Penang Run 2014/2015 consists of three series but I only registered for two series that is Nibong Tebal and Bandar Perda because another serie crashed with my Sundown Marathon in Singapore. As the medals for the three series consists of three components which can join up to form a cube, I will have to contend with an uncompleted cube of medals later. This is my second time running in Nibong Tebal after the half marathon across three states in 2011. Nibong Tebal is very near to my hometown, Kuala Kurau, where I put up a night for the race. It is a just 20 minutes' drive in the early hour of the morning between the two towns.
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Half marathon runners gathered at the starting venue |
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Relax run through Oil Palm estate |
The route for the half marathon is almost flat except one not so steep flyover. As it is a Penang Run we only run in the country roads and some housing estates in Nibong Tebal. I still find a run through three states consisting of Nibong Tebal-Penang, Parit Buntar-Perak and Bandar Baharu-Kedah more interesting. The route in this Penang run is quite boring as it is mostly running on narrow country roads with Oil Palm estates by its sides. As the race started at 5.30 am we have to run through certain parts of the route in total darkness which may be quite risky if there is speeding vehicles. Luckily there is almost no traffic in such early hour. There are not many participants and hardly any foreigners. The run is not very demanding and I could finish the 21 km in roughly 2 hours 35 minutes. I realized that I was quite strong and overtook many runners who seemed struggling to the finishing line in last two km of the race. I should give credit to the energy gel and the cup of 100 plus I consumed at the final 4 km point. I consumed two energy gels for this race with the first gel consumed at the 6 km point. I still felt weak in the middle stretch of the race and I think If I were to consume another energy gel at the 12 km point, I may be strong throughout the race.
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Running towards Nibong Tebal town centre for the last 2km of the race |
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