My first 42.195 km (26.2 miles)

To my beloved grandma
"She taught me the first crawl, she taught me the first stand, and
she taught me the first walking step."

Activities/Actions:
Ran the first full 42.195 km (26.2 miles) ING Taipei International Marathon with the AS (Academia Sinica) Team members (Yu-Hsiang, James, Paul, Dumpling, Wayne, Xiao Hao, A-Po, Lu Dan, Yan-Ru and I)

Stat:

Detail results

Race Record: 4:00:51 hours; the 677th place overall and the 128th place in age group of 30-39 year old men.

2,286 full finishers (515 finishers in my age group) and 7,528 half marathon finishers and 11,271 9-km finishers triumphed this morning!

Pace (estimated):

Distance Interval	min/km	min/mile
First 10K	5:28.19	8:48.19
Second 10K	5:25.8	8:44.32
Third 10K	5:47.6	9:19.40
Fourth 10K	6:11	9:57.06
Last 2.195K	5:30	8:51.56
Overall	5:42.48	9:11.17

The medal symbolizing a "sweet & sweat" victory!

Course condition:

Course map (in kilometer).

馬拉松組 ( 42.195 KM )：

臺北市政府前廣場 → 仁愛路 → 中山南路 → 中山北路 → 北安路 → 明水路 → 堤頂大道 → 麥帥二橋 → 市民高架 → 環東大道 → 基隆路→ 信義路 → 光復南路 → 仁愛路 → 臺北市政府前廣場

Marathon (42.195 KM)

Taipei City Hall Plaza (New Renai Road Plaza/Start) → Renai Road → Zhongshan S. Road → Zhongshan N. Road → Beian Road → Mingshui Road → Tiding Avenue → General McArthur 2nd Bridge → Civil Boulevard → Huandong Avenue → Keelung Road → New Renai Road → Taipei City Hall Plaza (Finish)

The weather observed this morning.
(source: Central Weather Bureau, Taiwan)

How I felt:
(the 5-point scale)
Physically 4
Mentally 5
About my nutrition 5
About my sleep 3.5


How hard did I work? 9
(the 10-point scale)

Note and reflections:

Thanks to...

• Everyone for their support, advice and encouragement (especially, my family in both Thailand and the States and J.J. for the tip to the first marathon race),
• all my running and exercise partners for keeping me up on course (you know who you are since your name has been mentioned in at least one of these blog entries and especially all 9 members of the AS team),
• and especially my first half marathon race inspiration [วิ่งไม่หยุด: 2005 Chicago Half Marathon] for the goal to race in a long distance running.

Before the race.

If a definition of a good sleep is a state of my mind wondering about the race while my eyes being closed, then I only got 3-4 hours of a good sleep. After Wayne gave me a wake-up call around 4:40a, I put on my running gears, called Yu-Hsiang, and later walked to Kunyang MRT Station: I was eating a bar of the step-1 Powerbar food on the way there. Near Kunyang I was stopped by a motorbiker, Simon, who was asking whether I need a lift to the city hall. Not understanding what Simon was saying, I was a bit confused before realized that he also had a red Chinese Taipei Road Runners Association (CTRRA) bag. To run the 42 km this morning, Simon had been training with his 12 friends in V.I.P.S. running team. We arrived at the city hall plaza just before 6a, the time when elite runners were doing their warm-up run around the city hall.

Wayne, Xiao-Hao, Lu-Dan and Yan-Ru taking a taxi from Banciao together arrived right after that and were joined by A-Po minutes later. We guarded the area in front of ING Lion as our base: changing clothes, going to restroom, warming up with others led by crews on the stage, and storing our red CTRRA bags. I was calling Yu-Hsiang to take the other friends (James, Dumpling and Paul) to meet us here. However, according to Yu-Hsiang, they were a bit delayed and did not meet us before the start time, because James just drove in this morning from Tai-Chung and Dumpling arrived just in time.

