Belfius Brussels Marathon

Last Sunday, i ran my 32nd Marathon at Brussels, Belgium.

I collected my race pack/bib on Friday after work at Parc du Cinquantenaire, which will be the start line for the Marathon/HM/Mini-Marathon (5km).

The Brussels Marathon is very convenient, you can still register for the Marathon on the morning of the race itself. It’s cost more of course, about €80 for FM. I paid €60 online few weeks earlier. You can also change your race category during race pack collection with a small fee, convenient isn’t it.

What’s in the rack pack?
Bib number (with my dad’s name), event t.shirt, orange bandanna and the route map.

The weather on that Sunday morning was cold and windy, it rained the whole night before the race till 7am. By start time at 9:00 am,the rain stopped and left with a bit of drizzle but still cold for me. Temperature about 10 Celcius.

It was better once the Marathon started and my body finally get warm. It's been a long time since i last run road marathon, didn't know what to expect. My last Full Marathon road race was last December at Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon.

The route i found out from a Spanish runner on the Metro that race morning was full of mini-hills inclines, great i said – flat is boring!

I just ran, take it easy and maintained running pace just below 5:30 km/mins most of the time. I followed the green pace band 3h59m that i got from the expo and executed the splits almost perfectly.

The water stations was every 2.5km and i stopped at every single one of them. I took four power gels and few salt tablets during the race, nearing the end especially after 35km i was fighting cramps on right leg – shows my lack of training.

Third quarter of the race, i pushed the pace a bit and try to hang on with the green balloon pacer (3:59 hours). It seem that it was slowly leaving me behind and the cramps was not helping.

Running passing the Grand Place was beautiful with it’s cobbles stone and finally the race finish at De Brouckere square.

It was an over distance race about 500 meters.
Finish time. 3:58:30
Splits.
10km: 53:18
21km: 1:53:31
30km: 2:45:04
40km: 3:46
42.7km : 3:58:30

Marathon starters: 1952
Half Marathon: 7385
Mini Marathon (5km): 1591
Total: 10,928 runners

Malaysia represented at Brussels Marathon.
Finally met Rizal, after all these years in FB

GEAR USED:

• Salomon X Scream 3D Shoes
• Salomon Exo Calf
• S-Lab Advanced Skin 1 Belt Set
• Salomon Short
• Garmin 910XT
• Optic Nerve Sunglasses – Model Vahstro