Realized that I did not update my blog for over a month. Here is the Hong Kong Marathon.
It is a tough and difficult race, possibly the most difficult marathon that I have taken. The weather feels almost Singapore like - hot and humid. The terrain is tough, especially the initial long climb at the stonecutter's bridge.
I completed 5:32:xx gun time, roughly 5:30:00 chip time. I just managed to squeeze through the last check point (basically, I was about 10s late at the checkpoint and they are in the process of pull the net across the road). I have to push it all the way in order to meet the cutoff time. Last year, I was only less than a minute from the cutoff time which is 15 degree C and no stonecutter's bridge. But this time, even with a lot of push, I still just missed the cutoff time. For a long stretch, my heart rate is between 165 to 175 (which is my max age-calculated heartrate). I am happy that I did not need to take the bus. I have issues with my both legs. At the last 100m, I can neither walk properly nor run properly but I managed to sprint the last 50m. Hope some photographer took my picture.
According to the news, 31 participant hospitalized (15 dismissed today). I saw a folk in really terrible shapes, like lying on the road side motionless while attended by the medic.
The organiser did not do a good job in water. At two stations, there is no cup, they ask people to just scoop water from the plastic container and drink. Think about many people put their hands into the container...
They also run out of banana and chocolate (only managed to get one chocolate).
But the resource at the finish point is good, plenty of water, pears, banana. Goodie bag is distributed with isotonic drink, banana, pear, energy bar, coupons.
But at the end, there is a surprise - a finisher's medal!!! They don't have it in the last two year. This is gonna to be one of the treasured medal.
