Penang Bridge International Marathon: Monkey on the Bridge

This was my last run of the year and the longest road trip I had to take to go for a run. The Penang Bridge International Marathon  was also my 9th run of the year (originally I thought to do 12).

We were told that this was the last time that the PBIM was going to be held on the current Penang Bridge (starting next year, it will be on the new one), so the number of participants was high. For me it was the first and last time I run on this historic bridge. Unlike Teh Tarik Drinker (who was doing 21km), I did 10km with Clenz. I was glad that I actually registered for 10km rather than the half marathon, even though earlier on I thought that I should have done the half marathon.

[Taking photo with Teh Tarik Drinker after we arrived]

I came to Penang not at my fittest (in terms of endurance) and I would later show during the run. Over the  weeks leading up to the PBIM my training was more focused on strength and size rather than endurance. Coming into the race, I was at my heaviest weight of the year, which was 80.7kg. Early in the year I was closer to the 70kg mark.

[I came into the weekend on the heavier side of the scale]

Another thing that I knew would slow me down was that my shins were still hurting from a Muay Thai sparring session I had a week before the run. I couldn't put too much pressure on my legs. But I wasn't going to let these little things stop me from running my race. After all, I came all the way from KL and also missed one of my friend's wedding (Sorry Christina Yee, I know you're going to kill me). 

When we arrived in Penang, we went to pick up my racekit at Queensbay Mall. This was also the start and finish for the event. We also had to get a new Bib for Teh Tarik Drinker (He had somehow managed to lose his original one. Only he can do this!).

[The collection booths. Thankfully there weren't a lot of people. I wasn't ready to line up in the hot sun]

[People picking up their race kits]

[Teh Tarik Drinker getting a new Bib number. It costs him RM30 to get it replaced]

[The shirt and my number. It's green....]

[Lot's of sponsors and others had opened up their booths... Titan Watches, Digi, Asics, Salonpas, Powerbar, etc...]

[Salonpas... These guys are probably around in almost all running events]

[Asics was around in case anyone needed new running shoes...]

After checking into our hotel, we rested for a while before going out to dinner for a little bit of carbo-loading (it is very important to fuel up before a race for maximum energy). I also had to get new shoelaces to replace the ones I destroyed after the Salomon X-Trail. 

We came back early as Teh Tarik Drinker had to get an early rest. The half marathon was starting at 3am. (Clenz and I would later go out again for some "sup kambing"... we were in Penang... Food!). I ended up sleeping at around 2am.

[A round of "sup kambing"... mutton soup and a Milo Ais... aaahhh...]

Clenz and myself got to the 10km starting line at around 6.15am, just before the start [by which time, Teh Tarik Drinker already finished his run]. Unfortunately for me, just before the race began my leg accidently hit one of the metal highway dividers. I got a cut right above the knee and was bleeding. I didn't care, the race started and I just ran.

The 10km race was very slow. The number of participants was high and many of them were literally walking and covering the whole road. It was very difficult to maneuver around the slower participants. And with my injury and low fitness level, I knew this was going to be a slow race for me.

[And the race begins..............]

It was only a 10km race, but after 3km my shins were starting to feel pain (the injury from muay thai sparring). I knew I was putting too much pressure on my shins. I decided to slow down and Clenz went ahead. I tried adjusting to a few different running techniques to reduce the pressure on the shins.

[A nice sight as we entered the bridge....]

[It's a slow race... so I decided to ask someone to take a photo of me]

The 3rd to 7th kilometer was on the bridge. I managed to pick up some pace here as runners were more spread out and it was easier to maneuver. (I did see a few people turning back a few hundred meters into the bridge). Must be sea air, I do not know.

[People running on the bridge...]

[Making the U-turn on the bridge.... 5km+ gone]

There were a few peple cheering on the sides. They must be those that were cheering for the 42km runners and 21km runners and decided to stay on.