After Wayne put the last red CTRRA bag to the storage, we tried to move closer to the start line but we could only move in less than ten steps from our base. The start area was like a pen filled with chickens: 3,000 runner in the marathon, 8,000 in the half and 16,000 in the 9K. We were jolting shoulder-to-shoulder amid thousands of runners. The elite runners plowed out at 6:57a, and 3 minutes later the rest of us parading forwards. Wayne and I left the start line at 7:05 surrounded by the loud cheering from both sides of Renai Rd. that lifted our spirit up!

On the course.
Not only the surface of Renai Rd. was packed by runners, but also both side-pavements of the street were crowded by cheering folks, ranging from clapping two bare hands to hitting large drums. Various costumes could been seen along the course (I heard that a Ninja from Japan was running with us this morning too!). Thanks to all supporters this morning; you really helped us moving forwards. Wayne and I were running together for the first 4 kilometers before I lost him in the stream of runners. It was hard to pass because there was no space to do so. After the turn of the 9 km runners (9K'ers), the street became less packed and the rest of the runners headed up North along Zhongshan North Rd. (some 9K'ers, I saw, came up as far as the 14th km and had to run back). I continued running at a 5-6 min km pace and giving high-5 to cheering teams along the course. I got some cream for muscle pain around the 8th km close to the Grand Hotel (my muscles were not in a pain yet, but I was preparing for it). So far, I had not had any drinks.

At the completion of the first hour, I stopped at a water station located right after the 11th km to swallow my first energy gel pack (plain energy). I tugged three packs of the gels around the waist tied by the waist string of my shorts. They stayed well there but sometime moved down. :D I continued my way with a steady pace (a bit less than 6 min km). Just after the 13th km, I clapped to an old gentleman runner, whose face was painted and head was topped by a wig as a clown. He responded in an appreciation with his two thumps up. My spirit was still high as I continued running in this pace. Just after the 15th km, I stopped to take a leak at a bush (what could I do--it would come out? Many runners did that as well.) and later found Wayne running up on the ramp to Maishuai 2nd Bridge. I was approaching him from his left to wrap my arms around his shoulders, asking how he was doing. In a red face and a bit short of breath, Wayne said, "fine," and was probably thinking that "taking your hand off my shoulders." I gave him a thumb up and continued my way across the bridge up to the elevated level of Civil Blvd. The course would run at this level for the next 23 kilometers. However, the scenery was not pretty but we did not have to worry about the traffic and bad exhaust fume.

So far my run had been in a steady pace and I was still in a very happy mood. After the point where the half marathoners U-turned down to Keelung Rd., the number of the runners in front of me was significantly reduced. From now on I would have more space to run. Around the 19th km, I saw a middle-age lady running in a short black running outfits (in a pair of very-short-and-tight shorts and bras), so I decided to speed up to pass her. At the same time, the leading male and female marathoners were passing by. The sun had been stronger and smog was raising up on the horizon crowding over the city, which lessening my happiness level a bit. I arrived at the half way (21.0975 km) probably around an hour and 55 mins. I made to the 22nd km around two hours where I took the second pack of energy gel (raspberry-flavored one). I also started to take drinks more frequently. However, I was disappointed that the race officials only provided water and Aquarius... No sport drinks!

After passing Taipei Main Station and U-turning back Eastward, I felt a little tired but still happy. From this point forward, the sun would directly hit my face and the heat was penetrating through my short hair down to my skull easily. When I arrived at the 25th km, I was still feeling great and smiling to myself with a thought of "I had made beyond my farthest distance I had had ever run; good I can make it!" Many of my running pack were slowing down because of the heat, so I had more room to wade on. Later, I spot a White guy in his late 30's, wearing a white t-shirt with two lines on the back that read "U up to the Challenge?" on the top and "The San Francisco Marathon" on the bottom. I was thinking, "Yeah.. I am up to it--this Taipei Marathon!" (note that San Francisco Marathon was a race I would like to join two years ago). So, I decided to keep up with his pace, passing by him once, but darn he passed me when I stopped for some drinks. He hardly stopped for a drink.

