Tokyo Marathon 2008

Event: Tokyo Marathon 2008
Start Point: Shinjuku
Temperture: 0- 8 degree
type: mostly flats and some down slopes
finishing time: sub 5hr 30mins
Rating: 8/10
Organisation: World Class
Support and Cheering: World Class
non-particpant cheering: unbelieveable good.

Start Point at Shinjuku MRT:

met up the guys at the basement towards the start point, we quickly gather together and took some snap shoots, before we proceed to deposit our baggage. Reaching the start points, we were blocked by some security, which only allows runner to enter. we bid farewell to Peck Leng and wife, good lucks and see ya later.

feeling a little stomachache, Fennel and myself decided to look for a quick release, while the others went for their respective baggages. after the toliet break, we went for our baggages station, saying our good luck and good runs. fennel disappear into the mist of the runners. while i trying to get myself into my pan.

Start Point: walking to my pan, I found myself behind my pan. most of the runners has already get into their pans and waiting for the gun off. It was around 845am. another 20mins before the gun off.

after 20mins of wait, the runner starters to move foward. like a great army, we marched towards the start points, ready to conquer to monster 42.195." The Glory is yours, You just have to take it!" this phrase just suddenly brink into my head. I knew this is going to be a long day and I have to complete it, no qns about it.

0-5km: after 15mins into the start line, I found myself starter to run. I felt that my body is not as strong as I hope it would be, I take it slow and easy. looking at the watch, keeping at 7mins pace. suddenly, I feels like peeing, oh no, didn`t i just went. I starter to run by the side looking for supermarts or toliet. running in and out of the supermarts, I finally found one at the 2km marks. I waited for almost 20mins before my turn, at the moment, I got a little panic, when i looked at the runners that passed by the toliet became thin. that could meant that i might have alreally being among the last of the runners. I quickly did my business and continue my run.

5km: aupon reaching the 5km mark, I looked at my watch, 45mins. I am 10mins late, a little disappointed, I try to pick up my pace. I keep myself movtiated by look at other numbers bib and trying to find my own pan bib, I knew if i could find my own bib pan, I would not be too far behind.

8km marks: looked at my watch, 1hr. this is when i heard the song "YMCA" when i saw a group of youngster with big radio with this songs. This familiar song gave me another dose of movtiation.

15km marks: 1hr 45mins. looking at the u turn runner, I try to find a familiar face. but couldn`t see any. I suddenly felt very hungry, then i notice that I had not seen any food along the way, how come?

20km marks: 2hr 25mins, I begin to feel weak, the leg get a little wobble and i started to cough.

21km marks: 2hr 40mins. I am getting still on time, a little slow but i have to keep this pace if i want to do a sub 5hrs. this is when i started to feel abrasion. oh no, nipple abrasion. worst kind.

25km marks: I have starter to do a walk-run method. time: 3hrr 10mins

30km marks: time: 3hr 45mins, I notice that they just stop at this point and stretched. I continue my walk-run method. feeling very hungry, I started to grab food offer from the side liners. cocolates, biscuits, drinks, etc etc.. i starter to enjoy myself on all these makans.

32km marks: time 4 hr, another 10km more to go... at this point. my body had gave me a warning. my leg is beganing to feel cramps. it goes off, when i starter to walk, I guess my CWX really help a lots to hold my leg muscles well.

35kms marks: time 4hr 40mins, I had already walking at this moments. trying to run up the slope and continue my slow paces.

40km marks: time 5hr 30mins, my leg recovered and i found myself starter to run again.

42km marks: time 5hr 40mins, I was already into the last 195 meters of my jounery. I jogged into the finishing line, embracing the finishing moments, the glories and honours with lot of personal prides that came with it.

Got my champion chip off, took my well deserve medal, i make my way to the toliet and change, when asking around to the Tokyo Big Sights to meet the other and congrats them on their finising and good timing.

I felt a little disappointed and happy, very mix feeling, I knew I am expecting myself for a sub 5hrs for this marathon. I am sick for almost 2 weeks, which might even make me DNF. eventually, I am glad i finish this marathon, despite of the lack of training, the toliet breaks, nipple abrasion.

oh well.. this is life isn`t it. let look forward to the Sundown Marathon.

if i would run this race again? asked me again, when the winter is near :)