The 8th to 9th kilometer I tried to increase my pace even more but still think about saving energy for the last kilometer.

The last kilometer I pushed even faster and sprinted the last couple hundred meters (I like to sprint to the finish). When I crossed the finish line I could feel that I was not tired at all. I thought to myself, it was my shins, the cut I got, and my heavier weight than normal that slowed me down.

[Getting into the home stretch... last photo before I sprinted]

After picking up my 10km medal and meeting up with Teh Tarik Drinker, I went straight to the Medic tent to fix my cut. When I was there, I realised how minor my injury was compared to others there. There were people on stretchers and one person was being stretchered into an ambulance as I walked passed.

[Ouch... it stings!]

[After the medics fixed it up]

One scary moment happened a few minutes after I left the medics tent. An elder man collapsed at the finish line and was not breathing. Thankfully the medical team was in time to help.

[Medics did a good job. They were quick on the scene and other runners were helpful too... He was later stretchered off into an ambulance. I hope he is fine now.]

Then there was also this lovely couple I saw after the finish line.....

[The husband ran the 10km... in a wedding costume... and the wife waited at the finish line in that dress in the hot sun... Talk about dedication]

Overall, I finished in just over 1 hour and 25 minutes... not even close to what I know I am capable of, but I knew I wasn't going to be able to run hard. In fact I may have hurt my shins even more. It still hurts as I write this. So I won't be running for sometime until they heal.

[We met our friend Lai... He ran the 42km in around 5 hours]

[Teh Tarik Runners with the "To Di World" pose]

[Another "To Di World" pose on the podium...]

[A photo with the Titan Watches girls]

[PBIM 2012 10km = completed]

[The Fun Run]

Keep In Check with Running Apps

A few years back, keeping track of your runs is probably difficult. But with smartphones being almost a commodity it is possible now to track your runs and keep a record of all your runs. This is possible because of the inbuilt GPS in smartphones...

There are of course many different smartphones that run on different platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, Symbian... but they all have running apps. Some of the popular running apps out there are:

  

 

[MapMyRun]

MapMyRun tracks your distance, calories, elevation and nutrition. The nutritional info is what makes this app stands out from the other running apps.

 

[Nike+ Running]

Nike+ Running keeps track of your stats and history. You don't need Nike accessories to actually run the app. I have a few friends using this app. 

 

[RunKeeper]

RunKeeper in one of the longest running app out there and is still a favourite for many people. It is free and tracks jogs and cycling. You can also check your stats on the website and share it on FaceBook.

[Endomondo]

Then, there is the one TehTarikDrinker and I personally use. Endomondo is like a social running app. Tracking the duration, distance, elevation and speed of your run is easy with this app. You also get to see your friends stats and history. And it keeps your personal records. You can also access the Endomondo website to check your stats and send messages to your friends.

One thing good about Endomondo is that you can create your own route and share it, or you can always look for a route that someone else has created and challege it. And you can choose between many different kind of sports to track your proress; running, cycling, skating, snowboarding, rowing, etc... you name it.

 

[Track how many calories you burnt for each workout]

You can find out your time for each km/mile; which was you fastest lap time (the rabbit shows your fastest time, the turtle shows your slowest); average speed; average pace. Your friends can also leave you comments for each run. There are so many things Endomondo can do and if you are willing to pay to go Pro you will get access to more options. If you follow the website, there are challenges that you can take up and perhaps win something.

Personally I love Endomondo and I'll keep using it as my running app. But the other apps are great too. It doesn't matter which app you use as long as it is able to track your progress and keep your stats accurately, that is good enough. Using a running app for runs does help. You will know if your pace is too fast or too slow. You know how far you've ran, how long you've got until the finish and your speed. I find that with Endomondo I am able to keep my pace in check, so that I don't push too hard until I exhaust myself or not push enough to give a good run.

