Race Report: Standard Chartered Taipei Marathon 2016 台北渣打公益马拉松2016

Date: 24/01/2016 (Sun)
Time: 05:30 a.m.
Distance: Full marathon (42.195 km)
Official Time: 3 hr 02 min 07 secs
Net Time: 3 hr 01 min 58 secs
Shoes: Brooks PureFlow 4
Race Route:


Race Day
1:30 a.m. - Wake up
2:00 a.m. - Breakfast. (Breads, Tesco malted drink and Nescafe 3 in 1)
2:50 a.m. - Nap
3:20 a.m. - Get ready to go out
4:15 a.m. - To race venue for baggage deposit
5:05 a.m. - Gather at start line
5:30 a.m. - Race start

I woke up around 1:30 a.m. before the phone alarm set off. It was raining, and cold as in the forecast. I was not sleepy nor very fresh. It was like I have taken a nap. 

I then started the routine before race.

The race morning was like dawn before war - you know something is going to happen but can't be to relax nor too excited. Every cell is the body is activated, movement is slow not to miss out anything but head is spinning and rehearsing... Everything was in countdown.

Around 3:20 a.m. (~2 hrs to start) I started to gear up. The plan was to settle baggage storage by 4:30 a.m. (1 hr to start).The hostel was around 500 m to the race venue. I took a slow jog to the van and baggage storage was fast. I ran back to stretch at the shop houses corridor with a lot of runners, then decided to go back to room for the last toilet break, whether it's for psychological or physiological reason. The good part of staying near to the starting point.

Outside the cold and rain seemed to be the bigger topic than the marathon itself. People was running or walking with head down, hood on, body shrinking, shoulder up. Most people was in raincoat like me. Some with mask. Yes my mouth was cold just jogging to the venue. 

At around 5:05 a.m., I headed to the gathering point and managed to get to around 10-20 m before the start line. It was reported later that the weather was 4 degrees and real feel was 0 degree. There was aerobic exercise as warm up along with pump-up music. I took off long sleeve 5 minutes before start and remain with raincoat on top of my running singlet and compression pants.

Opening speech by the VIPs acknowledged the courage of runners to run in the cold weather, not forgetting to remind all the precautions. It has been a topic in Taiwan for that week, some questioned why the race was not postponed. I specially pay attention to race director (or someone for the organizer) speech, where he said the section at the Riverside Park（河濱公園）will be the testing field in that day's condition. And he was right. 

By 5:30 a.m, the run started. 

0 - 10 km (41:27, avg pace 4:09min/km)
I started to run along with other runners. Runners was not slowed down too much regardless of the crowd as it was very wide road, Ketagalan Boulevard （凱達格蘭大道） in front of Presidential Office Building （總統府）where demonstration usually hold. It also partly because I started of in the front.

The big wide road (Ketagalan Boulevard) in front of Presidential Office Building where the race begin. Photo took in the evening. 

From standing around 25 minutes in the cold to running, I felt a twitch on my left knee in the first few steps. “Ouch" I literally shouted but remain running cautiously and normally. Luckily it didn't happen again and there's no any uncomfortable after that. The feet was cold and numb, but not as cold as in Seoul. The sound of plastic raincoat could be hear due to running.

The first 10 km was running in city towards Riverside Park. The surrounding was just lights from the street, traffics, shop houses and also reflection from the runners around me. There's nothing much I can remember but just keep running. 

Half marathon and marathon started at the same time. Therefore some runners was running at a faster speed. 

At the beginning I was running together with half marathon 1h 30m pacer. However I thought he might be heading fast at that moment as I was running at avg pace 4:08-4:09min/km according to my Endomondo App. But he could be on the right pace as I also noticed the app reported the distance some 400-600m earlier than the distance marker.

I was feeling good and didn't feel too much exertion. Breathing was ok. I didn't try to make up for that distance different as I thought the translated pace would be around my goal pace.

I didn't take in gel this section but only energy drinks at the drink station and make use some sponge. 

I keep the raincoat on as it was still raining.  

20 km (1:23:49, avg pace 4:11min/km)
At around 11 km I noticed runners become less due to the half marathon group follow another direction. At one point across a bridge I was far at the back of group of runners and the escort motorbike have to wait for me. He rode behind me slowly and then tried to be in between me and group in front. He kept looking back at me. I was thinking does he thinking of whether want to wait for me? Is he wanted to say something? I knew I look awkward with the raincoat on, and the sound of plastic raincoat was annoying. 

At around 13-14 km we turn into pedestrian part of Maishuaiyi Bridge （麥帥一橋）and down to Riverside Park. This is the only elevation that noticeable. It was short but moderately sharp, narrow, with sharp turn and on some kind of pavement.

The rest of the distance was tru and fro in the Riverside Park. Only I realized the sky has brightened up. The view brought into my vision. It was wide opening with paved road, a bit of green, architecture at the far. There was little twisting on the road and it's not as narrow as in Adelaide River Torrens . Later on runners were to run on the road in two direction, to and back.

It was still raining. There were puddles along the road and by the roadside. I could feel the wind. The sound of raincoat make it become more prominent. 

The pace in this section (11-20 km) ranged from 4:10km/min (11th km) to 4:17km/min (14th km-cross the bridge). The average pace for this 10 km was 4:14km/min. 

I was still feeling good, breathing was ok. I took in one gel at around 15km - 17.5 km. The rest of the station I took a sip or make use of the sponge. 

