Penang Bridge Run 2016

After my first full marathon across the first Penang Bridge in 2011 with a slow finishing time of 6 hours 55 minutes , this is my second full marathon across the bridge. After completing 30 km in 4 hours 35 minutes in TRR Brooke Run in Taiping four weeks ago, I was quite confident that I would be able to complete the full marathon within the cut-off time of 7 hours. In the contrary I was only able to complete the race in a nett time of  7 hours and 6 minutes. My second worst performance out of my five full marathons so far. I was still able to keep pace with the 6 hours pacers after 10 km but tiredness just managed to subdue me even though I came prepared with 4 packets of energy gels and a salts stick. In fact I was feeling very sleepy while on the bridge running towards Butterworth. I just had the most three hours of sleep or maybe three hours of closing my eyes with my mind wondering about. I was so sleepy that I closed my eyes while running. That was how I did it, I ran 10 steps with my eyes closed and opened my eyes to see the distance of the runner in front of me and repeated the same process. Sometimes I ran more than 15 steps with my eyes closed which increased the risk of me knocking on someone in front. I was surprised I could run in a straight line with my closed. I sat down to rest and stretched my legs at least 5 times because I did not want to over-exert myself. Run happy and always listen to my body is always my motto of running. I was most tired from 4 am to 6 am but recovered my energy during the break of  dawn. I just could not explain why my body behaves like that and I ran non-stop from 6 am until I crossed the finishing line. I did not walk even when I reached the steep part of the bridge but my tempo was disrupted when I reached the 5 Km marks to the finishing line. Crowds of 10 km walkers causing me to zig-zagged my way between them. In fact I was running faster when the run was left with 5 km to go but I knew I would not be able to make it with just half an hour left before cutting-off time. I had the pleasure to run together with another runner from last 4th km until the last kilometer. He yelled with excitement when we reached the roundabout and I too had lost my composure and shouted, " Berjaya " knowing that my time had already overshot the cut-off time. I was not worried as I knew I would be given my finishing medal and tee and truely I was given the medal and tee which I am not entitled to. In fact many more who came behind me were happily receiving their medals and finisher's tees. Thumbs up to the organisers for their kind consideration and allowed  those slower runners to receive and able to show off their medals and most importantly the 42.195 km finisher's tees.  In my opinion all runners who completed the race should be given the medal and tee at least until the end of the prize giving ceremony. 

ASICS Penang Bridge International Marathon 2016

NG SIAK HENG

C05556

FULL MARATHON MEN'S VETERAN

Official Time : 07:11:45

Nett Time : 07:06:26

14.5KM Point : 02:05:07

29KM Point : 04:56:15

37KM Point : 06:28:52

Rank : 920/982