7/29/2019 Rachel Runs... Angkor Wat

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Rachel Runs...Angkor Wat Half Marathon

Siem Reap receives over 1 million visitors per year. Its agreat place or a relaxing break in South East Asia and itssuch a well-travelled path that even those with little or no

experience o Asian travel would nd it easy. Theres loads o

accommodation. We stayed in a budget, backpacker place(MotherHome Guesthouse) and it was really nice, clean,

spacious, lovely sta, good ood, good location and ree wi.

We had no complaints at all. They oered ree airport pickup too. Every time we returned we were oered an ice-cold,

scented fannel to reshen up. From the guest house we werepicked up by the tuk-tuk driver who took me around when

I visited Cambodia previously, Johnnie Walker. His tuk-tukis in good shape, he speaks good English and he is really

knowledgeable as a tour guide. He had upgraded his service

by getting a cool box and oering us iced water every time

we hopped aboard and to take with us when we walkedanywhere. Such a sweet guy!

First stop: ood. We ound a little place called Star Rise, just roundthe corner rom our hotel, ser ving western & Cambodian ood and itwas really delicious. I had a veggie amok which is a spicy, coconuttylocal curry. Next stop was the Prince DAngkor Hotel to collect ourrace packs which we took back to the hotel, and then we went to

Angkor Thom or a walk, taking in the Bayon and the Terrace o theElephants. It is just gorgeous. Not only the temples, which are allbeautiul with very varied designs and styles, but also the verdant,natural beauty o the surrounding area. The weather was perect,

hot and sunny but without the high humidity we have in KL. It isvery green and shady and we ound driving round in the tuk-tuk

with the wind in our hair really relaxing. We went home to showerand then into the towns Pub Street or dinner. My best mate romschool had told me that her big brothers best mate was also hereor the race. I hadnt seen this guy in 20 years but didnt we passhim on our way out! I hollered out o the tuk-tuk at him but he just

looked slightly bemused. The dinner was pretty average and as wewere all tired, we were in bed asleep by 8pm, which is no bad thingwhen you have to get up really early and run a long way.

I woke up eeling rereshed, rested and ready to run. I had taken

instant porridge or pre-race breakast which I made in a tea cup.John was there to pick us up at 5am and we travelled the shortdistance to the start line in a convoy o tuk-tuks loaded withrunners. It was still dark so they were all lit up, it was a beautiul

sight. We arrived at Angkor Wat as the sun was rising and thoughtwe better have a last little pre-race wee. There was one batch oporta loos which we stood outside o or ages, no one seemed tobe coming or going. It was getting really close to the 6am start andI needed to go. I made the executive decision to nd a bush. There

was absolutely nothing to hide behind. I met an Aussie girl on thesame quest, we decided i we were going to do it, we may as well doit at the same time, it would be less embarrassing. So, near a bushwe squatted down. The two riends I was travelling with saw us andlet the toilet queue to join us. It wasnt so bad... except that I stood

in an ants nest! I thought I must have been next to a nettle but whenI looked down my right leg was crawling with the beasts. This wasat 5.55. Sharianne and Jo helped me swat them o but we just hadto head or the start line beore the gun. I was picking them o myneck and arms while I was running. I normally carry antihistaminewith me, but o course, not today. The crowd at the start line was

quite small and this had the eel o a airly intimate, less corporateevent. The guy next to me had a great tattoo on his arm saying 26.2(the distance o a ull marathon in miles). So I told him it was cool,and my very grown up riends made lots o Ooohsounds becauseI was talking to a boy. Jo and I decided to run together because weare a similar speed so I didnt put my headphones in, or the rst

time ever on a race.

I had pulled a muscle in my thigh during the week and ound I wasneeding to do long strides to warm it up. Jo said I was going too astor her as she likes a slow start so within minutes we decided to split.

