Taipei Freeway Marathon 2010

Always a first time,

First time I...
- ran in a sandstorm
- ran against a 16knots headwind for half the race
- ran with an arsenal of a total 8km of training mileage
- ran a personal worst time of 2.49 from my watch (boo hoo, turning 40 this year has implications)
- saw Kenyan runners run with pain on their faces against the headwind. Made me feel that I am not all that crappy afterall!

Here's the article from Yahoo -

AFP/Chinese Taipei Road Running Assoc. Sun Mar 21, 6:43 am ET
TAIPEI (AFP) – Kenyan runners defied a severe sandstorm to win both the men's and women's titles in the Taipei Express Marathon Sunday, organisers said.

Henry Cherono crossed the line in two hours, 24 minutes and seven seconds, ahead of Taiwan's Chiang Chieh-wen, who clocked 2:27:37.

Cherono's compatriot Evelyne Kimuria won the women's title in 2:53:06.

Cherono's time was slower than his personal best of 2:12:11 and the Taipei Express's record of 2:16:41, set in 2005 by his compatriot David Kariuki.

Cherono said his run was hampered by strong winds that covered northern Taiwan in clouds of yellow dust, according to a statement released by the Chinese Taipei Road Running Association.

More than 1,500 people competed in the 42.2 kilometres (26.2 miles) event, while nearly 7,500 others took part in the half-marathon and other events.

Woo hoo!

On hindsight, I think I didn't run a 21k all 2009 (not sure), so this race felt good. Managed to get home, shower and make 10.30am morning mass (early too!). I am satisfied.