Thanks June for the invitation to join you on this trip. On my own I wouldn't have done it. Really had fun with you girls and it was nice meeting some of your friends as well.
Thanks Azza for the encouragement and support you had given me. Err...you are the true anak orang Penang hehehe...had a good laugh in the car on the way to and fro Gurney Drive. I find it humorous the drama between you and June ..hahaha...jom, kita jalan-jalan Penang one day!!
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Me - in the blue tee
PBIM kit that was couriered to my house.
My 3rd and final half marathon for the year 2010. Personally, it was one of the toughest and hardest to earn a finisher medal.
At 3.15am, we were flagged off and headed towards a good start and was looking forward to reach the bridge. At 6km, caught up with Azza and Fara, had a short chat and overtook them. Was planning to enjoy the rest of the run but frustration started to set in when heavy rain started to pour down at 6.5km at the Penang bridge. Had to quickly deposit my ipod, nike bracelet, phone and gel into a plastic bag. With all my worldly possessions in my pocket, it was a battle against nature and one cold, shivering boring walk with soggy socks and shoes. Being bespectacled, my vision was blurred from that point onwards.
My actual plan was to finish with Azza and Fara but with this kind of rain, I know I'll slack behind. Damnit! The rain lasted about an hour and was reduced to a drizzle until finished. Thrice the ambulance passed by and thrice I was tempted to stop it and take the easy way out but chose not to cos it'll be 'game over' if I do that. I was tempting fate and testing my own determination on how far I can go. Once I was tempted to take shelter in the plastic toilet but wouldn't want to take risk fainting inside with the stench. It did cross my mind why I put myself in this freaking situation in the 1st place. As I looked around, I said to myself 'hey, I'm not the only one', there are many many runners way far behind me.
Made small talk with a young guy and what do you know...found out he is also from Klang and staying near my house. Another lady was seen hugging herself and walking. I saw many runners looking downwards and walking slowly, only if I could read their mind and know what they are thinking. Anyway, few still put up some effort to run, kudos to them, probably it could be their 1st marathon.A few runners cheated and crossed over the divider at the bridge.
I grabbed 2 buns from the water station and had to eat it fast before it turned soggy in the rain. I have no complains about the water stations though as there were plenty of water coming from the above. To make matters worse, the marker was so far apart. By right the organizer should put up a marker at every km, it does help in this kind of situation for us to set our target and to pace oneself. I asked two volunteers at that time and it irks me to hear them say 'I don't know' . What....?? I remember this matter was brought up by June during the PBIM meet runners session in PJ about 2 months earlier - that volunteers should know where they are in case runners asked them. Must have fallen on deaf ears, I guess! On a personal note, I hate running in the rain.
The worst was not over yet. Making our way towards the finishing line, nearly got stampeded by the 10km runners that started later that morning. It was absolute chaos!
Crossed the damn line, collected my medal and immediately went back to the hotel. Into the elevator with 2 other runners and I told them 'the rain was terrible'. And one of them said to me 'It's a different kind of experience'. What he said does make sense! If I have a second encounter of the same kind, I will remember these words....
'IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF EXPERIENCE'