I didnt want to stop to put my music on so decided Id do it when Idgot into a groove, but I never did as I was having too much un. The

rst section incorporated a u-turn (yuk) and I managed to see bothriends on the way back through. Sharianne shouted a Jalan jalancari makanto me, I told her to Get up them stairs. I was running

near a guy who was listening to music and intermittently singingout loud which was hilarious to hear, with tracks like TurningJapaneseand Im So Excited. Whatever works or him! I was alsonear a guy dressed as an aubergine! I you ever need taking downa notch about what a great runner you are, nding yoursel paced

by an aubergine would help! I met a guy rom Stockton who wasworking in Hong Kong and ran with him or quite a while. Towardsthe end there was a guy running slightly behind me, clearly usingme to pace himsel. He had the heaviest breathing ever! It was quitedisturbing, elt almost like I was cheating on my husband.

The run was lovely. It was initially airly cool, and there was a gooddeal o tree cover or most o the route. It was only near the end

it became quite sweltering. It was the fattest hal marathon I canremember doing (except or one at Silverstone race course) and Ithink I could have got that elusive sub 2 hour time but that wouldhave been missing the point. Instead I chatted to my ellow runners,

stopped to take photos, was in awe o my s urroundings. The routeis lined in parts by Cambodians, mainly children, with their handsout or high ves. I didnt want to leave any o them hanging! At onepoint we rounded a corner and were greeted by, what looked likea whole village worth o people. I got a bit o a lump in the throat.

There was plenty o water along the way. Im not sure about toilets,I think you just had to g o wild.

You nish the race at Angkor Wat and I rounded the corner and saw

the clock saying 1:52 and I thought, Wow! How have I done that?.

Then I realised that was the 10k lane and the hal marathon clocksaid 2.05, which is airly standard or me.

I got my medal, water and banana and ound a tree stump at theperect height to stretch out. So perect, that I started a bit o atrend and in no time, had an army o ellow runners stretching outand having a bit o a chat.

Soon, my riends nished and we had a breakast-o-champions,a can o ice cold Angkor beer, looking at Angkor Wat and eelingawed by the whole experience.

Our tuk-tuk was waiting or us. We went back to the guest house and

were oered the scented fannel, but declined saying that currently,it might take a bit more than that. We showered, breakasted andheaded out or some more temples. The rst was Ta Prohm, theTomb Raiderone which was let to itsel or a while so the junglehas crept in and there are massive trees growing out through thewalls. Its amazing to see. Lunch! Then, last stop was Angkor Wat

but, this time he dropped us o round the back so we approachedit alone and rom an unusual angle. It was so tranquil rom this side.

We went back to the hotel and took advantage o their in-housemassage acility. For a mere $8 we had lovely massages with

lemongrass and jasmine scented oils, which was just heavenly.

We wore our medals all day as theres not much chance to wearthem again ater. The sta in the guesthouse asked us i we had

won the race. We, o course, conrmed this.

So, on our last night away with the girls, did we go and paint SiemReap red? Err, no. We went to the cae 2 minuteswalk away romthe guesthouse (with the delicious ood) and were in bed beore

9. Catching up on sleep had turned into a major theme o thisweekend.

Another early morning or usand our ever-ready driver, as we

decided to head over to Angkor

Wat one last time to watch thesunrise and we had an earlyfight anyway. I wasnt too ussedabout this but one o my riendsis a keen photographer so we

all went. It was an intenselycommunal experience as it wassuper busy, but a worthwhileone.

I would recommend this run oranyone contemplating a halmarathon this year. It was veryeasy, beautiul and a un place tospend a weekend.

by Rachel Joseph

Upcoming runs:-

Hash Challenge, 42km through the jungle outside o KL, teams o

4, (3/3/13).Run for Sight, lead a blindolded riend on the 5k run, 1Utama, orGlaucoma Charity, (10/3/13).Malaysia Women Marathon, Shah Alam, join this unique women-centred event, it has a really interesting programme o events,check the website, (7/4/2013).Island Ocean Marathon, Langkawi, rom the organisers o the RiverJungle Marathon comes another boutique event, limited places soget on it quick! (21/4/13)Xterra, oering 2 dierent triathlon distances and 2 trail rundistances (11km & 5KM), Putrajaya, (27/4/13)Borneo International Marathon, oering ull, hal and 10km, niceor a weekend away in KK, (5/5/13)

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