I met up with the half marathoners again around the 29th km. Up until now, I had seen many marathoners walking towards my direction. I, on the other hand, had not walking at all, even though I had been experiencing some pains. I was impressed of myself! I had felt a bit hurt on my right knee and right ankle after the 23rd km, but the pain changed to the left knee between the 27th and 28th km, but later changed back to the right ankle again around the 30th km. I asked for some pain-relieving cream from a traffic controller near the 27th km, but he did not have any. Later, around the 30th km, I got some from the first-aid station after switching back and forth to avoid the half runners veering down to Keelung Rd. The doctor said, "Do not use too much," when he saw me asking for more cream. Another problem I experienced was an eye irritation caused by sunblock (SPF85, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer), I applied on my face this morning, dissolved by sweats and got into the eyes. Although the bottle was labeled to be waterproof, I guess it was not meant for sport use; after all, sweat is not water.

After the 31st km, the sun was high up in the sky with his strong ray burning on my head. However, I was still keeping my pace, continuing running a bit up-hill to Maishuai 1st Bridge connecting Songshan and Neihu. At that point, I was hoping that I would reach a water station soon, so that I could take my last vanilla flavored energy gel pack. Not too far after I climbed up and crossed the bridge, I saw the water station and quickly gobbled the last pack along with some bananas. There were also some cookies that, to me, were hard to swallow down the throat. I did not use soaking sponges much because I felt a bit too cold by the water from the sponges running from my head down.

Between this water station and the 33rd km, I felt very tired and my feet were lack of energies. I had to yield out loud at some points to keep my feet moving and build up metal energies! When I saw the 33rd km post, I screamed in Thai "Thirty-three," and continued running. This helped a lot really. "The black-short-running-suit lady" had passed me at some points. She was in a steady pace and moving ahead of me, while the "SF Marathon" guy was far ahead of us. I thought to myself, "I will pass them soon."

But each km after this seemed very far. I tried my best to keep the 6 min km, but somehow I miscalculated because of the wearisome. I saw runners moving in a far far distance ahead of me. I thought "I am still far from the last turning points on this elevated road!" Seeing Carrefour parking lot sign below on the right side, I realized that I was probably passing by my apartment. I did not know that I had to run this far to Nangang before returning back. A runner was talking to me in Mandarin and I also replied to him in Mandarin that I only could understand Mandarin a little. This section was felt to me the longest to run. I guess, I had hit "The Wall."

"34," I screamed again (at this point forwards the KM post were spoken in Thai) just a few meters ahead of the turning point! Race officials were clapping their hands and cheering us up. At this point, I am running West. I saw the "SF Marathon" guy plowing not too far from me. "I am up for the challenge!," I reminded myself. "35" I screamed at the km post and later stopped to drink at the next water station. Also did the "SF Marathon" guy whom I just passed up. This was the first time I realized that he stopped for a drink. We started to run at about the same time, but I pushed a bit ahead of him, and I continued being in front of him.

"36," I screamed again at the middle of Huandong Bridge. I felt that the 36th km had arrived quickly, probably due to I had some energies from the gel. "37," I changed the way I was running by letting both hands straight down moving resonantly with the rhythm of my legs, and this, I felt, reduced the tension on my shoulders. I felt that this actually helped me run faster but I looked stupid. But who cares? eieiei. Later, I saw the sign saying "the last 5 km." Should I be happy, now?

"38" was yielded out not too far from "the last 5 km sign." Because of the strong sun light, I was trying to run in the shadow of sound-blocking fence as much as possible. I felt that I could have been fainted in this kind of sunshine. I would keep myself ALIVE at the finish line! However, I was still keeping on my running; not walking yet. I did not recall whether I passed "the-black-short-running-suit lady," or she was too far ahead of me.

