Finally, I Made It Through My First Marathon

My first marathon is now behind me, and it was filled with unforgettable experiences—friendship, pain, fatigue, and the strength to overcome my own limits. I dragged myself across the finish line, beating my goal of finishing within 5:00. The atmosphere of the marathon and the incredible support from the spectators were truly amazing.

This year marked the first-ever Chiang Mai University Marathon, and it was also my first marathon. Naturally, there were some nerves involved—I had never run this far before, with my longest distance being 27.7km. I approached the race with a bit of apprehension but a heart that refused to give up.

Preparing for the Race Day

The day before the race was all about carb-loading and conserving energy. I read that you should minimize physical activity to save strength, although I noticed that some professional runners still ran a bit. I made sure to have everything I needed ready before going to bed around 6:00 PM. I had my Power Gels (four of them), shoes, clothes, and other essentials packed. The only things I still needed were new socks and some spray for my knees. I borrowed a running belt from my brother Kit because my budget was already stretched thin.

I searched for Uniren spray from Lampang to Chiang Mai but couldn’t find it anywhere—it was surprisingly hard to track down. Since I couldn’t find it, I settled for a good dinner and some sliced bread, which I planned to eat at 1:00 AM to load up on carbs and avoid hitting the wall like during training.

With everything ready, I went to bed early to wake up at 1:00 AM.

Race Day Begins!

I woke up at 1:00 AM, checked the race map, and reviewed the locations of water stations, food and electrolyte points, medical stations, and the distances between them. I planned my run and pace strategy while eating my bread.

At 2:30 AM, I arrived at the race venue, dropped off my belongings, and greeted Nemo, who kindly gave me another gel. I stretched and did a light jog to warm up my body and muscles. Everyone seemed fully prepared and serious about the race, especially since it was Valentine’s Day, with many couples running together.

I checked in at the start line, did some aerobics to warm up, and felt excited. The weather was perfect—not too cold. At exactly 3:00 AM, the race began!

The First 10km: Pain Already

The race started from Chiang Mai University, and we ran uphill to pay respects to Khruba Sriwichai. This uphill stretch was challenging, taking a toll on my knees, especially on the downhill.

I usually check my watch during training, but with the pacers leading the run, I decided to follow the 4.5 hours pacer instead of constantly checking my watch. I calculated that 4.5 hours would match my breathing rhythm, so I stuck behind the pacer until I eventually passed them to gain some distance.

At 5km, I had to stop for a quick restroom break at a police checkpoint, during which the 4.5 hour pacer (from now on, I’ll just call them “the balloons”) passed me. I finished quickly and managed to catch up, staying about three minutes behind them.

At 6km, the familiar pain in my right knee started to kick in. I thought to myself, “I’ve only just started, and there’s still a long way to go. Can I really make it?” Doubts crept in, and I worried that the pain would prevent me from finishing. I thought about the spray that my brother Kit had recommended. I tried to push the pain out of my mind, stopped for some bananas and watermelon, and continued running.

15km: Struggling to Keep Going

After passing 12km, I took my first gel to maintain my energy levels. The pain persisted and intensified, making it increasingly difficult to keep running. By 15km, I was in so much pain that I had to stop and let the balloons float further away. I thought to myself, “I’ll catch up later.” Luckily, a bike medic arrived just in time, and I asked for the spray, applying it generously to my knee. It provided some relief, allowing me to continue, albeit with frequent stops to walk.

As I alternated between walking and running, the balloons drifted further away. I changed my strategy—I’d focus on not letting the 5 hours balloons catch up. Whenever I got the spray, I’d run for a while until the pain returned. It was a tough decision whether to keep going or turn back, but I pressed on, wondering if the pain would worsen.

30km: The Real Challenge Begins

At 20km, I reached the intersection where the Half Marathon and Full Marathon routes diverged. I decided to keep going straight, meaning I refused to give up. It took a lot of mental strength to push through the doubts, but I did it. By now, I had lost sight of the balloons, and my only focus was on finding more spray.

Between 20km and 25km, the bike medics started to disappear, and I found myself walking more frequently, eating more bananas along the way, fearing I might hit a wall at 30km. I walked and ran intermittently, with fellow runners occasionally passing me, offering words of encouragement like “Keep going!” which motivated me to continue despite the knee pain.

