Great Wall Half Marathon or Yangzhou Half Marathon

Well, a group of guys who ran the Great Wall Half Marathon are planning on making a trip back to run the wall again. They have invited me to run with them. I few years ago when I would come to China on business, I thought about running this half marathon. It really interested me to think about running on the wall. This year the marathon will be run on May 16th.

There is another spring half marathon that is run closer to home. It is the Yangzhou Half Marathon. This half marathon will be held on April 26. It is located about an hour away from Nanjing.

The Great Wall half would be something special to run. Not everyone gets to run the wall. The only downside to this event is that it is suited mainly for foreign runners. I consider the price to be quite high and definitely out of budget. As an expat living in China, it would cost me 6155 RMB ($898 US) to make the trip to Beijing by train, stay in a four star hotel for three nights, do the recon trip and then do the run. For this price, I am sure I will not be running with many locals. I would hate to see the price people pay for this trip just to come to China to run the wall. It is truly sold and costs like a once in a lifetime event.

The Yangzhou half is an annual event. It starts and finishes inside a stadium, with a tour of Yangzhou. This race will definitely have many locals running along side many professionals. I calculate the budget to be below 1500 RMB ($219 US) to make the trip by train or bus, stay one night in a four star hotel, and then do the run. I could consider this a once in a lifetime event. Maybe with the present economic crisis, I won't be here to run it next year.

Well, I am considering running Yangzhou. I would be able to run with the locals. In these economic times it is the frugal and correct event to choose and it could quite possibly be a once in a lifetime event.

What would you do?

2008 Shanghai Marathon

Well, it has been a little over a week since the Shanghai Marathon. It turned out to be a beautiful day to run. It was a little chilly, but blue clouds and very sunny. I was very excited and motivated to run. It would be a very packed day with over 13,000 runners for the half marathon and the full marathon. Another 7,000 would run the 4.5 km fun run.

I would say it was a case of all the usual suspects running in the Marathon. Above you can see Team Delphi up bright and early ready for the long run. All of us participated in the Hangzhou Half Marathon and were ready to go three weeks later with our second half marathon in November.

The start of the Shanghai Marathon is something really special. The elite runners are separated from the rest of the field by group of soldiers. When the marathon starts, the elite runners start running along with all the soldiers and the rest of the field. After about one hundred meters, the soldiers pull of the course and the race is on.

Here you can see the group of soldiers that would start the race with us. They would have to run pretty fast with about 13,000 people running behind them. The actual starting lane for all these people is actually quite small for the number of runners starting the race. In Houston, we had one three lane street for just the half marathon runners. In Hangzhou, we also had a three lane street for all the runners. Here it is pretty important to be close to the front. Even though your chip time is recorded, all results are based on your gun time. So if you are close to the two hour cut-off for the extra prize you have five minutes less to finish. Even worse if you are close to the three hour cut-off to be listed as a finisher, you better finish five minutes earlier.

As you can see, a sea of people waiting for the start of the race. There is really no place to stretch or warm up. At least it was nice and warm with all of us so close together. As we got closer to the start of the race, all of us would get excited and compress even closer.

Here I am in the sea of people all smiles and ready to run. The excitement fills the air and you get so pumped to start the race, that you have to remember not to go all out on the first couple of kilometers.

This year my training had been much better than the previous year. I was expecting to be able to run the race under 1:50. I was a little bit nervous because the last two weeks, the training had not been very good. I missed my 14 mile long run and only done 13 miles a week for the last two weeks. Rain showers had messed up my schedule and my longest run after Hangzhou was 9 miles. I was really not to sure how I would do.

The race started and I was feeling pretty good, so I let my own body set the pace and I would just glance down and see how I was at the mile alerts on my Garmin GPS. I was doing excellent. The first eight miles I was running eight minute miles. I was on track to better my Houston Marathon time. On the ninth mile I had began to slow. By the tenth mile I started to feel a slight pain in my left ilio band. This feeling is not a pleasant feeling and I know that in minutes you can go from running to walking. I slowed down the pace and finished the half marathon with a respectable 1:48:47 gun time, 799th place.

I think I really needed those last two weekends of long runs to keep the legs and the ilio band in shape and used to the fatigue. Well, at least I was able to break last years mark by about a full nine minutes.

