Report: 6th Penang International 12 Hours Walk

By Aiman Cheah

Venue: Esplanade, Penang
Date: 8-9 October 2011
Time: 8.00p.m. - 8.00 a.m.
Category: Men Junior Veteran
Distance Covered: 51 laps or 54.978km
Position: 12th
Organiser: Penang Veteran Athletes Association and MMK Belia Dan Sukan Pulau Pinang

I was quite confident of doing around 70 laps despite inadequate training. I did 21km on Thursday and felt good. 8.4km and took a break to fetch my son. Continued with 6.3km and break before Maghrib and continued for another 6.3km after prayers. That was my only long distance walk and the JDP was quite of a help too. So far as there was no sore muscle....indication is good.

Missed the bus at Pudu Central....bus left earlier than scheduled. When I took a taxi to Hentian Duta, the bus was already there at 11.12a.m. Only 4 passengers and I believe they boarded from Pudu Central.

"Passed out" once in the bus as I was having sleeping debt. Need to be fresh as I wouldn't be sleeping through out the night.

I was surprised that there were not many participants despite the inclusion of boys and girls categories. The event used to attract more than 400 participants. Well, no complaint of having less participants - less congestion for the first few laps, easier access for toilet and food.

Glad to see Yu Song and Mr Chin Phoay Foon. Only see him in this event. It has been 4 years since I last see Mr Chin.


With Yu Song and her daughter

The first 2 hours was good as I was on target for the 70 laps. Took power gel after the first hour. Took a gulp of water every 3 laps. After I hour and a half, felt hungry. Stopped for banana and sandwich almost every lap. Muscles still felt good.

The next two hours were challenging. The rain was somewhat a blessing in disguise earlier. My shirt was very smelly. Almost vommitted when I rubbed my nose against my shoulder. Thought the rain would wash away the smell and any way, I needed to change my clothes.

The strategy was to stay in the rain till the rain stop. Unfortunately the rain did not seem to stop and Mr Chin put it nicely when I asked him how long would it normally rain in Penang. Indefinately! Yes, he was right. It rained until the event was over. Drizzling during the prize giving ceremony and come to a complete stop around noon when I checked out of the motel.

I was forced to stop because I was shivering and I could hardly walk. I decided to pit and changed. Only pair of shoes but another set of clothing. Went out again for 2 laps when it began to drizzle. On the second lap, it starts to pour again and I decided to pit.

Still very eager to continue as I keep myself moving just in case the system jammed! During the break I took the opportunity to eat and rest and eat hoping to be energized and go full trottle to do the catching up. But it was a fat hope. Dropped from jont 5th placing in the 4th hours to 17th in 8th hours.

Greeted by Mr Danny Tan while waiting for the rain to stop. We had a good chat and Mr. P.F Chin called it a day because his shoes had protested for any more distance.

With 2 hours 15 minutes left, I thought I better joined the party. The weather was kinder to me.... drizzling and at times it went a little heavy but since my body was already warm and the wind was no longer strong, I no longer felt cold. Others were 'impressed' with my speed. Who couldn't go fast after resting for and a half hours?

I must than Mr Fau Ah Kau for pacing me. I would have missed the final lap because I was getting slower after the 44th lap. He paced with me and both of us did manage to complete before the cut off time.



Hope to return again. The event was well organized except there was no spot light at the mat. Could not read my watch due to dim light. There was no big digital clock to assist participants too.


Result - Men Junior Veteran

Result - Men Senior Veteran

Lap	Time	Split
1	0:08:10	8:10
2	0:16:07	7:57
3	0:24:05	7:58
4	0:32:05	8:00
5	0:39:51	7:46
6	0:48:39	8:48
7	0:56:36	7:57
8	1:04:56	8:20
9	1:13:09	8:13
10	1:21:00	7:51
11	1:29:09	8:09
12	1:37:19	8:10
13	1:45:46	8:27
14	1:54:48	9:05
15	0	0
16	2:15:16	20:28
17	2:24:12	8:56
18	2:34:19	10:0
19	2:43:18	8:59
20	2:52:20	9:02
21	3:02:13	9:53
22	3:12:08	9:55
23	3:21:27	9:19
24	3:31:02	9:35
25	3:40:18	9:16
26	3:48:56	8:38
27	3:58:09	9:13
28	4:07:51	9:12
29	4:17:54	10:03
30	4:29:41	11:47
31	4:39:33	9:52
32	4:51:54	12:21
33	5:23:44	12:17
34	5:32:07	9:38
35	9:44:12	4:07:15
36	9:51:36	7:24
37	9:59:00	7:24
38	10:06:14	7:14
39	10:13:53	7:39
40	10:21:41	7:48
41	10:29:32	7:51
42	10:37:49	8:17
43	10:46:28	8:39
44	10:55:11	8:43
45	11:04:08	8:57
46	11:15:37	11:29
47	11:24:05	8:28
48	11:32:10	8:05
49	11:40:29	8:19
50	11:49:33	8:04
51	11:55:30	6:57

Yr/Dist	2ndHr	4thHr	6thHr	8thHr	10thHr	12thHr	Total
2005	15laps	11laps	12laps	11laps	10laps	10laps	69laps
	16.17km	11.86km	12.94km	11.86km	10.78km	10.78km	74.38km
2006	14laps	12laps	12laps	11laps	10laps	11laps	70laps
	15.09km	12.94km	12.94km	11.86km	10.78km	11.86km	75.46km
2007	14laps	11laps	8laps	12laps	12laps	8laps	65laps
	15.09km	11.86km	8.62km	12.94km	12.94km	8.62km	70.07km
2009	16laps	12laps	12laps	9laps	10laps	8laps	67laps
	16km	12km	12km	9km	10km	8km	67km
2011	14laps	13laps	7laps	0laps	3laps	14laps	51laps
	15.09km	14.01km	7.55km	0km	3.23km	15.09km	54.97km

..Pictures courtesy of runnwalk.multiply.com