The short version:
A run over the Penang Bridge in Malaysia. It’s a big race with over 22,000 participants. It’s well organized, but it was crazy hot. I would probably do it again if I happened to be in the right place at the right time and I am glad we did it, but I would not go out of my way to do it again. It’s just too hot…
The long version:
Held each fall this is probably the best know race in Malaysia. If you tell someone in Malaysia you are running it they all know about the race. The race attracts 22,000 plus runners. There is a 10k, a ½ marathon and a marathon. All the courses run out onto the Penang Bridge which connects Penang Island to the mainland. The total length of the bridge is 24 km when you include the ramps. The race is basically out and back so even the full marathon does not get all the way across the bridge. Penang is 5 degrees from the equator so even in December it is hot!
The marathon starts at 1:30 am. We ran the half marathon which had over 10,000 runners and started at 3:00 am. It was still hot. My Garmin shows an average temperature of 28C with a high of 33C and it was humid.
We stayed in St. George on Penang Island. The race starts on the mainland. Race kit pick-up is offered on the Island but only the week before the race. We had to pick-up our race kits the day before the race at the start venue. It took us a couple of hours to get there, and we walked the last part after being dropped off on a major road by a helpful bus driver.
One of the race sponsors is Ikea. We received Ikea shopping bags and Ikea clothing storage bags before the race. The race kit up pick was very organized once we got there. There was an outdoor expo with various give aways and things to buy. There was even a race day prize draw and one of the draw prizes was a car!
Race morning there were busses organized from various points to get to the start. We got up at 11:30pm to catch a midnight bus to the start. When we arrived at 1:00 am the place was buzzing!
There was a bag check and lots of bathrooms plus a DJ! Getting into the start corals was a bit confusing. I had a bib for one of the faster corals, but I was not able to get there before the start. It did not really matter because after having been very sick in Indonesia I was still not up to running a ½ marathon. I considered dropping to the 10k but I figured I could finish 21.1 km.
The first and last 3k are not on the bridge. You have to run through local streets to get to the bridge.
We were told you would get a breeze on the bridge. We did not. There were 10 water stations. The first couple were quite far apart. There were also first aid stations giving out bags full of ice along the course. I took all the ice I could get. The on-course electrolyte was 100plus. It’s carbonated which is a bit weird.
I had a tough race. I was still not feeling well and Harold and I both found the heat overwhelming. I walked through all the water stations to maximize hydration and we got it done.
The other women of my age who I have met running at big races in Southeast Asia avoid this race because it only has two age groups. Open and Veteran which is over 45. I tend to agree that its unfortunate for an event this large.
The 2026 race is December 13 you can find the details here https://penangmarathon.gov.my/
Run K2J 