Story of Full Marathoner for first time on Penang Bridge (PBIM 2015)

Finally, I have the courage to register the full marathoner category in the Penang Bridge International Marathon 2015 or PBIM 2015.

For those who don’t know what marathon is, ‘marathon’ means a long-distance running race, strictly 26 miles 385 yards, or 42.195km.

Isn’t it sound horrible? Driving for 42.195km distance take approximate half an hour if we cruising the car at the speed of 100km/h. Imagine running with your 2 tiny legs on the lengthy distance! How did the hell human that? 🙁

Countless of training required to prepare my body, legs and mental for the run. Through this full marathon, I learned the meaning of “DETERMINATION“.

It actually means not giving up even your already ran for 30km, even you have run until you don’t feel the legs anymore.

The qualifying time for the full marathon is 7 hours. I was in luck, I finished my run in 6 hours plus. Below is the result,  I got just merely in time.

Long distance run required constant fuel up from electrolyte drink (100 Plus) and energy food such as banana to keep us going in the race.

When the body is working hard, we lost a lot of water and electrolyte through sweating. The 100 plus helps to restore back the water and electrolyte to our body.

The banana helped me a lot too by restoring my energy and electrolyte. I feel great immediately after I ate the banana, that given somewhere after 10km distance of the run.

In fact, I carried 3 packs of Power Gel to fuel myself up during the race. I took it every 10km to assure my body have the sufficient energy to move me on the track.

I’ve joined few quarter-marathon and half marathon events countless of time ever since I am 15 years old.

You may ask why I am doing all these suffering to myself?

Each time I completed the race, the feeling of achievement is great and I am grateful that I am able to run and have a healthy legs that can bring me around! The race make me feel young and great too.

Proper training is required to participate in full marathon event, to ensure our body and mentally are fully prepare for this endurance race.

I trained weekly with other full marathon participants for long distance run (LDR). Each time we covered around 20km~ within 2-3 hours time frame with group of runners. I am glad I get to join and train together with them. The training seriously helped me and make the run more fun too!

Our training usually started at late evening, 8.00pm at the Karpal Singh Drive, after our office time. The schedule is hectic, but persistence and discipline are required to complete the training regime.

After hitting the distance of 30km, my legs were sore and swollen and I can’t even walk properly. The last 10km was all about the mental power, I have to drag myself with the fatigue legs and body for hours.

I am determined to complete the 42km run and I am glad that did it!

The legs are swollen and blistered, and the shoes are tight for the first time!

Lesson learnt: We must buy half size bigger for our marathon shoes, due to our feet will swollen after the rigorous workout.

After the event, I wasn’t able to walk properly and I needs hiking stick to move me even around in the house!

I am doomed in the room for 2 days; not even able to go buy my meal:

Still, the feeling of achievement completed the full run outweighed the pain of legs sore 🙂

Everyone can complete the run as long as you have the persistent to go do it!

Now, go and do what you want to do, and stay persistent and consistent on your goals!

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