The organizer also has an expo at the Victoria Park.
For the race day, I woke up at 5:45am in the morning. Had an energy bar, drank some water + isotonic drink. Got everything prepared (action cream on the nipples, petroleum jelly on both feet, secure the gel pack on the running tight) and then head down to TsimShaTsui using the MTR. The TST station is crowded. I get up to to Peking Road, did some warm up. Meet up with an old classmate. By 7:10a, I deposit my bag to the truck which will bring the bag to the finish point in Victoria Park. Temperature is around 13 degree. I had my long tight, t-shirt, running cap and a pair of glove. I also had my disposable raincoat on after the warmup while waiting for the event to start.
3 minutes before the start, I ditch the raincoat and get ready. The 13 degree weather does not feel like cold at all. In the first half, I was able to keep up with my plan of finishing before the cut-off time. The cool weather is nice to run. There are sections of highway has a banking on it which created a camber on the road and make it hard on the feet. The surface on the road is also concrete or rough "stonely" surface, making it hard on the feet as well. At the half-marathon point, I have clocked 2hr 30 mins. But after the long downhill section in the Tsing-Yi tunnel, my feet started to show signs of cramp. I slow down and shifted to brisk walking for the remaining 15km. The section after the western cross-harbour tunnel has very steep uphill climb and then with several up-and-down the flyover/tunnel which is taxing on the body. Especially the flyover at 41km. It is steep and I had to slow down to 6km/h pace. Along the way, every now and then, there is a "sweeper" bus speed by on the left side carrying those participant who cannot make it to the checkpoint at the cut-off time. I don't want to be on that bus!!
I had carried two gel with me and according to the logistic, there should be banana and chocolate at 25km and 30km. I used my gel at 12km and 20km. However, when I arrived at these water point, no more banana and chocolate. I was getting low on fuel!! Luckily, in the later part before the western tunnel, I did get two banana which help to keep me going.
The last km of the run is inside causeway bay with people lining up on the two side. It is a very good last km. Much better than having a finish in Wanchai. At the finish line, there is another goodie bag contains a small towel, a banana, a chocolate, a pear, an isotonic drink and a Tiger Balm rub.
At the end, I finish at 5 hr 24 mins and beat the cut-off time. Getting back my bag is a breeze as well, no queue at all!! I am still recovery from the run. Good thing is that I don't have any blister or black-toe. It is overall an enjoyable run in my home town.