Last year I received a finisher's certificate and a pair of 95 RMB ($13.87 US) Win-DO running shoes for finishing under two hours. This year, it was a pleasant surprise to receive a finisher's medal as well as the finisher's certificate. For finishing under two hours, I received a Mizuno Cap and a Mizuno wrist band.

On a sad note, the first death for the Shanghai Marathon was recorded in this half marathon. He collapsed about 200m before the finish line. The half marathon race is not a distance you want to run without a good deal of training before hand. Death is the worst that can occur, but there are many other injuries that can result from not training correctly. So if you plan to run the half be sure to find a training plan and train hard for the race. I have found running this distance very fulfilling and I will run the distance next year somewhere on this world!

Hangzhou Half Marathon

Last Sunday was the Hangzhou International Marathon. It included four events. These were the full marathon (42K), the half marathon (21K), short marathon (13.8K), and mini marathon (6.8K). The theme was Run Along Beautiful Scenery. The race would start at the Huang Long Sports Center with a beautiful run around West Lake to the beautiful Six Harmonies Pagado and then back around the other side of the lake. It was truly a beautiful run, but also a painful run for someone who has always lived and run in the flat lands.



As you can see, the race course had various elevation changes. Even nearing the finish, there were small short steep bridges considered as part of the "flat" section. Those little steep bridges would add salt to the wound.

So Saturday we were off to Hangzhou. We had decided to take the bus. Train was not an option due to time limitations. The bus station is similar to bus stations across Mexico, except there were many more buses leaving and arriving to many destinations all over China. I think many foreigners use the bus, but today at 9:00 am we were the only foreigners to be found in the bus station. The bus took two hours to arrive at Hangzhou.

Once we arrived we had to purchase the return tickets for the next day. There were about 10+ lines full of people purchasing tickets. Here we were able to use our Chinese and purchase the tickets without much difficulty.

After purchasing the tickets, we would queue up in the taxi line. This line was extremely long and we waited 20-25 minutes as many, many taxis queued up and took many passages all over the city. We would take a 25 minute taxi ride to our Hotel and then off to the stadium for my runners package.

I asked one of the guards in Chinese where the package pick up for the marathon was located. He pointed us out in the right direction. I would say the pick-up location was what you can call a hole in the wall. There were no real signs, we just walked from one side of the stadium until I decided to peek around the corner and there it was! I just call it plain luck.

The rest of the afternoon was spent finding a Pizza Hut to load up on spaghetti and walking around a shopping mall. Dinner was spent with a few friends from Shanghai who came to race the following day. We ate at a delicious Chinese restaurant in the Xi Hu Tian Di right by West Lake. We would call it an early night and get ready for the big day.

Above you can see Team Delphi ready for the Half Marathon. This event would be the first half marathon for both Freddy and Nina. Ravi would be competing in his second half. Well, Sagar, Bill, and I have each done a few. This event would be my fifth half marathon.

Keeping with the Olympic spirit of 2008. I would run in the official Chinese Team T-shirt. It is made by Adidas and it is Climalite to help dissipate sweat from the skin. In fact I was in full Adidas gear except for my Asics Nimbus running shoes. This year I purchased some new running socks because my good long run socks are starting to develop holes in them. I did run a few long runs with them, but when it came down to the race, I stuck with the old Adidas socks which have now made it through countless long runs and five half marathons. I guess I am superstitious.

The weather was beautiful. It was perfect for a nice long run. A little chilly, but not extremely cold. The sun was out, so I decided I would run with my sunglasses.

There was some traditional dancing and music to get us ready for the long run!

Once the race started, the mass of people would start going. Even though we were the second group (behind the marathoners), we still had a very slow start. It was just as if everyone started moving forward, but walking. I picked up some speed by the quarter mile and was able to get into a very fast pace. I checked out my Garmin 305 results and for about .4 miles I was running under 7 minute miles. I know I was going fast, but with my Garmin 305 average mile display I still couldn't get the exact pace read-out. Beginning the second mile, my Garmin 305 had me at 7:30 pace. Using my Garmin 305, by the third mile I was at the pace I wanted run. I thought about the Houston Half Marathon (the best organized half I have run) and the pace setters yelling out the pace every mile. Here I was thinking about how the guys with balloons were keeping the pace. For a while, I was running with the guy with the blue balloons (4 hr marathon). He was definitely running faster than a 4 hr marathon. He had no running device to know pace, no pacers shouting out the pace every mile. I wonder what was his time for the marathon. Did he get close to the four hours?

