Penang Bridge International Marathon 2009

I always wanted to try another full marathon right after my 1st marathon. I cannot wait for next year.

Therefore, Penang Bridge International Marathon (PBIM) 22-Nov-2009 or Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 6-Dec-2009 has became my next target.

PBIM is my 2nd marathon of the year. Unlike my previous marathon, this time I challenge the half marathon category.

Queensbay - Villa Emas - Penang Bridge (turn at gate 2.8) - eGate - Villa Emas - Queensbay

Queensbay Mall is a shopping mall situated in Penang, Malaysia. Due to it sea side location, the place is windy. I do enjoy the wind before the race start.

3:30am with a gun shot to the sky, my race start.

As usual, I always make the same mistake. I run too fast in the beginning. I notice that when I reach the 5km water station, my time is 00:20. What the fuck, that is way too fast. My personal best 5km record is around 00:19, with this speed, I′m confirmed dead later on.

Thanks to my new stopwatch, I start to slow down my speed.

From 5km to 10km is the Penang bridge straight road. It is so damn scary to run such a long straight road, like a never ending road.

10km, a u-turn on the bridge with 00:47, is my personal best 10km record. It motivates me to keep up the good work.

From 10km to 15km is another long straight road on the bridge. I keep looking for the 15km water station. Finally I reach there with 01:15, yet another personal best record.

Now, I finally off the Penang Bridge, running for the remaining 6.0975km with very limited energy. I run constantly and reach 20km with 01:40.

Suddenly, I feel something not right. My legs seem like going to cramp soon. Last 1.0975km, there is no way for me to stop here.

I run carefully for the remaining distance. Thanks God I make it to the end, time 01:54:37.

A finisher medal is rewarded.

Every 2.5km, there will have a water station. Medical assistant is everywhere along the route. I restore my energy at the 10km & 20km water station.

Remember I said: "I do enjoy the wind before the race start."? Yeah, it is, but not after the race. A wet body with strong wind = cool ~!!! I faster change my cloth right after I have enough rest.

Penang Bridge International Marathon 2009 is way better organized than Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2009, there is too much water supply until nobody want to drink.

The next day, the result is out:
Ranking: 119th
Official Time: 01:55:08
Net Time: 01:54:34
Bridge Turn: 00:48:19
E-Gate: 01:28:21

I′m actually looking forward to be ranked within top 100. 119th is International half marathon category. For Malaysian category, I rank 102nd. So close ~!!!