Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 29
  1. #1
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    7th Military Circle
    Posts
    2,921

    Thailand running - 5km, 10km and half-marathons

    Seems there's a 5km or 10km event every month in Chanthaburi province with the occasional 21km/half marathon. Well-supported - the recent Khung Wiman event had a limit of 5,000 entries across the three events and understand they had around 4,200 on the day.

    We're regulars, Mrs P walks up to the 21km distance if that's an option, I run the 10 or 5.



    Sunday 29th we were away at 4.30am across to the east side of the city for a 5/10 fun run or 10km cycle event promoting a royal-sponsored stroke awareness program, these were held in all 77 provinces that morning for the 9th year - 2022 had a total 136,000 participants.

    Arrived in time to have missed the speeches, 5.10 there was a short aerobics session lead by three instructors up on the stage, the cyclists began 5.25 (mostly parents with kids on little bikes), 10km started 5.35 and five minutes later the 5km.

    Guess about 700 entrants in total. Course followed the flood diversion canal, all concrete, no vehicle traffic, I cycle this route often though it was more fun when it was a rough clay track before leveled/sealed.



    T-shirt and yet another medal included in entry fee

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    7th Military Circle
    Posts
    2,921
    The next one, we've entered the Takat Ngao fun run at Paknam Khaem Nu on the coast, 26 November 2023



    There's another one on the same day I would have preferred - a hellish trail/hill run in the Khitchakut national park, cleverly named the Khitchakut Up Hill Run


  3. #3
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    left of center
    Posts
    20,590
    The girlfriend has a lot of Thai “Finisher” medals

  4. #4
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Home
    Posts
    33,448
    Quote Originally Posted by S Landreth View Post
    The girlfriend has a lot of Thai “Finisher” medals
    Well, it can't be easy at your age.

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat VocalNeal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Last Online
    Today @ 11:18 AM
    Location
    The Kingdom of Lanna
    Posts
    12,987
    I'm OK with the exercise it is the 4:30 bit that puts me off.

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    7th Military Circle
    Posts
    2,921
    Next three

    Night Color Run Chanthaburi: Same course as Sunday, east of the city, but at night-time
    Start/finish at lower of photo, heading northwards


    Laem Sing: 7 January 2024; unsure if a bridge crossing is included


    Laem Sing: north side of bridge Ao Yang/Ao Krathing 11 February; hoping this one is a trail run over the hill between the two bays
    Last edited by prawnograph; 31-10-2023 at 12:27 PM.

  7. #7
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2021
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    11,287
    Quote Originally Posted by VocalNeal View Post
    I'm OK with the exercise it is the 4:30 bit that puts me off.

    beats the heat of the day

  8. #8
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Home
    Posts
    33,448
    Quote Originally Posted by DrWilly View Post
    beats the heat of the day
    Pretty inconvenient though.

    Especially if these new opening hours catch on.

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2021
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    11,287
    Perfectly convenient for me. Obviously a matter of preference. However, I cannot imagine their target deomgraphic is the sexpat barflys hanging around in bars till their tilac gets off work and therefore save the bar fine at 4:00am as opposed to some Thai and expat runners demographic.

    My favorite run was the Thailand Temple Run, it started predawn and they lite the pathway with tiki torches and as you run into the dawn the silhouettes of about a dozen temples slowly became apparent. Dunno if it’s still going, I think it was Samut Prakan area.

  10. #10
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Home
    Posts
    33,448
    Quote Originally Posted by DrWilly View Post
    Perfectly convenient for me. Obviously a matter of preference. However, I cannot imagine their target deomgraphic is the sexpat barflys hanging around in bars till their tilac gets off work and therefore save the bar fine at 4:00am as opposed to some Thai and expat runners demographic.
    Christ, did you get the sense of humour bypass in a 'two for one' with MM?

  11. #11
    Making people dance. :-)
    Edmond's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Cebu
    Posts
    13,753
    Good job Prawno.

    We've done a few.





    And thoroughly enjoyed them. Usually 10km for me, or 5, with one 7.5 I think.

    If E+E come, they usually do the 3.5km or kid's fun run.




    For me/us, as others have mentioned, it's the insanely early starting time that puts us off. Especially for the longer races. Getting up at 3:30/4:30am on a Sunday morning to go travel to some busy starting point, hang around, sign in, hang around again before the sun has even come up isn't exactly our thing.

    We'd rather get up at 7:30am and just run 3.5-10km around the local park and forego a medal and T-shirt.

    A friend does the 42km length ones and starts at something like 2am. WTF do ya do, try to sleep from 8pm-Midnight, then get up and run from 2am to 8am. How is that not gonna blast your sleeping pattern for the next week if you're anything over the age of 30.

  12. #12
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Home
    Posts
    33,448
    Perhaps some extra lavender would kick things up a gear.

  13. #13
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    7th Military Circle
    Posts
    2,921
    Tuesday's bike ride towards central Chanthaburi went to check out the hills for this run in Khao Kitchakhut national park

    Yesterday received notification it's been cancelled due to heavy inland rain, areas of track have washed away.

    And a lack of coordination - this one's getting a lot of promotion locally but coincides with the coast run the same morning; not too big a conflict though it's more a fun/social fundraiser the coast one trails over the monkey-infested hills will attract a different crowd



    Also: reason I'm on Facebook - the only way to find out about these events unless there's a billboard somewhere, need the FB info to register

  14. #14
    . Neverna's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    21,210
    Quote Originally Posted by prawnograph View Post
    Also: reason I'm on Facebook - the only way to find out about these events unless there's a billboard somewhere, need the FB info to register
    The Runlah website has quite a few races listed. Not all obviously, but it might have some you are interested in.

