Training Log Archive: dkonotopetz

Galaxy Entertainment Macau International Marathon

I was up at 3:00 am. I ate a Cliff Bar while walking about 2 km. to the public bus stop by the Lisboa Casino. When I got to the bus stop at about 3:50 am. there were lots of runners lingering around wondering when the bus would arrive to take us to the start/finish area across the water at the national stadium. The bus arrived shortly after 4:00 am. and got us to the start/finish area at about 4:30 am. This meant that I had lots of time to get ready for the race, which was a good thing! The gun went off and race started early at 6:00 am., but late for a marathon by Thai standards. The temperature was 19°C with a north wind at 21 km./hr. I made my way out of the stadium and onto the road. I could not help but to notice the excellent condition of the roads (probably the smoothest of any roads that I have run on during a race). There were no cracks, holes or blemishes of any kind. I continued along and I tried to hold back, as to not get pulled along and end up running too fast early on. I was feeling good as I crossed the Governador Nobre de Carvalho Bridge as I contended with a headwind I tried to tuck myself behind some other runners to shield me from the wind. On the other side of the bridge I was in the main part of Macau and I ran past the Macau Tower. I was expecting some spectators, but there was almost none! Just before the 10 km. mark I took a gel and then passed the U-turn (the first of 6). I headed back past the Macau Tower and I took another gel just before the 16 km. mark. This was followed by U-turn #2 and a climb up the bridge that caused me to slow my pace slightly. The slight tail wind aided me across the bridge for about 1.5 km. I continued along to the U-turn #3 and I took a gel just past the 25 km. mark. By the 28 km. mark I could feel that my pace was slipping and it was difficult for me to maintain it. I passed U-turn #4 just before the 29 km. struggling a lot. I retraced my steps for earlier in the morning, as this part of the course was the same as the first 2 km. after exiting the stadium, but at this juncture I was feeling much worse. I took a gel just past the 30 km. mark, but it didn't seem to help much. I passed U-turn #5 just after 31 km. At 31.5 km. I had to take my first walking break as I had officially "hit the wall". I had very little energy and my legs were hurting. I struggled the rest of the way, as I had to take many walking breaks. I took a final gel just past 35 km. I passed the finial U-turn at 36.5 km. and I tried my best to run, but I was forced to do a run-walk cycle. I placed 211/903 overall and 30/110 in the Marathon Male B (30-35 age group). I was impressed with the nice Macau Marathon beach towel that all the finishers got and a very nice medal. Surprising how small this marathon is, given the close proximity to Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou!

Route: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7462876
Route Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYD84zwvPes
Results: https://www.macaomarathon.com/en/results?type=M&am...
Race Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIG70YWw_H4