Itās my runcation trip with Sabrina! š Thank you Sabrina for accompanying me š But itās a dim sum and hiking trip for Sabrina as Iām the only one who balloted for the Hong Kong Standard Chartered Marathon slots š Yup, other than running SCHKM, I enjoyed the hike at Violet Hill and Dragonās Back and the dim sum most š
Though Iāve just ran Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon last year, I decided to try to ballot and register for it this year as itās a place Iām more familiar with and in the recent years I wonāt be brave enough to run 42.195km in the humid and hot Singapore š Hong Kong is cold, with a nice temperature to run in during this time of the year. Luckily when I was there, I didnāt experience any haze.
I think itās baby steps for me to register for overseas races such as SCHKM, Osaka Marathon and Vietnam Mountain Marathon in Asia last year before going to places further, and I have Gold Coast Marathon in Australia coming July. I have a really long listĀ of marathons I would love to run in mind and use running as a chance to explore other parts of the world as well š
Last year I joined the SCHKM with a running club after unsuccessful in balloting and got a marathon slot won during a contest with a condition which was to purchase a travel package to the marathon with the running club. So accommodation and transport are taken care of and I didnāt have to make any plans at all. But this time, Iāve balloted successfully for a marathon slot, bought my own air tickets and booked the accommodation myself. Itās much cheaper and I saved about 50% of the money than what Iāve paid for than last year š¤
Itās a pity that I didnāt manage to go to the race expo as it was held one week before the race unlike many of the international marathons which their race expo held just a few days before race. International runners only collect our race pack in Kowloon Park and thereās no queues when I went to collect my race pack.
It doesnāt seem real that I am running SCHKM, another 42.195km again just shortly after 2 months running the Osaka Marathon till I was in the start pen when they started counting down to flag off. Maybe thatās part of the reason why I didnāt train for this marathon. I wanted to rest, I was only doing my happy 5km or 10km runs. Too much LSD is just so scary 𤢠To run happy is what matters most right? If itās so gruesome then itās too much for me to handle then I shall really cut down in running long distances? ššš
The temperature is fine, about 17 degrees not very cold so I just turn up in singlet and went to deposit my baggage in the truck. The baggage deposit and collection is efficient and took only few seconds as thereās a bag given at race pack collection and itās the same bag that we need to put everything in it and thereās a baggage tag with our bib number on it to retrieve it. But the queue for the portable toilet is crazily long šØ
Theres different timing for the flag off and my flag off was at 7am. I heard that those who went to the the wrong wave could not get their official timing. I didnāt study the route but I think itās the same route as last year. Many killer slopes and I started walking after 18km. Thereās nothing wrong with me, legs no pain, not super breathless but I was just so not motivated to run and start doing the maths calculating the amount of time I can walk so that I can finish within the 6 hours cut off time. Yes, itās a strict 6 hours cut of time but itās really doable and thereās cut off times at various check points they will stop the runners who canāt meet the cut off times at the check points to board the sweeper bus back to the finishing. When I was at the last underground tunnel towards Central, I met this guy from Britain, heās running his first marathon and we had a good chat, about an hour later I met him again and ran the last km towards the finishing. Thank you for motivating me, Eukon (Didnāt know how to spell his name but I hope the spelling is correct)
When the sun is out already, I tell myself I really need to start running already. The day before I was mistaken as from Nepal and Philippines. Iām so universal, previously people thought Iām Taiwanese, Indonesian ot Japanese š¤£
Itās nice to meet many friends from the running community that I know of on Instagram and Facebook along the way at the marathon and have little chats and just simple words of encouragement meant a lot when youāre running the 42.195km. I feel so tempted to board the bus to the end point at various check points, the bus with seats looks really so shiok parking by the side of the road and I was seeing it as if thereās red carpet inviting me to board it. I then convinced myself just finish it, I donāt want to have my first DNF. At times I really hope that Willis was with me by my side, maybe I will be more motivated.
Thereās many hydration points along the way and each hydration points is like 100m long and spread out, thereās water, isotonic drink, peeled or not peeled bananas and chocolates along the way. Really love the chocolates but still, Osaka Marathon hydration points is my best experience I ever had so far. Maybe Nagoya or Tokyo marathon if Iām lucky enough next year? š
And interestingly, now then I realised that the little human on the medal can be taken out to use as a pendant for necklace! Thatās so awesome! š The medal was sponsored by Lukfook jewellery and the podium runners medals have real diamonds! š
This was a good race. Shame the organisers designated the marathon a ‘fun run’ – yeah right – and are refusing to release placing data. Really amateurish.
I would love to invite you to Buriram Marathon in Thailand next year. I have just finished this race last week. The weather and the course map were great. There was 100% road closing for 7 hr during racing. All people were nice and plenty of thai fruit and food you can try. Security and medical staff were amazing and helpful. Unless I had not make this race my first marathon because I reach out cut-off time, I will make it better next year for sure.
Anyway, I love the way you share your experience. HKSCM and SCM in Singapore are on my wishlist.
[…] While disappointed, most runners on social media seem to agree that it is a ‘right’ decision made for public health. You can read a review of a previous edition of Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon here. […]