    RunLah - Find your next race here! v0.5.5

  15. #15
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    7th Military Circle
    Posts
    2,921
    ^ thanks; locals continue to rely on Facebook and billboards, registrations set up at shopping malls and various jogging/running locations in the province. None of our seven events have been listed there.

    Tha Mai navy/coastguard airstrip this morning - 1050m. Formerly the 'home' of the local jogging club.

    Strange business, there was a 5km/10km fun run planned here earlier in the year, t-shirts printed, registrations paid when the event was cancelled due to airstrip being declared off-limits.

    October it has been made available again but strictly between 4pm-6.30pm only; no skateboards, cycles, roller blades or macaw flying (local group set their macaws off on free-flight from here each Tuesday evening) and a warning that any rule-breaking will result in a permanent access ban.


  16. #16
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    7th Military Circle
    Posts
    2,921
    Sunday 26th and another Chanthaburi fun run, this time a later 6am start, uninspiring course from Wat Paknam Khaem Nu out and back on the coast highway.

    Good turnout around 590 runners across the 10 and 5km events and more competitive, the local running club well represented and groups from both Chanthaburi universities. For the final 2km I was paced by a 12 year old, considered tripping her up but she slowed with a few hundred m to go.



    Well fed afterwards, hot meals, drinks and chilled watermelon


    Next local event the night run along the canal east of the city on 10 December.
    Last edited by prawnograph; 28-11-2023 at 03:56 PM.

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    7th Military Circle
    Posts
    2,921

    Saturday evening's "Night Color Run had 5km and 10km events along the canal east of the city. Around 900 total entries, and some more serious runners chasing the 5000 and 10000 baht prizes plus trophies.

    I had a trail running fall on the 1st, a bad landing, jaw and ribs, so downgraded my entry to walking the 5km. Told 4-6 weeks for the ribs, can now cycle ok but not swimming or running.

    Tough competition - impressed this Pikachu completed the 5km it was 33C when we started at sunset.




  18. #18
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2021
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    11,287
    Nice run. Get well soon.

  19. #19
    Making people dance. :-)
    Edmond's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Cebu
    Posts
    13,753
    A nice time for it.

    The Thais do add some lighthearted fun to it all.


    Get well soon.

  20. #20
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    7th Military Circle
    Posts
    2,921
    ^
    Began with an aerobics warm-up, the ones on stage were all runners, among the twenty 'pacers and encouragers' in costumes who'd overtake, stop and cheer participants then run ahead, repeat.

    This event featured many business, high school, sports club and gym teams; don't know who won, for once I wasn't the only non-Thai, with two Kenyans, a Belgian and UK entries.

    Hot meals and cold drinks provided afterwards. And another tshirt for the collection.



    The fall. That wasn't planned, my run companion a little panicked at blood coming my ear ... but it wasn't, it was blood from a cut by my temple that ran in to the ear. Minor, but bruised/swollen upper jaw. Ribs were worst but nothing broken, very uncomfortable still - try not to sneeze!
    Last edited by prawnograph; 12-12-2023 at 06:09 PM.

  21. #21
    Making people dance. :-)
    Edmond's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Cebu
    Posts
    13,753
    ^ ouch, for sure.

  22. #22
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    7th Military Circle
    Posts
    2,921
    Didn't wait for prize giving on Saturday night; for the 10km the two visiting Kenyans won - Paul Wamyoike men's and Esther Waithira women's and they left with a trophy and 10,000 baht each.

    5km events won by Thai runners, unsure if local or not, for them 5,000b each.

    Impressed with the women's winner, 17:48 a good time and she was in the junior under-18 category. Mens 5km was 15:39.

    Did meet the Belgian runner as we were leaving, hadn't coped with the heat and said he knew it wasn't for him after just 2km.

    Last edited by prawnograph; 14-12-2023 at 05:10 PM.

  23. #23
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    7th Military Circle
    Posts
    2,921
    Bang Saen half marathon on Sunday 17th with elite runners starting at 4.00am.
    Money on offer:


    Also three 100,000 baht bonuses on offer for breaking the race record, breaking the Thai record, breaking the Thai national record.

    Entrant Amos Kipruto

    Amos Kipruto (born 16 September 1992) is a Kenyan long-distance runner. He won the bronze medal in the men's marathon at the 2019 World Athletics Championships. Kipruto took victory at the 2022 London Marathon.
    Last edited by prawnograph; 15-12-2023 at 02:43 PM.

  24. #24
    Making people dance. :-)
    Edmond's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Cebu
    Posts
    13,753
    ^ Will have to sit it out, me ankle's playing up a bit.

  25. #25
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    7th Military Circle
    Posts
    2,921
    A Kenyan double at the Bangsaen half marathon on Sunday
    And one Thai runner top ten in male and female events


    Gladys Chepkurui's recent half marathon results a seventh in Copenhagen (September 1.07:52), a win in Tokyo (October 1.08:03), second in Hong Kong (November 1.09:48)


    Mathew Kimeli - fourth Germany (April 1.00:16) seventh in Valencia (October, 59:00)
    Last edited by prawnograph; 21-12-2023 at 07:14 PM.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •