Daily Life: After thoughts at Penang Marathon 2012

I was just back from Penang after the 42K Penang Marathon 2012. This marathon trip has quite a few surprises for me.

First as i never did a 42K run in Penang before, I assume I am able to make it from the end point by 6hours (which i did) and travel back to hotel before 10am for the coach up to KL. I mis-judged the traffic from the end point to ferry terminal and from penang to butterworth via ferry. As the bridge is closed, a lot of cars are crossing over via the ferry and creates jams. By the time i reach the hotel, its already 10.05am so i have to forfit the earlier bus ticket and buy another way then i reach the bus terminal at 11am. Prices are steep but i need to get out of Penang so no choice. I also failed to see the bus trip is actually 6hours (it rained so traffic is slower than usual). I missed by S$44 coach from KL to SG and have to buy another ticket from another coach provider for the 7.30pm. Thankfully i was back in SG by 12.30am so thats the big picture

Second, I should have chosen a hotel on Penang instead as i hardly got time to sleep on Sat as they are some fireworks going on and the traffic outside the hotel is very loud until 8pm. I had a hard time going to sleep and was just going to sleep when its time to wake up and prepare to go for the Marathon at 10.30pm. The ferry operate until 12am with the free shuttle bus at 11pm onwards. Luck this time there is the free shuttle bus to the start point as it will be a costly affair to go over by cab. (at least RM35).

Third I think i have more training to go before i can fly faster during my runs. This is the first run i have to pass away my self-doubt of not finishing on time, not able to go back to SG, not having enough sleep just to complete the run within 6hours. The route did not help either. There are more turns than usual with no water point until each 5k mark plus there is no marker on the way to know how long we have run to better pace ourselves. Yes there are the pacer but they all start at the starting point. I had a hard time chasing them to see if can meet the timing. The laughing point is the 6hrs pacer run so fast that those at the back has no more pacer to focus on. Think they should have 7hours pacer for the slower runners.

All in all, i enjoyed my run n gained more experience to have a better run next year.