Standchart Marathon 2008

It's over. I did it. I have completed my first marathon ever. Finally one more item on my to-do list struck off. I have to admit; I underestimated the marathon. 42KM is no joking matter. I only actually managed to run for 10 plus kilometres. From 10 plus to 30 plus it was run and walk. By the time I reached the last 10 plus kilometres, I could barely manage walking.

This would explain why none of the pictures show me running. These were taken during the last leg of the marathon. By then I could only walk. Running was impossible with the pain and fatigue in my legs. More than once I almost gave up, encouraged only by the presence of my friend Shi An who was walking with me and waiting for me.

This marathon was one of many firsts. It was, of course, my first marathon ever. It was also the first time that I had applied so much deep-heat rub on me. It was the first time that I laid down and slept on the road. Certain points during the marathon I was so tired that I just laid down on the road, not giving a damn what was happening.

It was, in Shi An's words, not a marathon. It was not even a Walk-a-Jog. I had brought it up to a higher level. We were doing a Walk-Jog-and-Sleep.

Fooled be not by the pictures. Though we look like we were "sashaying"; Though it looks as though we look like we were taking a stroll through town, a walk-in-the-park this marathon was not. Beneath the smiles and laughter, we were in fact in excruciating pain. Pain that got worse and lasted for 2 additional days after the marathon.

All in all it was a unique experience. Somewhere between 20KM and the end I started questioning my decision to join this in the first place. I exclaimed with conviction that I will not ever join this again. Now that it's over, I am beginning to think that I might do it again. Just to better my time. On the other hand, 7-and-a-half hours is not a difficult timing to beat. Maybe it's true; the marathon is addictive. I do, however, need to be better prepared.