Gold Coast Airport Marathon

My first marathon!!! :D:D:D

So on the 4th of July I decided that getting up at 4am to fly to Gold Coast would be a fun thing to do. Those cheap airfares should come with a line that tells you that buses don't start their service that early in the morning, zzz. Once there I headed straight for the convention centre in Broadbeach to get my race pack.

Customised bibs are cool, yay.

I then took a bus to Southport where the backpackers was to meet up with Ron and Vat, who were kind enough to come and give me moral support. Along the way only did I realise what I had signed myself up for (the bus travelled along the race route) but pushed those evil thoughts away.

Met Ron and Vat, who later went to Movieworld while I caught up with my sleep (which was a good thing, because the other crazy backpackers decided to have a party later that night and come back at 3am in the morning only to wake people up with noises of them banging each other in the dirty kitchenette-turned-temporary-bedroom. They totally pwn the college kids.) Rest of the day unremarkable. At night we wanted to look for a place to eat, but not one restaurant was open. Not even McDs or KFC (!!!). It was only 6pm. Settled for Hungry Jacks that was only open because of the cinema next to it. Went back to the backpackers to carbo load. Met this guy who was sane enough to run the marathon the next day too. His PB was sub 3 hours *jaw drops*.

Race day: I woke up excited. After we got dressed Ron and I tried to wake Vat. Took quite a few attempts if I remember correctly :P We walked to the starting point of the race which was 5 minutes away. The forecast was 9-19 degrees, but it was sunny, hurrah! There were heaps of people there already, what with the half marathon and 10k challenge starting before the full marathon. Loads and loads of Japanese were there to take part too; so many they even had their own commentator.

with Vat (before coffee) and Ron.

At 7.30am, the race started. Vat and Ron went to shop at Harbourtown while I ran. The first 15ks were towards the south - Surfer's Paradise, Broadbeach etc to Burleigh Heads. I was running happily until around 5km when my Achilles started to hurt (injury 1 month before the race, physio told me to rest for just as long and it was supposed to be alright but what do you know). I put it down as a trick of the mind and continued running. It still hurt at the 10k mark but thankfully went away after that. I managed to keep the pace I planned for, so I was pleased too. Reached the 15km mark without feeling too tired and turned back towards the starting point.

Things did not go well after that. Around the halfway mark my left thigh started to feel painful, and I thought I was starting to have cramps. Stopped to walk abit, then ran again, but the pain wouldn't go away. I looked down and realised that the tape I had around my thigh where it was supposed to lessen the load on my ITB had become a torniquet instead. My skin around that area had so many red spots and a few bruises it was a little horrifying. Regretting the fact that I put it on in the first place (don't listen to your physio!) and half cursing, I loosened it but couldn't tear it apart. The thing dangled at my ankle for the rest of the race. Continued to run halfheartedly because of this incident. I think the 20-25k stretch was my slowest. Quite a number of people had slowed down to a walk at that stage too so that was a bit demoralising as well.

The best part of the run had yet to come, because a fairy godfather in the form of a marathon maniac aka Mr Mohan from Singapore appeared (can't remember when but at 20+ks) and told me to keep going and keep smiling even though I was already so tired. He's a member of the Pacesetters in Malaysia and had only ran the KL marathon the week before. Amazing how small the world is, haha. While I was half-walking-half jogging-very slowly Mohan would run ahead to other runners who had slowed down and give them a pat on the back to start running again, which was very encouraging.

Running with Mohan and 2 other ladies from Singapore

When I saw the 30km sign I was so happy my tiredness disappeared.

See the number 30?

The spectators were very encouraging too. That's where the customised bibs came in handy, though I did get laughed at by a kid (Go T-Rex!! - then somewhat to himself: T-Rex? ha.. ha..). I managed to somehow reach the starting point again, and from then on it was 10km more (5km north, then pusing balik). Yay! Well not really. My thoughts by then were mostly WHERE ARE THE WATER STANDS???? and HOW LONG MORE???

Around 35km I decided that since I wasn't going to make the time I first had in mind, so I might as well enjoy the rest of the run. Mohan took pictures for me with the volunteers at the water stands, and also with a rabbit/kangaroo that was the mascot for the Japanese team H.I.S. (Highest International Standard! Can't stop, won't stop!).


At 39km I felt like crying, don't ask me why.

Between that and the finish line I wanted to give up running continuously and walk more (ah, the weak mind!) but once I stopped my whole body ached so much it hurt less to run, if that made any sense. Also because Mohan was there to motivate me till the end. Anyway at the last kilometre it was just happiness, and at the last 100m I magically had energy to sprint towards the finish line (and nearly forgot to stop my watch lol). Time was 5 hours 18 minutes. Not great but I was just so happy that I managed to finish the race even without running one month before that.

Woohoo!

After the run I lingered around the finish line for a bit, trying to stretch but at the same time feeling so so sore, before finally deciding to go and look for Vat and Ron (to no avail; because I was way off my predicted ETA we were looking in different places). Went back to the backpackers, reunited with my friends and guess what? We went to Harbourtown straightaway for 2 more hours of shopping. Somehow I survived walking around some more. The next 3 days were terrible though. Couldn't walk for peanuts, but the pain was worth it.


So that's about it. My first marathon experience, hopefully more to come! This post is specially dedicated to my friends and family (you know who you are) who believed that I could do it =)

Also, a big thank you to Mohan, without whom I would not have been able to finish the run.


Upcoming events:
-City to Surf, 14 August
-Blackmores Half Marathon, 20 September
-Singapore Marathon, 6 December (be kiasu and sign up early!)

More pictures on Facebook.

Happiness.