Changi Expo to the race site was similar to last year. It took over an hour and as we inched closer to ground zero, there was a massive jam. Same like last year. It was already 8pm but the bus was still about 2km away from ground zero. Poor half marathoners had to alight from the bus and ran for their lives to the starting line!

The usual cam-whoring Malaysian style of course. Was a big bunch from Malaysia itself running this event. So much so, sleep doesn't even mean anything anymore. Thanks Tey for the fab picture as usual.

And me playing peek-a-boo behind one of the pillars. Actually I was trying to stretch away, minutes from the starting time of 10pm. Already, I was drenched. It was bloody humid coupled with the still air.

Anyway, we were finally flagged off at 10pm and there we were running the night away. A very long night. There were about 8,000 marathoners and right from the word Go, we were jostling for space to get going. I still wished for the organizers to open the route slightly wider for all of us to run through. Trying to run side by side with another sweaty runners ain't a bit pleasant at all.

Wasn't till about 5km where things started to ease off a bit. The route was a long long one. Flat almost and straight. First 10km was done alongside the Changi runaway. Entertainment for me was seeing the planes take off and landing. Water was served every 2km which was a very nice touch. Although I hated the 100plus which had a hint of ginger in it. Perhaps it was just me foul mouth.

First 10km done in 55mins which was a tad fast. 13km my legs felt heavy, breathing became slightly difficult and my mind just shut off. I had to listen to my body and had to just crawl to a walk. Runners whizzed by me. A rather desolating feeling indeed. Walked and jogged until the 17km where I puked. Could be the red bean bun I had less than 2 hours before starting. Or was it the cheese bun? Hmmm... Anyway, I wasn't any better after letting my guts out. Head was spinning in it's own ding dong world. Then I gulped down so much of water and 100plus cause I was dehydrated.

Walked more till about 21km where the u-turn came. Then Halim from Singapore came alongside me and he was also fighting his own demons. We walked for a long while before my tummy turned on the switch for 'I need a dump now!'. Yes dejavu indeed and here I was thinking for once, I don't need to do an emergency potty poo. Can't see the portable loos anywhere in sight and so the land of Singapore had a bit of my fertile dump :).

And right after the dump, stretched for a bit and booyah. I could resume running. The dizziness, spasms, cramping and what nots just melted away magically. And ran I did non stop until the finishing line! I swear it's the poo regime!!!

And for once, I didn't even look at my watch throughout the whole run cause I knew it would probably be my PW (Personal Worst). Lo and behold, I got to the finishing line in 5 hours 2 mins and 41 secs. Just 3 mins off my personal worst lol.

The humid and night condition made it difficult, not just to me but to most of the runners. Just tells you how ill equipped you are to run this marathon at night. Back to the training board me thinks and will throw in some night runs in preparation for the biggie soon.

My hard fought 11th marathon medal!!!

Anyway, there will be good days, and there will also be not so good ones. Take it as an experience in understanding the shortcomings and improving on them. Here's to no 12th next week! *big gulps*