30 km (2:06:08, avg pace 4:12min/km)
The section after 20 km started to feel some tiredness. The same exertion came with a slower pace. I would like to push more but not confident - feeling I might not able to sustain or become worse.

The pace range from 4:02min/km (24th km) and 4:27min/km (27th km). At around 20 km another runner in white singlet (looked like veteran) slowly approaching and easily pass over me. I tried to follow but feel couldn't keep up. He reminded me also of the runners that came back from the front direction. 

I was trying to keep up and chase back the distance at this point. It can be shown from my pace between 21 km-24 km of 4:17, 4:10, 4:05, 4:02, with a u-turn at 23 th km. At 24th km I was trying to keep up with another male runners in red singlet which came from the back as well in steady pace. Feeling I couldn't maintain, I slowed down again. 

It was this tug-of-war within myself. To push or not to, testing the boundary. The breathing was ok, I'm still in a 3-2 breathing pattern, and in fact continue this way up to finish. However the legs was not dare or not able to push afraid of overdoing.

At one hand I was thinking to keep the raincoat or not. The plastic sound was not pleasant and feel it like a burden. However when rain and wind continued, I looked at those with only singlet and feel lucky at least I still have a raincoat on. Once a while I raised up the raincoat to allow air circulation over my body. The plastic didn't allow sweat to evaporate and was sticky on skin. I may or may not sustain without the raincoat, I don't know. I'd say preparation of suitable running material in rainy and cold weather is better than in a raincoat.

I took 2nd gel at 25km-27.5 km section. During this race I spent lesser time at the station as compare to other races. In other races I'd walk to finish the drink. This time I tried to sip in while slow down running. At some station the water spilled out and I was just merely able to take a sip or two. At one station, I choked out right after the drink enter my mouth and spilled the rest. 

40 km (2:49:59, avg pace 4:15min/km)
Point after 30 km was still running along the Riverside. 
I didn't feel "the wall" but I was feeling lost of interest or lost the fighting spirit.
I was still maintaining the exertion but sort of just hanging there. The wind, I asked, when will it stop? 
31km-40 km pace range between 4:16min/km (31th km) and 4:43min/km (38th km - cross the bridge). 

The slowdown at this session was sort of expected. Which was why I planned for a slightly faster pace in the first half to cushion for second half slow down.
The questions is how much of time one should cushion for?
Should we run hardest at the start and use mental edge to fight in the end.
Or should we control pace as we planned in the first to not defer too much from the target?
The thing I usually face was - the plan doesn't work for the second half.
The second half, or perhaps the last 12 km, is mental. 
In Seoul, I mistakenly ran too fast, and pushed myself very hard in the end as I'm still within target - and achieved it.
In Adelaide, I followed the plan and more cautious. In the second half when I found I was not in the target, I slowed down, I relaxed, I said never mind. 
Of course, the first thing is do enough training. But, should we "trick" our self so we push harder in the later part?
People say distance running is mental game eventually. Our mind would control how much we push to the limit. 

I took the 3rd gel somewhere around 35 km. That's all I took this time. With 4 more gel still hanging in my spibelt over the waist. It then cause bruises to my skin due to prolonged friction.

Finish (3:01:58. avg pace 4:19min/km)
The route joined with other category of runners around 38-39 km. 
There's staff on motorbike reminded other category runner to give way and stay at one side, and other faster runner another side. However instructions was not much taken due to the number of people.

At 40th km I took off the raincoat. A sudden cold I felt. 

Endomondo apps reported the distance almost finish, but the marker still like never ending. 
I lost the energy to calculate which one is correct.
Of course the marker is the reference.
However when my mind was thinking to the distance according to maker, the app reporting knock me down. When I heard app reported "40 km", after a long long time I see the signage "2 km to go". My running was like not going anywhere. It was like using a lagging internet connection.
In the end I refused to believe any one of it and just running.
I tried to run as hard as possible for the last km.
However I couldn't see the end gate until one staff point the way after a turn.
And there was the finishing point, I use my last effort to sprint to finish my first run in Taiwan.

Post-race
I received the medal and a towel from the volunteers. 

Job was done. There was tents serving hot drinks. Queue was long so I skipped.

Hot drinks is most popular tents after the race

I took a slow jogged. Started to cough. Shivering.

A view after finishing point. Wet. Raincoat. Warm wear.

I took a few photos and help others to take photo in exchange of mine. 

A panaroma view at race end venue. People was busy with their own things.

Feeling enough, I walked further to collect finishing kit with drinks, food, and fruits. Only I realized I didn't drink after the run (there's no drink provided after the finishing except the hot drinks - weather was bigger topic). Quickly I drank the bottle papaya drink while walking under the bridge to claim my baggage.

Under the bridge is the baggage collection area. It was even colder there  without sunlight and wind pass through.

In the cold and the wind I changed my cloth.
Took one banana in the finishing bag and a protein bar prepared before hand. 
Stretching, shivering.

Decided to leave, and upon asking, free shutter was further away.

Without proper warm cloth, going back to hostel served another challenge for me.

Upon arriving at 228 Peace Memorial Park（二二八和平公園）, the digital clock showed temperature of 6 degree.
A couple was walking beside, "Wah, 6 degrees and we were running." The guy said to the girl.
He slowdown, brought up smartphone and took a snapshot of the display.

The rest of the day, I spent in hostel common hall watching news that report about snowing in Taipei. 

Taipei was waiting to see temperature will get lower to break record of 3.2 degrees since 1972

At Jiufen （九份）, a Malaysian tourist was interviewed on the feeling of seeing snow.

Greetings from the organizer by email few days after the race