Salomon X-Trail: An Off-Road Experience

It was by far the toughest trail of the year. At least for me it was. The Salomon X-Trail 2012 Run in UPM, Serdang was my first off-road running, and it certainly won't be my last either. I can safely say this is in the list of my favourite three runs of the year. Yes, folk... I think it was awesome...

This was the 2nd time this year I entered a run that started at Stadium UPM (University Putra Malaysia). The other was the Mizuno Run. Of course, the route was entirely different. It is a 10km event, but it makes a half marathon seem easy.

The X-Trail is not designed for those that are not prepared to get themselves dirty. Seriously... If you didn't get dirty with this run, you must have given up at the first obstacle...

[The first and last obstacle of the trail... photographers' favourite spot. Imagine the traffic at the beginning!]

Even though it was tough, the trail was beautiful. UPM is known to be the university with the largest land area in Malaysia and we went through some of it. It rained heavily the previous night, so the trail was muddy, wet, sticky, slippery... not to mention the uneven trails full of cracks in the earth and rocks. To put it simple, the organizers had to use a Hilux to drive through the trail. When I saw the Hilux, I knew that can't be good.

[.... and this puddle was nothing]

I had never run an off-trail prior to this, so I thought my New Balance shoes is good enough. I knew that it would get dirty, but that was all I expected. Boy, was I WRONG!!! 

[My "NEW" Balance.... good for road; definitely not for trail running]

If my shoes could speak, it would have cried in pain and agony going through the trail. The number of times my shoes got soaked in water, slipping through the muds, getting stuck in the muds... I just couldn't get any grip and my shoes felt heavy. I felt like a Red Bull F1 car doing a WRC event!!! For many parts of the trail, running was simply NOT an option for me!!

[Don't try this... Totally NOT a good idea...]

[Nobody taking the "highway"... Almost everyone was sticking to the side...]

Since it was never going to be a straight running experience, I decided to take the time to truly enjoy the trail.

[1km into the X-Trail]

[Around 1.5km into the race.... beautiful sunrise]

[The easier part of the trail... the early parts]

[By this time everything seemed easy... and I thought it was going to be a walk in the "farm"?]

[At 2km... I managed to stop for a photo]

[By this time the trail was getting wet... but still cool and beautiful]

[Avoid the puddles... avoid the puddles...]

[Running next to the PLUS Highway]

[One of my favourite view of the trail.... everyone on that side was sliding and walking!]

[1km to go....]

One of the toughest part of the trail was an uneven and wet uphill that seemed endless, which we had to go through twice... and the smell of cows and cow dungs while going up. Yes, cows were a common sight for this run.

[Fresh cow milk for breakfast....?]

[Entering...... Cow-Land "MOOO"]

[Uphill, uneven, wet, and.... smelly...]

[Holy-cow!!!... This one was huge...]

The other part that I thought was tough was a section where it was just muddy. You couldn't get 3 running steps without slipping. I just walked!!! If I had the proper shoes, it would have been fine I guess.

[Simply NO way to run in this mud]

[One slip... and you're gone.... WALK!!!]

[Let's do the running motion.... while walking....]

 In the end, my Endomondo recorded my time at around 1 hour 36 mins for 11.2km... I thought I was doing 10km...? oh well, it did not matter... I had an awesome Sunday morning. Couldn't say the same for my shoes though.

[A great end to a good run... and Usain Bolt's "To Di World" pose]

There were also cheerleaders before the race began and after the race ended for spectators and participants to enjoy.

[Cheerleaders going through their routines before the prize giving ceremony]

Putting all those fun aside, I learnt something on that day. To run off-road, you need the proper gears, especially the shoes. Salomon makes shoes specially designed for off-road running. I saw the front runners wearing them. Their shoes looked like the wheels of a WRC car... It can stand the tough conditions of trail running.

[Something to think about when running a trail event]

The organizers did a great job with the event. I'll be sure to come back next year. Those who would like to try something different than road running, this is a run not to be missed.