It was the 1st Putrajaya Night Marathon last Saturday, and thousands of runners took Putrajaya by storm! This time, I decided that it was my turn to play the supporting role. Although I didn't register for the race, I could feel the excitement of those participating. The response was overwhelming - perhaps, it's because it was the very first night marathon ever held in Malaysia. While waiting for John, I followed the 7.7km race and ran together with the other runners at 9pm.
The overall event was well-organized and rated as good:
- Ample parking space.
- Convenient toilet facilities.
- Sufficient sponging and water stations (both water & isotonic).
- Generous supply of power bars before and during the race.
- Staggered start time for the different categories to avoid confusion.
- Distance markers placed at every kilometres with arrows to indicate directions
- Professional road marshalls to guide runners and some were roller-blading to assist slower runners to ensure safety.
- Friendly volunteers who acted as cheering team as well.
What could've been better was the atmosphere during the entire marathon. The roads were somewhat dead. No cheering team. Basically, it was just the runner and the road.
It was boring and so lack of 'live'. The atmosphere at the race village was no better. By the time the full marathoners arrived, the atmosphere was drab. The Milo and 100Plus stations were gone. Suggested that the full marathon to start at 7pm instead of 8pm in future.
Being an observer that night, I witnessed the pain all the marathoners went through and I can confirm that running a marathon at night is not any easier than the day. The weather was hot and humid. The rain earlier that evening did not help clear the stale air. It was dull, lonely and boring especially after the half marathon where most runners were left to run their own pace. Cheering team is not popular in Malaysia at all. So, it's always the runner and the road. In the dark (although the streets were well litted that night) runners have to rely mainly on their mental strength to stay motivated in order to overcome any pain or fatigue.
At about 10pm, I was already at the finishing line together with Gail to cheer and welcome the half marathon runners, while waiting for John. I assumed he'll be back at midnight.
The first male marathon runner arrived at 10.28pm (2hr 28mims). Later Jenny Lim and her kids joined me to cheer other runners. We saw and congratulated Don Khor for crossing the line first in the Men Senior Veteran Category with a remarkable time of 3hr 10mins. And then Amutha for being the first Women full marathon runner finishing her first marathon at 3hr 32mins.
Everyone who reached the finishing line heaved a huge sigh of relief and with pain written all over their faces and bodies as well! So glad that they eventually made it. Ah, this feeling is familiar to me! I looked at my watch again and it was past midnight - there was still no sight of John. I was getting anxious...did he injure himself? maybe he had cramps? I was so anxious that I cheered the wrong runner whom I had mistaken for John (embarassed)..argh!!!
At 12.25am, he finally made his way...
See, not bad - as usual, he kept his cool and still able to keep his 'trademark' smile as he ran towards the finishing line. Yet behind that smile was a very worn-out body that only he himself could feel. 4hr 25mins may be a dream to some runners, but for John it was not a good race. He succumbed to fatigue and boredom half way through the race. I guessed his body wasn't prepare to take the stress of a night marathon. Still, I am so proud of him. He had managed to pull through another marathon and not surrender. For him, it was an experience which he aptly puts it "THE PUTRAJAYA NIGHTMARE MARATHON"!
Not a single soul I knew, achieved a PB (personal best). Many runners performed below par and for some, a PW (personal worst) yet they can not claim that they did poorly because running at night is different.
Every runner ran the same 42km route and endured the same pain, but each one has his/her own story to share. It is truly heart-warming as I listened to different runners sharing their experiences, and all I could say was no matter how long it took for them to finish a marathon, every runner who finishes the marathon is a winner.
Running a marathon is no easy feat. It takes loads of courage and determination. Running a night marathon is even harder. It is punishing, lonely and boring. Boredom can kill a runner's desire to continue in a race. Many times a runner really needs to psyche himself/herself to keep going no matter how tired he/she maybe, and to fight the urge to quit.
As we were strolling to the parking area at around 2am, we saw many runners still on the road struggling hard to complete their race and we both knew just how painful that journey can be.
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