At 22km, I took my second gel, glanced to the other side of the road, and saw Harry Jones, the frontrunner, speeding past at an incredible pace. I watched in awe, took a sip of water, and continued. By this point, I was running alone, with fewer runners around. I waved down a medic for another spray session.

At 25km, I wondered where the balloons had gone. I looked behind, and the 5 hours balloons hadn’t caught up yet, so I started running again. I turned at the Samoeng intersection, and the pain in my knee intensified. I kept looking for medics but found none. I had to start walking again, worrying whether I could finish within 5 hour.

Entering the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek area, I saw the balloons running in the opposite direction. I thought, “Maybe I can still catch up if I get some spray.” But by now, I was alternating between running and walking due to the knee pain. I asked for spray at every water station, but there was none. I walked through the park and then walked out again.

35km: Thank You, Sister, for the Spray

Between 31km and 33km, I mostly walked. By now, the sky was starting to brighten, but I didn’t know what time it was, and I didn’t care. I had given up on catching up with the balloons and kept glancing over my shoulder, afraid that the 5 hours balloons might catch up. I tried to run, but when the pain became too much, I stopped and walked.

As I alternated between running and walking, the pain spread to my ankle and then to my thigh—all on my right leg. The thoughts returned: “I’m not going to finish. Should I call for a medic?” But I stuck to my decision to keep going. I walked and ran until only the knee pain remained—the other pains had mysteriously vanished.

As the sun rose, the roads became busier, and the soldiers and police officers managing traffic began waving cars through. Some drivers passed by and offered words of encouragement, telling me to keep going. I appreciated their support, but the knee pain was excruciating.

At 35km, a woman running behind me noticed I was limping and asked if I was in pain. I immediately said yes. She offered me her spray, and I gratefully accepted it. I applied the spray, thanked her, and she ran on ahead. I walked for a bit, waiting for the spray to take effect, and then started running again. Just one more mini-marathon to go!

40km: Just a Little Further

After getting the spray from that kind runner, my knee felt better. I saw the sign for 36km and knew I was close. I took my final gel and kept running. I stopped briefly for some electrolytes and a banana, rested my knee, and then continued. At this point, I kept telling myself, “You’re almost there. Just a little further.”

I kept running and finally saw the intersection where the Half Marathon and Mini Marathon courses converged. Just a little bit more!

I Did It! We Did It!

Turning onto the same path as the Half and Mini Marathon runners, I suddenly had more company. Many runners were holding hands with their partners, celebrating the moment together. Some cheered me on as I passed, and I noticed the 41km marker—just a little bit more.

As I approached the entrance to the Faculty of Engineering, I saw some medics and immediately asked for more spray. I got a generous dose and thanked them before running on. The atmosphere was amazing, with students lining the streets, cheering on every runner that passed. Their encouragement was a big morale boost and added color to the race.

I ran up to Ang Kaew Reservoir, where there were even more people because all race categories passed through this area. There were plenty of photographers, and I saw the sign: 800 meters to go!

I ran down from Ang Kaew and onto the final stretch toward the finish line. As I rounded the last bend, I spotted Spider-Man with his car parked and music blaring. I couldn’t resist; I did a little dance for him before pushing toward the finish line. As I crossed the line, I glanced at the clock—4:46 hours. Tears welled up in my eyes. All the pain I had felt vanished in that moment. I had done it. I had conquered everything, most importantly, myself!

Post-Race Recovery

After crossing the finish line, my first mission was to find food. I wandered around the food stalls set up for the runners, enjoying the wide variety of options available. But soon, the knee pain returned, and I started limping again. I decided it was time to head back to the car and go home to rest.

Now that I’ve had time to recover, I realize that training for just two weeks was far from ideal, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. I pushed through with sheer willpower, but it came at the cost of injury. It’s better to train consistently and enjoy the race without the pain.

A Big Thank You

• To the police and soldiers who managed traffic and ensured our safety from 3 AM until the end.
• To the volunteers at the food, water, and electrolyte stations—you were all incredible.
• To the bike medics—without you, I might not have made it.
• To the surveillance cyclists who rode alongside us for safety.
• To the pacers who kept us motivated and entertained throughout the race, allowing us to run without constantly checking our watches.
• To my friend who provided the BIB—thank you.

Onward to the next goal: Ultra Marathon!