It was a beautiful run around the lake. The first water stop was at the 5km point, then at each 2.5km interval. I had trained on my long runs only drinking water every 5km (Shanghai will be every 5km). So, I considered the extra water and sports drink a bonus and I felt I remained well hydrated throughout the whole race. As mentioned before, the race was a little hilly, but manageable.

After a nice long run, it feels good to come down the final straight with the finish line in sight and friends and family their to cheer. It felt good to complete the race.

I had finished the race in 1 hr 51 minutes 26 seconds. I figured it was an OK time for a little hilly route and also the fact that I am in the meat of the training program for Shanghai. Next weekend is the longest run on the training plan (14 miles), then two weeks of taper before Shanghai. I am hoping to improve this time. I hope the legs remain strong.

After the race, we had a our lunch and headed for the bus station to return home. Enclosed are some pics of the station and the bus we took home.

Health Certificate and Registration for Shanghai

The Shanghai Marathon committee requires every participate for the half marathon and full marathon to complete a physical examination to assure each person can compete in the event. The physical examination includes general health questions, a stethoscope examination for cardio function, blood pressure, and heart rate. The notes for the physical examination are on the entry form.

I think the most important thing on the entry form is your home address. Last year I had a colleague write my address in Chinese, while others I know who ran wrote in their address in English. I was the only person who received the results book for the Marathon. It is a pretty thick book. For the half marathon alone there were 67 pages of finishers for the male category and 14 pages of finishers for the female category. So I hope any of you local runners put your address in Chinese.

Well today I woke up bright and early to complete my physical examination for the Shanghai Marathon (As you all know, I will be competing in the half). My driver today picked my running buddy Ravi and I up and took us to the Kowloon Hospital here in Suzhou. She took us right up to the front of the building and parked at the front door and went in with us to help us out with our Chinese. My driver does not speak any English. Actually, I speak very little Chinese, but she happens to understand my terrible Chinese and translate it into Chinese that people can understand.

We were led around by a nurse to the different areas of where the tests were to be conducted. In China, you queue in different lines where the different tests are conducted. It is very similar to an assembly line. Also, no privacy. It is more efficient in the fact that in about 20 minutes the whole process is complete. Not much more even if you have to include a blood test and urinalysis (you do get to do this in private) and x-rays. These would just be additional stations. I think it is an excellent process that follows the Toyota System without every having to have consults come in and make the process lean. I remember when I arrived the complete physical was done in less than 30 minutes. Something that took three to four hours back home. Both physicals included all the same tests!

So first we had our blood pressure and pulse checked. The blood pressure is checked at the hospital with a machine similar to what would be found in a Walmart or HEB Food Store back home. The machine shows your blood pressure and pulse. I am not sure how accurate these machines are. My blood pressure was 130/82 and my pulse was 62. I thought that my systolic pressure was a little too high. I'm not sure if that's from me moving in the machine or watching my money disappear in the stock market.

Then the nurse took us to see the doctor. We stood in the queue behind several people. She told the doctor that we were here for a check-up to compete in the marathon. That got every one's attention and then they were staring at both of us. Well, the line was all the way up to her desk. She would consult and everyone could here her consultation to each patient. The doctor did speak English and ask me if anything was bothering me. I said no I had no problems. Then she checked my heart with her stethoscope and signed my entry form.

The last step of the process is the most important. The official seal from the hospital. The doctor does not put these seal on your entry form. You have to go to a special little room and get someone else to stamp your form. Then, the process is complete.

The whole exam cost 18 RMB ($2.63 US). In the US, I would $90 US for a doctor's visit. The costs in the US are really ridicules. That's why health care is so expensive.

We had finished our exam and I wanted to go to the bank to take out some money for registration in Shanghai. We passed the Genway building and their was a big line of people outside the Human Resources building. I'm wondering if the line had to do with increased unemployment in Suzhou. Not sure.

Later on in the day I traveled to Shanghai and officially registered both of us for the half marathon. This year, the price has increased. I remember paying 100 RMB last year. This year I payed 200 RMB. My bib number will be 6398. I was quite happy with the number. It ends in an eight.

