Penang 2nd Bridge half marathon 2015

Highest point of Sultan Muadzam Shah Bridge

Penang 2nd bridge half marathon on 14 June 2015 was the first time a bridge run being organised middle of the year in Penang. The marathon only consists of two categories that is 21 km and 10 km fun run. The registration fee is quite expensive because the early bird registration fee for half marathon is already RM70. Seok Wan and I registered for half marathon and this is the debut half marathon run for Seok Wan. This time we did not stay in hotel in Penang Island but stayed at a relative's apartment in Butterworth. We had the whole apartment for ourselves because our relative is not staying there at the moment. This is a better option because we don't have to worry about checking out of hotel at 12 noon. The venue for the collection of running pack was not at the race site but at a new hotel just across the road from Komtar. Locating the newly opened hotel, Gilde Wembley Premier hotel was not a problem for us and there are plenty of parking lots in the hotel though we had to pay RM6 for two hours of parking. There was no signboard notifying the participants that the running kit could be collected at the ninth floor. But that is no big deal as we can ask around. After collecting the running vest I was attracted to a booth selling US Soleus GPS watch at promotion price. I owned a Garmin GPS watch but its belt came off and its battery could not retain charges not long after use. So I felt it is time to get a new one but a different brand. After inquiring about some of the watches on display I finally settled for a simple one without heart monitoring function for RM 421.90. 

my new GPS watch

After leaving the hotel we went to a nearby coffee stall to take our lunch. It is one of the few old colonial era wooden buildings still exist and in the midst of high rise shopping complexes and hotels. After our lunch, we crossed the road to a modern shopping complex for window shopping. We did not spend a lot of time there because we needed to rest in preparation for the run which would start at 4.30 am.    

We went to bed at 10.30pm and suprisingly I could  sleep well even though I normally go to bed at 1 am  We woke up at 1.30 am and by the time we finished our light meal and toilet routine , it was already 3.00 am. The ride from Butterworth to the race site was very smooth and fast as there was hardly any traffic at such early hour. But, it was a problem looking for parking by the road side at the Industrial area around the bridge and by the time we found our parking we only had 40 minutes to spare. The participants were grouped into 4 groups according to their finishing time. Even though I am in the 2.30 to 3.00 hours category but I stayed together with Seok Wan in the last group. Just like last year, there was a fireworks display before the race and we have the pleasure of the company of Penang's Chief minister who was present to witness the flag-off. 

fireworks display- photo of  PBIM

the slower ones struggling up the elevated part. 

We ran slowly together until 5 km mark when Seok Wan was too slow for me to follow and I proceeded with my own pace alone. The route is flat except the elevated part of the bridge 5 km from the starting point, but it is not an obstacle for me because I have enough practice on slope and I ran without much walking through out the whole 21km distance. I was not too tired because I could still sprint for about 20 metres to reach the finishing line. I was a bit worried about Seok Wan whether she could finish the race but my worry was really unfounded. Anyway, I was really delighted to see Seok Wan finishing her race at a time of 3 hours , much better than my first half marathon's time. I wore the GPS watch but I forgot to stop it after the race so I could only guess that my finishing time is 2 hours 40 minutes.

plenty of shuttle buses but few passengers

The organising of this event is much better and more orderly compared with last year. The smaller number of participants perhaps not more than 5 thousand running half marathon could be the reason. Plenty of foods though not lavish and there are even tables and chairs for runners to sit down and enjoy their food and talk about their performances. In view of this, it is pertinent that there should be restriction on the number of participants in the November Penang Bridge International Marathon on the 1st Bridge especially the 10km fun run category.       
        

not really exhausted after 21 km run

21 km finisher Tee