The Great Run - The 2010 Penang Bridge International Marathon (PBIM)

I was never the avid runner like those who runs with a passion, who can finish a full marathon in like 3 and a half hours with muscles built up their thigh and calfs that you can spot those muscular legs from across the street.

I always like running as a simple exercise. All I need is a pair of shoes and with my headphones, with Fall Out Boy & Funeral for a Friend on my playlist, then off I go.

I came across the PBIM (Penang Bridge International Marathon) back in July, then I thought it would be cool that I could participate. I signed myself up online here.

Weeks passed, with a couple of training session at a nearby park which I could do some rounds in the evenings, I received a goodie bag last week, just a week before the event.

Few things in the bag, Running Bib with 4 pins, running chip (to be tied on to your shoe), a singlet, and some gifts from the sponsors. There is a New Balance 30% discount voucher that is worth mentioning here.

Here is how the contents looks like.

The runner's timing chip that you tie onto your shoes with your shoelaces. The chip looks like this.

And for those who like wearing a yellow sexy singlet to run (not really my kind of thing), here is how the front piece look like.

and the back looks like this.

For different categories, the color of the singlet will be different. For full marathon (42km) participants are given light blue singlets, for half marathon (21km) the men are given yellows and women are given red singlets. For the less challenging 10 km run are given green singlets and for fun run participants are given a T shirt.

There is another gear which I usualy would bring along is my HRM (Hear Rate Monitor) which I can track my hear rate as well as the burnt workout that I did, so that I wouldn't over do myself and pass out on the Penang Bridge with people come after me with a stretcher. That piece of gear looks like this, it is basically a watch and a chest band that will show my hear rate when I run.

The events starts early in the morning and I understand there will be a concert being held tonight, before the run begins. My only hope is that I will be able to complete my 21 km in 3 and a half hours so that I can get my medal.

Better get some shut eyes now.