NTCRC 22.6 km run across three states

After the race at the starting point

This is my second running race for 2016 and also my second time running half marathon across three states from Nibong Tebal to Parit Buntar and Bandar Baharu. Seok Wan and I both registered for 22.6 km category. We Lined up at back of the pack as I was preparing to just pace slowly with Seok Wan all the way to the finishing line because I had not totally recovered from my Achilles Tendonitis. Even though we were slow we were still capable of overtaking some very slow runners. While we were running along the highway towards University of Science, a young man paced together with us and started a conversation with us. We ran and chatted few km until we parted at the bridge from Parit Buntar to Bandar Baharu. We stopped at the bridge to snapped some photographs. The bridge was built due to a ferry accident which claimed 29 lives mostly secondary school children in 1972.

The river which serves as boundary between Perak and Kedah.

After the bridge, I stopped at the water station to have refreshment while Seok Wan did not stop. I thought I would be able to catch up with her but to my dismay our distance became further and further apart. Usually I will consume two or three packets of energy gel running a half marathon but I did not bring any this time. Perhaps I had forgotten about the requirement to run a half marathon after a long lull. I began to feel fatigue after about 10 km.  I really hoped that there would be banana or bun station in front . A banana or a small bun will definitely help me to replenish my almost depleted energy. No solid food was provided and I finally realised I had hit the wall.  I still had almost almost 8 km to go and I had lost sight of Seok Wan. I really felt like giving up but my mind wanted me to continue. I reminded myself that determination is key to finish a long distance race. So, my tired legs continued to move my heavy body forward until I was almost 4 km to the finishing line where I stopped at the bus stop to apply some muscle pain relief cream. A volunteer on his motorbike was very quick and efficient and  came up to offer me a free ride back to the starting point. It will be a total disaster for me in my running career if I were to accept his kind offer. After applying the cream, my muscles strength recovered a bit and it was less stressful for me to jog. There was no dashing across the finishing line this time  but it was a relief that my time still did not overshoot the cut-off time of 3.5 hours. So in the end determination still prevails. This is the first time Seok Wan finishes a half marathon ahead of me but her time which exceeds 3 hours is still no reason for jubilation.     

Migratory birds viewing at Parit Buntar

These are some of the thousands of yellow head egrets having their summer retreats here.