"39," was screamed out as I was calculating that if I continued my 6 min km pace, I would get to the finish line a minute past the 4 hours. I was trying to run faster, especially on the way down the ramp to the street level of Keelung Rd. to make it a sub 4-hour finish. Policemen were cheering us up, "Jia-yo, Jai-yo!" I continued on Keelung Rd. while buses and cars passing me on the right side.

The course dipped down to the tunnel, and "40," I screamed in the exhaust-fume-filled tunnel. I was trying to speed up a bit and I felt that I did. However, my pace was slower down significantly when I was trying to climb up the tunnel out to the street level. I was thinking whether I would make it up without walking or not. "MMM...," I was plowing hard. And I did it! I made it up to the street level by running and saw the 41st km sign (no screaming) near the corner of Keelung Rd. and Xin-yi Rd. But I felt so tired after the climb. At the km post, one guy and one girl gave me high-5 and cheering us up in loud voices. With these high-5's, I could have a big rush of adrenaline down to my legs. The speed, however, reduced a bit not too far from that point. The course after this point became narrow lane just for two runners easily running shoulders to shoulders. When I saw the last 1 km sign at the corner of street before I turning up north, I got another high-5, which put energy to my feet as well: plowing my feet on faster!

For this block of the street before turning East to Renai Rd., I was thinking of going to make this run for my grandma. "I am going to ... for my grandma!" Ignoring the sun, I heard only cheering voice from both sides. After turning east, I saw the arch of the finish line not too far. I was trying my best to speed up through the cheering crowd on both sides. I was passing two-three runners until my feet jumped over THE LINE!

"Yes! I made it!," I was screaming out loud, rising both hands up, followed by clicking to stop the timer on my watch. I accepted a medal and a towel. My mood was very high such that I forgot my tiredness. I walked out from the finish area, hearing Wayne yielding my name on my left side. He asked me to post for a photo. It was great to see him at the finish line! Since I was screaming, Wayne said, "You are crazy! [...] And you look darker!" I agreed with Wayne that I had got a lot tanner and this would last for a long time. A minute later, I saw Yu-Hsiang was walking pass by. I called his name loudly and gave him a high-5. James and Paul were there, and James was taking photos of us. Yes, the time on my watch was "4:00:52" hours!

So, I accomplished my primary goal but missed my secondary goal--the sub 4-hour finish--by 50 seconds! [วิ่งไม่หยุด: Two days to go, ING...]

See the next post on "after the 42 km race!" [วิ่งไม่หยุด: After the 42 km race.. recovery...]

Also, see Yu-Hsiang's entry: http://philip.pixnet.net/blog/post/22716644

Note: This year was the last year for "ING" name attached to Taipei International Marathon. Next year, "Fubon" may replace "ING" on the title, which would make the race to be very local. See news coverage on Taipei Times and China Post.

Photos:

Simon dropped me off just before 6 at the city hall.

In front of ING Lion, the base.

Wayne, Xiao Hao, Lu Dan and Yan-Ru getting ready!

As the sky is getting brighter, runners are crowding up the plaza.

Yan-ru and Lu-Dan ready for their 9 km!

"We are ready!"
A-po, I, Wayne, Lu-Dan, Yan-ru and Xiao-hao

The Victory!
Thanks to Wayne for catching the moment.
(credit: Wayne)

Smile and smile.
(credit: Wayne)

I made it!
(credit: James)

4 hours and 50 seconds
(credit: James)

Wayne waiting for me at the finish line!
(credit: James)

With Yu-Hsiang who made his new personal record, today!
(credit: James)

The time on my watch!
Note: The yellow wrist band for the King of Thailand.
(credit: James)

We all made it, Taipei!
(credit: James)

Yu-Hsiang, Paul, Wayne, I and James.
(credit: James)

Course map (in miles)

Time from real time runner watch website.

The time.

Time from real time runner watch website.

The race results:

The half

the 9 km