Chiang Mai Marathon 2011

The web site for the Chiang Mai Marathon  is viewable here   The 6th annual Chiang Mai Marathon, half marathon and 10k runs were held on Christmas day.

Barbarian at the Gate

There were three categories for entry: Thai residents, Foreigners living in Thailand and Foreigners visiting. The entry fee for the latter being three times that for a Thai. The only on - line registration was through a tour company and that closed Nov 20th. Otherwise a paper copy had to be filed. The marathon web site had in enlarged highlighted print that foreigners could pay cash at the Three Kings Monument on Dec 23 & 24. I interpreted this to mean that a foreigner could register at that time. I had printed the appropriate form off some time ago but decided to check it and the web site on Dec 19. The cash pay and start and finish had been changed from Three Kings to Thapae Gate. But I noticed in smaller print the entry fee schedule only showed dates up to the 20th. Bells went off that the 20th must be the cut off date and my assumption about registering with cash payment on 23rd and 24th was wrong. There was no explicit statement of when registration closed. There was a Bangkok address at the bottom of the form and seemed to indicate that a paper registration had be be sent to that place. I emailed Bangkok asking whether I had to get a paper copy to them even though paying in Chiang Mai. The answer seemed to be yes. I faxed my app. And sent another e-mail telling them I had faxed it and to confirm receipt. I got e-mail back asking me to fax (so I assumed they had not received); so I faxed a second and asked for confirmation. I never did get confirmation but at the payment desk and package pick-upon the 23rd I discovered I was registered twice. As it turned out it seems that I could have registered and paid at Thapae Gate.

Paying and Package Pick U

 The run started at 4:00 AM for marathoners and one hour later for half marathoners.

Fuzzy 4:00AM Starters

The route followed the moat about half way round and then off onto a road leading to Chiang Mai University and then out on the superhighway. In parts where street lighting was poor it got a little dark but overall it was ok. The event was quite well organized but no porta potties. Post run food was rice and pork or rice and chicken. Neither of these dishes is something I want to eat for breakfast nor after running 21 km. I was surprised that given the abundance and variety of fruits in this area that there were no fruit trays at the finish.

Red Line is route - the square is the moat

My run went well. I had no target time and wanted to focus on being relaxed and lifting my feet. I finished without experiencing any muscle pain during the run and without having 'gasping' breathing. So, my technique seemed to work as I think that's a first. My time was slower than my average for the other four half marathons I ran in 2011 but that is ok. Distance adjusted , I estimate a finish in 2:10. I say 'distance adjusted' because the actual distance according to two runners with GPS was 22.3 km and not 21.1.

And a job well done!

I talked to an Aussie who had placed third in his age category for the full marathon. He said the event was better organized than the previous year when the course distances were shorter than regulation. He told me that last year the organizers had invited some Africans who went out ahead of the pack and ahead of the marshals – and got lost – and ran an extra eight kilometres and still finished ahead of everyone else! Oh ya, I forgot. Half marathoners got a shirt for registering and a medal for finishing. Full marathoners also got sign up shirt and finishing medal; but also got a shirt for finishing. Apparently all finishers get a certificate in the mail.