LG Championship 10k

We schedule two races on consecutive weekends in Thailand as excuse for budget holiday.  The 2nd race turns out to be much bigger than the small neighborhood park run we anticipated.  4,000 runners materialize at 4am for a 10k and 5k race around the historic center of Bangkok. 

Fortunately we are staying right across the street at this amusingly antiquated hotel

Unfortunately the huge race means that my late entry and seeding in the B block puts me behind 1,300 runners in a narrow starting chute -- a disadvantage I only realize 10 minutes before the race starts.  I exercise my “white privilege” (really “old, foreigner who recently clocked a 38 10k privilege”), and I cut under a barrier to move at least up into the middle of the A block runners. 

 

Still it takes me a full 23 seconds to shuffle forward to the starting line chip mat, and 4:48 to first 1k mark.  

This slow start actually seems to work out well though. I feel so much better than the previous week at Laguna as I move past other runners along the dark streets, even enjoying the spectacular Grand Palace as we pass by.  Maybe I am enjoying the sights too much?  I have a fair bit of kick at the end, enough to pass one ancient guy, but not enough to pass a grey-haired geezer 9 seconds ahead of me. 

 

15 minutes later the results are posted showing me as the winner ->

Technically the gun time should determine the winner right?  Races should strive to be direct, real-time battle between competitors – it is just more fun that way, any child knows this.  And, scrutinizing the chip vs. gun results, I have to acknowledge that the 3^rd place finisher (lacking foreigner privilege) had to fight his way past many more runners during the early part of the race. .   

 

But I have no qualms accepting the first place trophy and the small cash prize money.  Hey, I am not as acclimated to the 33-degree conditions as these guys who have been training in record 40-plus degree conditions in Southeast Asia this past spring, right? 

 

The other old age group winners are so friendly and keen to chat and to celebrate.  Especially the guy you see dressed up as Puma

 

I finish 128th out of 3,735 participants.