Penang Bridge Marathon - Part 3

The main tent is full of runners after the run. Avoiding the sun, the runners were seated further into the tent.
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Looking Around for Friends

It was indeed a difficult task to look for our runner friends in the sea of runners. While I was stationed at the finishing point taking photos, the other runner friends (that came with me in the same car) were looking for me. Meeting friends is by luck – we just bumped into one another.
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Going back to our cars - Tony, Michelle, San, Christine and Shih Ming... crossing the highway

When walking with Tony, Siok Bee, Michelle, Christine, Shih Ming and San back to the car (crossing the highways; luckily, no cars then due to closure of roads), I realized that a few other members where still at the happening place. Since I was the Transport Officer, I have to walk back to the finishing area again. After a few futile attempts walking around the whole area, suddenly, Kelvin (a member of carpool) was right in front of me.
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Good location - The finishing point is just next to the beach
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Sarjit and Brother

While walking around, I met Sarjit and Dave (both are Pacesetters Runners) chatting under the main tent. Sarjit told me that that they were adventurous this time: they took a bus from Kuala Lumpur to Penang and then took a taxi to Queensbay Mall. They camped next to the main tent by the sea and they have dinner in the shopping complex. The next morning, they just changed and get ready for the run. Well, that was really an excellent idea; no need to worry much about accommodation; how to go to the starting point without having been caught when the roads are closed for the event at 2:00 a.m.
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Presentation of awards to the Champions. The numbers of lucky draws were displayed on the big screen, clearly visible from far.

Drinks Station

The usual sports drink stations such as Milo and 100-Plus were busy serving drinks to runners. There was so much to go round that the 100-Plus station was still serving cold drinks even at 12 noon. Old Town coffee was there serving hot coffee, distributing apples and bananas too. There were many other booths that would keep the runners busy looking around.
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Digi Mobile Phone Station

Credit goes to Digi station and the DJ who kept the whole area entertained with the lively music and announcement. The DJ was playing the catchy tune of ‘I will follow you” most of the time. However, the strange situation happened: when Mr. Lim Guan Eng, the Chief Minister of Penang was giving a keynote address of the event (about 50 meters away), the music at the Digi station continued blaring.
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The Crowd Puller

The runners were very supportive of the event and continue to wait after coming back from the run. The main secret: the grand prize of the lucky draw was a Proton Saga car while the second prize was a motorbike. Everyone was waiting patiently for that moment of truth.
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Mr. Lim Guan Eng is giving a keynote address

Just before the presentation of awards to the champions (of each category), Mr. Lim Guan Eng was invited to give a speech. And part of his speech, he mentioned about the famous Penang food, which is one of the good ingredients of pulling tourists to Penang.

Next was the presentation of trophies and medals to the Champions. When the fifth placing was announced for Women’s half marathon, Shih Ming, who is from our group, was still not around yet. She went back with the other group members to refresh and to bring her identity card for receiving the prize money. She emerged at the podium just when the photo session was over.

The runners waited, and waited and waited. Finally, the draws for the top five prizes were announced. It was quite an exciting moment listening to the announcer calling out part of the number. For every partial number being called, many would be disappointed while others were excited until the last number was confirmed. Each of the top five prizes was called more than once as the lucky (or unlucky) runners have gone home. So other than the finishing line, we can see the moment of hope and despair here too.

Next Penang Bridge Run – it was announced that it would be staged on 29 November 2009. I think it is too close to Singapore International Marathon.

Mr. Lim is seated second from left
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Joanne - a very 'yow yeng' pose after successfully completed her maiden 25km run.

One for the photo: Joanne, Doris, Kelvin, Chooi Wan and Meicee.
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Dory... It was a coincidence that we met at the main tent. She is an engineer working near Bayan Lepas. Click here to read the story from her blogsite.
. The Penang Bride - We were running there hours before.

To be continued ...

Posted by KC