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Published: December 9th 2009
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A half marathon that made me happy to have legs
Arriving in Siem Reap rather late on Friday we decided just to settle in, as I had to pick up my race package before noon on Saturday, then we figured we would just amble about seeing the side of Siem Reap not many tourist get to see. As most of you know Siem Reap is renowned for the famous Angkor Wat temples, well most people come just to see that than leave. Adrian and I had both seen them before so we had already decided my Half Marathon through them would be more than enough, but right from arriving we were getting hassled about when we were going to see them and blah blah blah. After some broken English conversation we would EVENTUALLY explain to them we were just going on Sunday for me to run. They all thought I was crazy, by the way. One guy after I ran it was telling me his uncle was the fastest guy in Siem Reap even though he was tiny, he said one time this tall white guy got close and he would sprint way ahead then walk till the other guy caught up then sprint again and so on. And this sprang true on how the Khmers run I just could figure it out! Well any who every single tuk tuk driver who ask you about the temples, you could hardly walk two feet without being swarmed.
Either way we manage to get my race package alright, then spent a good chunk of the day prowling the market and turning down "Dr. Fish" massages (I don't know what happened in the two years I wasn't here but now every where is all about fish massages Bangkok included). Is was a nice pasta meal then an early night for the 5:30 am start we had awaiting us.
Again I woke up ready to go! Had purchased some fresh fruit and a sweet bread from breakie then we were off to the races. Getting there as the sun is just coming up, seeing tuk tuks and taxis lined up had my heart beating faster and starting to feel that amazing rush that only a race can give me. Only at the start area the sun was coming up beautifully over the lake and ancient temples. I was ready to go. 6:20 the gun goes off and starts the 21 k wheelchair race prior to my race and I am still in line for the loo, rushing in and out I run out with just time to had my sweater to Adrian and join the crowd as the gun goes. The run was amazing mostly shaded and fairly flat no qualms at all. But the first thing that gets me in the first kid in a wheelchair I pass, who is giving it his all. Each one I pass I run harder and vow never to complain of sore legs again because at least I have one, and one that work. As my dad put "I used to cry because I had no shoes until I saw a man with no feet." Around most corners a lovely group of Khmer children would greet you shouting "you can do it" and all wanting to slap your hand. I made it my own challange to high five every kid that stuck out their hand the whole race, and I can happily say I accomplished that one! I even had young girls had me bracelets saying "see bracelet now you can do it." Although I took my time with the heat, and wanting to soak up every image around me, I still finish with in my opinion a reasonable time of two and a half hours😊 All in all a great run! The other thing that go to me was the fact that there was an amputated leg 10k race as well with over 200 runners, all Khmer. And the first time for them was an even forty minutes, faster than I could even dream on being.
Taking it easy for the rest of the day, and night as we were bound to fly to Laos the next day we pretty much just bummed about. I did make one trip into town to walking out my legs and I got followed by this group of three young Khmer girls we were impressively smart, they knew Canada's population, capital, and even prime minister. They were trying to sell me everything, but I had all my shopping down and was just heading back, when the girl asked for food I couldn't say no so I gave enough for a meal, and made them promise not to spend it on ice cream.
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