STANDARD CHARTERED MARATHON @ 2nd DECEMBER 2007

I feel so honored to be about to participate in Standard Chartered Marathon 2007. Nup nup! I did not run 42.195km (I think I will be bedridden for 5 days if I ran for such a journey). By participating, I mean I was a volunteer, helping up at one of the Drink Station. It was a mega event! 40 000 runners from 52 nationalities took part! Wooo....

Although the marathon started at 530am, we had to be at Padang by 1am. We collected our tee and a bag of snacks for our breakfast. The tee was an Adidas crew neck tee. It was not ugly but too large. Still, I was kinda disappointed to get it cos the polo tee version was nicer! Haha. After we changed and gathered, we proceeded on to East Coast Park where our Drink Station (Drink Station 13) was situated. We shifted boxes of Ice Mountain and paper cups, but most of the times... we had nothing much to do. Haha. So Densie, Van and me chatted and joked around to keep ourselves occupied. We didn't get to watch the sunrise due to obstruction. =[

We got ready with all the cups and drinks, and waited anxious for our first "patron". Finally at 630 am, we had news that they were approaching!! We were so excited!! My gosh.. A few cars drove passed and announced that runners were closing and we had to stand by. Soon, the next car appeared. This one was special. It had digital clock on its roof. 1hr and XXmins it read. Then then... we could see the first runner! A black! I didn't give much thought but cheered as my anxiety got to the max! When he ran passed the drink station and grabbed a drink. I was stunned! He didn't not slow down to get a cup. Instead he maintained his speed and tried to grab one. If he failed, he would grab another one from the next table. A group of Kenya runners came along. They did the same. The moment they ran past, it was chaotic I tell you. Water was splashing and spilling everywhere as they did grab for their drinks in hurry. This is my first time seeing professional runners ran, I didn't know they are so professional, even for such a minor thing! Indeed an eye-opener!

After the elite runner group, the main body started to get closer. Van and I shifted to the first table. At there, it was a different kind of chaos. A lot of runners slowed down for a drink. The speed that we were filling the cups could not match their thirst. We had to work fast till the extend that we just poured without proper aiming. The whole table was so flooded. And I think I clumsily spilled quite a fair bit of water on Van (sorry van...)! Our clothes and shoes were all wet! But it was worth it. The runners worked so hard, I think the least we could do is to provide them some comfort.

Some runners were sweet! As we cheered for them, some said "thank you" despite the rush. Some thanked us for the drinks. Others voluntarily dumped their cups in our trash bags as we were picking up the cups from the ground! Of course, there were not so sweet people. The most "hated" one, I guess, got to be the last couple. Haha. We were sleepy and tired from having nothing to do after the crowd died off. We were looking forward for the last runner so we could pack up and go home. Our leader told us to look out for a car with clock like the first car. When the car finally appeared, this teen couple, who happened to be the last, was happily strolling, brisk walking and chatting on the way. One of the officials from the escort car signaled to us all kinda booing signs at them. You can't blame him really, cos the couple was strolling and laughing, feeling no pressure from by the fact that they were the last and the escort car was close behind them. Haha.

Nonetheless, I was so glad to be there to gain such an experience. I do not mind to join again as a helper next year. But.. for marathon participants, I guess many years later ba. I think I will need a whole day to cover the distance. If I join, I think they can only wrap up at night. Haha. Lastly, I want say I am happy to be at the marathon, to witness the Kenya runners doing stuff that they are good, and to raise from their subordination to prove that they have their strength and do not always have to depend on others for aid to survive. GO go go!!!