Report: 2nd Penang International 12 Hour Walk

I thought walk is more easier than running.. Wrong! Guess. You cannot simply compare the distance of walking and running. Yes! The distance of walking and running within 2 hours are different but the painful of walking is more.



That was my experience after finish 2nd Penang International 12 hour Walk at Padang Kota last Saturday. Actually i managed to walk only 6:00.05 hour cover exactly 32.34 km with 31 - 1 laps clocked by my ChampionChip. After being disqualified by official by 1 lap. They caught me while running. Actually I run not because to chase or finish early but to loose my leg cramp. Anyway I deserved that and no heart feeling.




When to Padang Kota with SP runners, Mr. Teoh and Janggut. Pick-up PM23 after registered and went to Baru Ferringi for laksa.

Race starts at 8:00pm, 7:30 after finish my Mabrib & jama' isya' change to running gears and warm-up a bit. Meet-up with KB, Becholi and other SP & BM (Bkt Mertajam) runners.




The route cover 1,078 metre to walk around Padang Kota, Jalan Padang Kota Lama - Light Street - Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah - The Esplanade. Food and drinks were enough and well served to walkers and can have it when ever they like, when passing by at pit stop. There were plain water, 100+, Milo, nescafe, oranges, apples, kuih, bread, cheese, boiled eggs, nasi lemak, nasi campur except nasi kandar. And fried bihoon & mee for breakfast. Hehehe.. beside walking we all also having a great Pesta Makan.



1-2 laps, nobody stop for drinks, after more laps... drinking cups already finish and volunteer (who incharge for drink section) have to recycle by picking up in trash.

My first lap clock 9 minutes ++, so calculate.. for an hour i could finish 6 laps or 6km. 2hour = 12km, 3hour = 18, and to achieve 42km (as my target) need to walk for 7hour. Wow! That is too long.



Mid-night 11pm after 3 hour, a few walkers enter the pit stop and enjoy feast. My right leg starts mumbling. Sometimes i did a slow jog 2-3 metre only to loose the pain.
"A003! You were running.. Check out!" said an official

And suddenly heard an announcement..
"Abdul Haris Shariff from Malaysia.. 16 laps". and so on..
"The highest laps after 3 hours was 22 and the lowest laps was 11."

12pm (4 hour), more walkers hit pit stop and enjoy supper. Some of them asking aid from St. John. The funny thing I saw.. Got a guy smoking while walking and he asked permission for official.. Granted! and continue walking.

Current walking laps result was pasted near crossing line. Result were update every 2 hours.



1pm (5 hour).
I stopped for a while, remove shoes, rub a bit on my toes and legs, warm-down to loose the pain. Already got two blisters. Head to pit stop and having proper supper with nasi lemak and drinks. Take a break for 15 minutes.



30th laps.
My legs were cramps. I'm really scared if same cramps happen after I did long run after fast month. It took me 2 months ++ to recover. Don't want to jeopardise in this walk event. My main obstacles right now, to train and finish my first marathon in KLIM.

31st laps.
Since I been disqualified 1 round, so continue finish another 1 laps for a pay-back and complete my 30th laps officially. I was struggling to finish it. It takes more than 15 minutes for a lap, compare to my first lap which takes less than 10 minute. Walking like robot and kengkang some more. Sweat, none already... sudah kering gila. Shoes getting hotter and hottest.

Then janggut passing by..
"Come Haris... Because You Can!" aiikk.. sound familiar this slogan..
Then said to myself..
"Enough lah.. this not right time to kamikaze. Got KLIM on the road.."

After 31st laps, stop and gantung my shoes. Had meal again and take a nap for an hour in car.



3pm (7 hour), a few walkers change their second shoes. Those who didn't bring backup... they change also.. Walking with slippers. Like I said before, the shoes getting hotter and hottest. Blisters.. It's more than one. Janggut (24 hours run finisher) got 2 big red blisters cover whole both flat foots, he asking St. John volunteers to put a bandage and continue his walk with slipper!. Were that braveheart or kamikaze?..



There were alot of braveheart action here. Some of them walk with kengkang style, robot, slow motion and still walking until 8am. Got a lady, who continue walked after recover from unconscious and she was shouting and crying a loud for help at her last lap before 8am.

At 8.00am sharp, the President gave a gun shoot to end the 2nd Penang International 12 Hour Walk. Walking result..

RESULTS - (MAS unless stated)
Men's Open:
1 - Thevendra Ramanjuloo 93.786km,
2 - Mohd Hanizam Harun 90.552,
3 - Effendy Suhaili 89.474;

Jr Veteran:
1 - Vandenhoeck Alexander (Bel) 89.474,
2 - Cheah Sin Chor 81.928,
3 - Ng Huat Beng 79.772;

Sr Veteran:
1 - Abdul Wahid Kassim 84.084,
2 - Wong Boo Wit 76.538,
3 - Keshab Kumar Chhetri 76.538.

Women's Open:
1 - Emily Stecker 67.914,
2 - Lai Nancy 61.446,
3 - Ling King Choo 60.368;

Jr Veteran:
1 Wong Siu-Ching (HK) 74.382,
2 Yeung Man Chun (HK) 73.304,
3 Fung Yuk Ling (HK) 72.226;

Sr Veteran:
1 - Lim Mooi Kiang 73.304,
2 - Tan Hoi Tiang 71.148,
3 - Wong Ha Mooi 67.914.

If given a choice to run or walk for 30km... Definitely I will choose RUNNING!.