The final event of 2010 was a great opportunity to venture across to paradise to take on a new event in the Honolulu Marathon.
This would be the third time in Honolulu and the marathon would prove to be another great adventure on my travels to Hawaii. The morning of the race in Honolulu had competitors lined up for buses to the start line with more than 20,000 entrants. The Honolulu Marathon was a real international event with many nationalities represented including 13,000 from Japan. It was a magic atmosphere on the start line with fireworks lighting the skies for the early 5am start.
Following getting caught at the back of the back in Singapore, I managed to make my way close to the starting line for the Honolulu Marathon leading out with the 3 hour group.
It was great to run past the Honolulu Lights Experience in the opening stages and then run back past Ala Moana Shopping Centre and into the centre of Honolulu all while dark. The course did not take in as many sweeping views of the beaches as expected due to the run being primarily in the dark for the opening hours.
I had been feeling strong until close to half way when I noticed a twinged in the corner of the right knee causing some concern so was careful not to push too hard to maintain a decent pace and make it home.
It was at the 25km stage that I met up with Mohan from Singapore who was in fine form blowing the pee out of a whistle while running. At first this was a little too much although over time it was fun to see the competitors and spectators reactions in general were really positive. I really appreciated the support and motivation Mohan provided so as to help me towards the final stages of the race.
In the home stretch I ran through the final drinks station and asked the kids to drench me in water to cool me down over the last stages. I was soaked and strode out to pass a number of others to cross the line in 4:38:47.
Now it was time to recover and relax in paradise with travel plans to Maui and a little more time in Honolulu planned over the days ahead.
Race Splits:
10km - 56:38
21.1km - 2:04:13
30km - 3:04:43
40km - 4:25:26
42.195km - 4:38:47
35-39 Male Category Place - 368/1,229
Race Position - 2,653/10,586
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Singapore Marathon 2010
It was a great opportunity to travel across to Singapore and meet up with my family. My brother, his wife and my niece were in town from Vietnam along with my Dad and his wife also making the journey over from Sydney to share in the Singapore Marathon adventure and enjoy an early Christmas catch up.
Following registering for the marathon on the Saturday morning and then purchasing supplies it was an early night with a small spaghetti room service meal ensuring the right preparation. It was a very early morning in preparation for the 5.30am race start.
I managed to share a taxi with a fellow competitor in town from Hong Kong who was running in his first marathon and we soon arrived at the start area to find a sea of people heading in different directions. It was a serious mission to find the baggage area with little clear communication and direction provided. I managed to find a way through the crowds to drop my bag and then had minutes to find the correct starting position.
There seemed to be no clear time allocations for runners to enter on the start line and I ended up in the back of the back making my way through the crowd to start well after the 6 hour back of the pack runners with more than 20,000 competitors in front! There was little point of looking for a way out and I decided to stay and make my way through the crowds.
The challenge was not only to make my way across the start line almost 7 minutes after the gun but then through thousands of runners along narrow streets over the opening 10km. This was extremely frustrating and most certainly proves that it is wiser to start a little ahead of projected finish time as opposed to well after.
The new Marathon Man suit proved to be extremely painful and seriously cut up my chest during the run due to the new stitching. It was made even more painful when passing the medical stations there was little interest in anything other than providing "Tiger Balm". Now having previously sold the brand for 4 years I understand the significance of Tiger Balm more than most in Singapore although would have hoped that there was a little more on offer such as Vaseline although this was not to be and after three strikes I decided to deal with the pain and push on to the finish.
The humidity and heat did make the journey significantly more challenging and the sports drink ice blocks provided by the friendly local running support crew were very much appreciated over the closing stages. The addition of sponges would have been a great addition and perhaps would be great to include in the 2011 event.
It was around 10km prior to the finish when the marathon race collided with the 10km run and all effort to pick up speed ground to a halt as competitors were walking across the stretch of a bridge and it was practically impossible to pass with slowing marathon runners grounding to a crawl in one of the most crucial parts of the race. This did not clear until the separation of the 10km walkers with around 3-4km remaining. Not real impressed...
With around 1km remaining it was great to see my little brother cheering me on. I was focused on making it home by this stage so he jumped the fence and ran alongside me to give me the Australian flag although by this stage all I really wanted to do was make it across the line. This was as close as my brother has ever come to running a marathon and hope remains that one day he will join me to run the distance for what would sure be a life changing experience.
