The End Of An Era...

By Frank

Time certainly flies and it is now 2 years since I ran my marathon personal best at the Macau Marathon 2009. And according to the Boston Marathon qualifying standards, a personal best will only last for 2 years. And with my "expiry" date just around the corner, looking back at fond memories of Macau will be a good idea.

Back then while preparing for the Macau Marathon 2009, I have set my sights that it will be the marathon that I will give my all sacrificing everything that may come in my way. "A sub 4 hour is a must!", I told myself. I trained hard and smart and live a dull lifestyle. "Why dull?", you ask me. I changed my lifestyle for a period of 6 months staying away from delicious but yet unhealthy food, sacrificing my time with friends by going to bed early in order to wake up early the next morning to clock the distance and doing nothing but to train. I clocked an average of 25KM per day and at one point even managed to hit 300KM in a span of just one week.

Macau 2009 (photo credit to Lynn)...

The trip to Macau with my travel mates of Lynn, Chin Chin, Shih Ming, Saya, Shine, Victor, Raymond Hee, Keat Seong and Jennifer was a memorable one too. The nervous moment for me only came in the morning of the race day where I stood aside from everyone to calm my nerves. I wanted to be alone for a moment before the race start for I do not know what may happen to me. And when the race started, I never looked back and went for it. I ran with everything I could and finally did it though I miss my target timing by around 5 minutes due to a toilet stop. It was a painful run and in the end after crossing the finish line, I almost blacked out with a very painful pair of legs. I was cold and I just laid on the stadium track alone till Keat Seong came to my aid.

A painful personal best (photo credit to Jennifer Ng)...

And today, looking back at it and seeing many friends participating in this year's edition certainly bring back fond memories of it, and in the mean time being envious of them. I have not run a good marathon timing since then. I though my body deserve a break after that but the unfortunate happen when I fell from my bike a month after, injuring myself. And since recovering, my focus was on the ultra distance, something I truly enjoy till now.

I don't think I can hack away my marathon personal best and it will be this to stay till I check-out from this world. It's not easy to run a sub 4 hour marathon and with many ultra distance events I want and favour to do, running the marathon has become something secondary for me. I still do enjoy it, but running the ultra brings out a different something out from me.

Come this 4 December 2011, to my friends like Yim, Ben and Yee Hua who will be running this year's edition, do run well for it's a fast course. Besides, with nothing much to see over the 2 loops, I'm sure a fast time will be in the pocket considering the weather is just almost perfect. Therefore, if you guys are able to read this before the run, do say "HI" for me to both the MGM lions. :)

If you guys are wondering what is my personal best timing, it's 03:40:38 hours clocked at the Macau Marathon 2009, and this personal best timing will expire this 4 December 2011. An end of an era for me. But perhaps a start of something new...