The Long Run: Part 2 (Condura Skyway Marathon Race Review )

Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes... - Oscar Wilde

 

 

So there we were, Goldy, Joyce and Chona at the start of the Condura Skyway Marathon.  The three of them, still fresh, while I was suffering from severe dehydration.

 

Could you tell who is fresh and who is not

 

 

3,2,1.... the run started... said a short silent prayer which I normally do, passed through the starting arch, then off we went.

 

Km 1 - 15

 

For this run, I decided to pace Goldy for a sub 5 hour finish.  We planned a 4:1 run-walk strategy with a run pace of 6:30-6:40.  I was already suffering severe dehydration at the start of the run, those 1 minute walk breaks felt like a blessing to me.  Everything was going great until the 14th km where I started having short breathes.  By the 15th km, I knew I cannot continue with our pace and told Goldy.  She obliged and went her own way for her PR.

 

 

Km 16 - 22

 

The next 6km would be a struggle to me.  I dropped the pace and was trying to run.  I tried to ingest more liquids but to no avail.  Many runners were already passing me, but I did not care at the moment, I was too busy monitoring myself.  There were some pain building up from inside my body, but I still tried to run.

 

 

Km 23 - Finish

 

Just passing the 22th km, the pain was worsen, so thinking about my health, I decided to walk all the way until I finished. 

 

At about the 29th km, Nikki (a friend of mine who was doing her first marathon) caught up with me.  We decided to walk the rest of the way.  We exchanged stories, made fun of billboards, talked about food to pass the time.

 

After some time, we finally reached the finish line, my time was 7:04, my slowest Marathon yet.  But I was not disappointed with my result, I took this one as a learning lesson.

 

 

Me and Nikki running to the finish line



Wasted...

 

After the run, we ate at Festival Mall and head on our way home.

 

I ran from 7pm until 7am, and covered a total of 80km.  I'm a bit wiser about my hydration plan.  And promised myself not to get to the point of severe dehydration again.

 

And so, the last run will signal the start of my tapering period....

 

Or so I thought....