RaYzeef @ malaya: Songkhla Marathon 2012

Friday, August 31, 2012

Songkhla Marathon 2012

Magic always happens in Thailand!

This was my 14th Marathon overall and 3rd Siam’s Marathon to date.

I considered this marathon as another LSD for my 100 miler training. It’s a tall order to pursue PB or sub-4 for that matter, especially when i carried 100km weekly mileage going into this race.

Legendary gold mermaid statue of Samila beach.

Nevertheless, i slapped on 3:45 pacer note on my wrist that fateful morning.

The three Amigos group (Kam Kasturie, Cikgu Syed and I) travelled by bus from KL, the tattooed runner was unavailable to run this Marathon – thanks to Kam for filing in at the eleventh hour.

Our hotel was about 1km from the start line, just nice. The race pack collection was a smooth affair, btw we took the Marathon package – paid the race fee & accommodation long before our feet touches Siam.

Race expo – Oppa Gangnam style
All counterfeit shoes, very hard to differentiate – unless you own an original

There were a large contingent from Malaysia – about 80 plus runners. It’s was nice to catch up with old friends and making new ones.

The race start at 4:00 a.m. local time, the three of us was nicely separated between different age group. Cikgu Syed 18-29, Kam 35-39 and myself 40-45. The weather was dry and clear that morning with the temperature of 26 degrees, still too humid for my liking.

The race started at 4:00 a.m. , i was chatting to Karim at the back of the start line without realising it. I started running slowly through the crowd of runners and then found Karen and Yim. After 5 minutes, Yim was nowhere to be seen. At the current pace, i said to myself this is nowhere to break sub-4. Cikgu Syed, the youngest in the group was our shining hope to break that sub-4 wall as he PBed at the recent SCKLM 4:03.

After 5km, the body warm up nicely and i was cruising and pacing with this peculiar Thai runner – he had the sculpture of a body builder but man could he maintained his running pace.

The course was pretty flat with few inclines to and from the bridge, there were two bridges that we need to cross over before making the U-turn at 21km.

I caught up with Rich Chai just before the U-turn after the bridge, nice scenery to the bridge. Ones could see sleeping Buddha, a mosque and picturesque views of southern Thai. I completed the HM in 1:58:53 , not enough buffer to catch that sub-4 train.

After 22km, i was going from bad to worst. My pace dropped although i tried like hell to push faster :/

I caught up with Zul Hasan and Azlan Aiman as they were slowing down, Zul said he was cramping pretty bad. Water stations was good at 2km apart, but there’s no isotonic served here, only plain water. Thankfully it was iced cold water which i used to wet my head and wash my tired face. It’s was refreshing doing this ritual in the humid southern Thai’s weather.

My heart sank when i saw Cikgu Syed at 30km, as i passed him i tried to encourage him to go faster. But he’s also cramping badly, i guess he more experiences running Marathon distance. So the hope of the 3 Amigos group rest on my shoulders to breach that sub-4 wall.

I tried my best to go faster, but i guess that 100km mileage that i carried before the race finally caught up with me. My energy was sapped, can’t push the accelerator for faster pace.

The final 5km was hell!

My legs went jelly plus these two uncles in their 60’s overtook me with ease. I learnt humility in the classroom of 42km, thank you uncles for teaching me this lesson. I’m not even fast or strong to pace these older uncles in the last 5km. Lesson learnt!

The Malaysian contingent

The finishing line was a sight for sore eyes, i completed my 14th Marathon cum LSD in 4:09:33 at #23 (40-45 age category), i equalled my PB in Chiang Mai. Siam definitely is the magical Kingdom!

Magic does happens in Thailand. Surprisingly I got podium finish at no. 23 (age category) plus 1000 baht cash money. Cikgu Syed and Kam finish in 4:20 and 5:02 respectively and won cash money for completing within 30 placing in their age categories. Congrats and well done guys, all the 3 Amigos won something after all.