Pre-Race: Standard Chartered Taipei Marathon 台北渣打公益馬拉松 2016

The event is first organized on 2nd of Jun 2013 as Standard Chartered Taipei Charity Run (台北渣打公益路跑）with category up to 12.5 km. In 2014 it was named Standard Chartered Taipei Marathon （台北渣打公益馬拉松）and considered the first year with marathon category. It claimed to be one of few running events in Taiwan with AIMS certified course. 

2014 and 2015 event was held on February. However, the date for 2016 did not announce until near to 3 months before the event, and was set on last week of January, which is 1 week after Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon. Comments was putting on their Facebook page for the late announcement as well as the choice of date. The date was first appeared on Chinese Taipei Road Running Association 中华民国路跑协会 website without the name of the sponsor. Due to this, there was speculation that Standard Chartered is no longer the sponsor. 

It seemed that the Association was the most important place to get race related information. Eventually the date on their site was right, and the event name added with "Standard Chartered". Later on, the registration go through this site, as well as the race results. Oh I forgot, participants who wish to deposit their baggage have to buy a storage bag from the organizer and it can be repeatedly used in all the event organized by them. 

The marathon route was mostly run along Riverside Park, with minimal elevation. It is a good place for good timing provided good handling the section at the Riverside Park. The section is open to elements such and wind, sunlight and rain. A good place on a good day, a difficult place for bad weather days if one is not prepared.

Elevation Chart from event guide. Both elevations for marathon (green line) was the pedestrian section of Maishuaiyi Bridge 麥帥一橋

The location of the drink station was confusing. I was not sure to read the yellow symbol or the dark labels. I clarified with the staff at the collection area and was told there's drink station every 2.5 km with the first one at 5 km. 

It was raining when I arrived at Taipei on 22nd Jan evening. On the way to hostel, I stuck in the very bad rush hour Taipei traffic. It took me almost 2.5 hr for the journey that took about 1 hr in the non peak hour.This is the unexpected and most torture part of the journey. No one speak in the bus. Upon reaching the city, some passengers chose to continue the journey by foot.

The rain continued when I reach Taipei Bus Station. The rain here was like in Malaysia, wet and one will soaked walking under the rain. I didn't meet with this kind of rain while in NZ or Australia. The "few days of winter" I spent in those countries was only meet with drizzle that still able to walk in it. 

Luckily I brought the folded umbrella and I never feel it so useful in oversea.

Enter the station I grabbed the bread and rice ball for dinner and tomorrow's breakfast. Then looking for my way in the huge station. Settle down in hostel around 9-10pm, I couldn't wait for a shower and go to bed.

The cold climate was all over the news. The coldest winter since a few decades. What I worried of is the rain. 

The rain never stop the whole night.
I could here the raindrops when I opened my eyes in the dark.

News repeatedly reported about current weather and forecast

The next morning I shut off the alarm and thought of omit recovery run due to the rain 

However, few hours later I was running along the corridor of the shop houses. It just doesn't make sense to me to do nothing if I have the time. Saw a few runners running at the corridor too. 

Another agenda of the day was race bib collection. It needed a MRT ride. Collection area was located at the business and shopping district of Taipei (信義區). The process was fast and smooth. Bought the storage bag there. 

Few tents for race kit collection.

Running gait analysis available

The same day spent more time on walking to get Easycard （悠遊卡）for public transport and looking for food. I became frustrated along the way due to keep looking at wrong direction.

The rest of the day was just resting and preparing the mind for next day run.

Race kit included: bib, pins, sensor, storage bag label, singlet, map and a few coupons (not shown). Storage bag was bought. The rest was my race day equipment.

The rained continued in the afternoon, evening, night, then another day.

It rained, rained, ra-a-a-ained.