I am almost ready to run. Wish me luck!

Shanghai Duathlon

This was the third annual Shanghai Di Shui Lake Duathlon. I actually registered for the event over a month ago. I thought it would be good preparation for the double marathon goal of running both the Hangzhou Half Marathon and the Shanghai Half Marathon in November. The event consists of a 5 km run, 42.5 km bike, 10 km run.

My training for this event was decent. I would do my normal marathon training runs. I would add a 26 km bike leg after a short run and sometimes i would run 10 km and do a 26 km bike ride. I also did a few long mountain bike rides and I competed in the 140 km Qing Dao Lake Road Race (another story). Even with this training I felt really nervous. The distance is extremely long, so I put a simple goal of completing the event in three hours including transition time. I figured 30 minutes for the 5 km, one hour and a half for the 42.5 km, and 60 minutes for the 10 km. I figured I should be able to fit transition time somewhere in there without affecting the goal.

Here we are at the race site. Bill, Freddy, and Me ready to compete. The only thing that comes to mind when I see this picture is the lack of pain in our faces.

The race started of with the 5 km. I really wanted to run 8:05 pace. I thought a fast start would be good and set the tempo for the rest of the race. Thanks to my Garmin Forerunner 305, I was able to keep the pace and both Bill and I finished the first 5 km in 26 minutes. I was pretty happy, but already feeling the effort in my legs.

I had planned the transitions to be very quick. I had not really practiced transition before, but from my previous two mini-triathlons and short duathlon, I had learned that too much time in transitions can be very costly. For the first transition, the plan was to put on my bike helmet, stuff a granola bar in the back of my shorts, and change my shoes.

Here I am in the transition area. The plan worked nicely and I was very quickly on the bike. The first few miles on the bike were getting my legs used to the different feeling. After running a 5 km pretty fast and jumping on the bike, my legs take a few to get used to the new motion.

Just info for some of you bike enthusiasts, I now ride a Specialized Tarmac FACT Carbon bike with Shimano 105 components and an Ultegra Rear derailleur. Another interesting fact, the white rear water bottle was actually used in the Olympics by Carlos Coloma of Spain. Isaac picked it up as a souvenir at the Olympics.

I tried to ride pretty fast around the bike course. The wind was very strong in some sections. It would just sap your energy. I tried to conserve energy against the wind and then power when I was with the wind. It was a very hard effort. I knew that I also could not push myself harder because there were still 10 km of running left after the cycling. I averaged 29.4 km per hour over the 42.5 km. I was able to finish the biking section in one hour and 26 minutes.

The second transition also went well. I returned my bike, took off my helmet, and changed my shoes.

The second 10 km went real slow. My legs felt like bricks. The previous two hours of running and biking had taken their toll on my legs. I was pushing legs that no longer wanted to move. I could feel the pain. I was not alone. I would look at the faces of the other runners and see the same pain in their faces. Some had to walk, others would trot. I ran the last 10 km in 58:54.

Here I am running the last 1/4 mile. I always have in my head that once I pass the finish line the suffering will end. It is the will to suffer and knowing how deep you can suffer that helps do these long events. I think this thought is what made Lance Armstrong so good. He had suffered through cancer and cheated death. Suffering through the Tour de France would never equal the pain and agony he went through with Cancer. Simply put, he was willing to suffer more than all the other riders.

Here I am reaching the end of the suffering. It feels good to see the finish line in site. It even feels better to have my son running beside me as I reach the finish line. It reminded me of near the end of the Houston Half Marathon in 2007. I was nearing the finish line and I was getting tired. My son, out of no where, started to run with me and cheer me on in Houston. It gave me that extra energy to pick up the pace and finish strong in Houston.

Family and friend support is very important in these long races. I could hear my wife cheering me on while I went speeding by on the bike. This type of cheering gives you the extra effort to keep it going, especially when the mind starts to tell the body it doesn't want to feel the pain anymore.

All the hard work for a little medal. No it's not gold, but it comes with the satisfaction of finishing the event. My unofficial Garmin time was 2:57:22. The results have not been posted, but I did sign my card after the finish and it was just about the same time.

The official photographer of this race was my dear and loving wife Sonia. She took really good pictures and has made this blog entry come to life.