It was a great feeling to cross the line in 5:00:20 and I was feeling extremely dehydrated and ready to have much needed massage. Following the event I sought out a large "Finishers" shirt in the correct area only to later find out that it was in fact a medium shirt. Apparently this was not an isolated. I was feeling very light headed and could not find any medical attention so made my way to the massage tent to get a rub down.
Now following the massage the search for my bag started and with not too many people aware of where the baggage collection area was this soon became a mini marathon in itself where we were to be informed that the bags were being stored at the F1 Pits seemingly around about 4km away. Now with shoes off and clothes wet this was not the best planning. The race organisers must address this for the marathon starters next year as this simply was not good enough!
Following a little rest and hydration I was lucky enough to find a taxi and make my way back to the hotel where I was greeted in the lobby by my family to find my Christmas presents waiting. Next a shower and a fresh seafood lunch before bed for some much need rest. I managed to sleep right through until early in the morning when I was up at 5am to catch a morning return flight to Sydney before returning then returning to work and the final 2010 marathon in Honolulu.
Following registering for the marathon on the Saturday morning and then purchasing supplies it was an early night with a small spaghetti room service meal ensuring the right preparation. It was a very early morning in preparation for the 5.30am race start.
I managed to share a taxi with a fellow competitor in town from Hong Kong who was running in his first marathon and we soon arrived at the start area to find a sea of people heading in different directions. It was a serious mission to find the baggage area with little clear communication and direction provided. I managed to find a way through the crowds to drop my bag and then had minutes to find the correct starting position.
There seemed to be no clear time allocations for runners to enter on the start line and I ended up in the back of the back making my way through the crowd to start well after the 6 hour back of the pack runners with more than 20,000 competitors in front! There was little point of looking for a way out and I decided to stay and make my way through the crowds.
The challenge was not only to make my way across the start line almost 7 minutes after the gun but then through thousands of runners along narrow streets over the opening 10km. This was extremely frustrating and most certainly proves that it is wiser to start a little ahead of projected finish time as opposed to well after.
The new Marathon Man suit proved to be extremely painful and seriously cut up my chest during the run due to the new stitching. It was made even more painful when passing the medical stations there was little interest in anything other than providing "Tiger Balm". Now having previously sold the brand for 4 years I understand the significance of Tiger Balm more than most in Singapore although would have hoped that there was a little more on offer such as Vaseline although this was not to be and after three strikes I decided to deal with the pain and push on to the finish.
The humidity and heat did make the journey significantly more challenging and the sports drink ice blocks provided by the friendly local running support crew were very much appreciated over the closing stages. The addition of sponges would have been a great addition and perhaps would be great to include in the 2011 event.
It was around 10km prior to the finish when the marathon race collided with the 10km run and all effort to pick up speed ground to a halt as competitors were walking across the stretch of a bridge and it was practically impossible to pass with slowing marathon runners grounding to a crawl in one of the most crucial parts of the race. This did not clear until the separation of the 10km walkers with around 3-4km remaining. Not real impressed...
With around 1km remaining it was great to see my little brother cheering me on. I was focused on making it home by this stage so he jumped the fence and ran alongside me to give me the Australian flag although by this stage all I really wanted to do was make it across the line. This was as close as my brother has ever come to running a marathon and hope remains that one day he will join me to run the distance for what would sure be a life changing experience.
It was a great feeling to cross the line in 5:00:20 and I was feeling extremely dehydrated and ready to have much needed massage. Following the event I sought out a large "Finishers" shirt in the correct area only to later find out that it was in fact a medium shirt. Apparently this was not an isolated. I was feeling very light headed and could not find any medical attention so made my way to the massage tent to get a rub down.
Now following the massage the search for my bag started and with not too many people aware of where the baggage collection area was this soon became a mini marathon in itself where we were to be informed that the bags were being stored at the F1 Pits seemingly around about 4km away. Now with shoes off and clothes wet this was not the best planning. The race organisers must address this for the marathon starters next year as this simply was not good enough!
Following a little rest and hydration I was lucky enough to find a taxi and make my way back to the hotel where I was greeted in the lobby by my family to find my Christmas presents waiting. Next a shower and a fresh seafood lunch before bed for some much need rest. I managed to sleep right through until early in the morning when I was up at 5am to catch a morning return flight to Sydney before returning then returning to work and the final 2010 marathon in Honolulu.
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