The Island Ocean Marathon 2013 – Driven by Volkswagen

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It takes an extraordinary person to wake up in the wee hours of the morning before the sun is up, his/her whole body tingling with excitement and anticipation of welcoming another day of challenging him/herself to better than who he/she was the day before. And that’s what runners are … to constantly push the limits of oneself and explore how much faster, how much further one can go. On 21 April 2013, the island of Langkawi saw 1,000 of such extraordinary people participate in an inaugural event that’s bound to only grow bigger: The Volkswagen Marathon Series 2013: The Island Ocean Marathon is touted as Malaysia’s first and only boutique run. Why is it called a boutique? Presumably because participants are taken on a course of such breathtaking natural beauty over the over-40km run that one has the opportunity to enjoy such amazing sights on a whole different perspective …. on your own two feet.

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The Island Ocean Marathon is the first of its kind to be held on an island and the 3rd marathon organised by The Marathon Shop and sponsored by Volkswagen. Promising the glory of running along the sun, sea and sand, this inaugural marathon has its participants run a 42.195km course and it is important to note that this is not a race … it`s a run for fun so there are no medals (aside from the one you get for completing the marathon), no glory of standing at the top 3 podium …. instead, it is the sense of accomplishment, a feeling of challenging and winning oneself, the comradery  of being with like-minded people who shares the passion of hitting the road with nothing more than the apparels you wear and the shoes beneath your feet.

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Take a break from the mundane schedule of work, party till you drop on weekend nights and sleep till the sun goes down on Sunday. Participants fly in on Saturday, gets a couple of hours of sleep (assuming one sleeps at all in a duty-free zone area) then assemble here at the Resorts World Langkawi, formerly known as Awana Porto Malai Langkawi.

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Your first meter in the 42.195km run starts here. It’s a full marathon so it’s definitely not for the faint hearted. The good news is since this isn’t a race, there is no time limit on when you need to complete the run …. just, try to do it within 12 hours so that no one needs to wait on you.

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Participants need to pay a fee between RM110 to RM140 depending on when you decided to sign up and for such an event that attracts both local and international runners, it will be quite ambitious to organize it based solely on the fees collected. It is therefore great to know that there are companies who place the environment as something important and will support any initiative that brings greater awareness towards its appreciation and preservation.

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And so, for the third consecutive time since “The River Jungle Marathon” in 2011, Volkswagen sponsors the “Volkswagen Marathon Series 2013”. As the title sponsor, the marathon series for this year consists of two breath-taking boutique runs, double of what was offered in 2011 and 2012 and the Island Ocean Marathon is the first for this year.

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It is easy to understand why Volkswagen decides to support such an event since it is in line with the brand’s display of its commitment to “Think Blue.” From the Toureg hybrid to the new Golf Mk VII, vehicle efficiency, low emissions yet coupled with an exhilarating driving experience are the key goals for each new VW model produced and such philosophy are very much appreciated by runners worldwide.

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Dr Zeno Kerschbaumer, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Malaysia mentioned, “Taking the time to spend on fitness is vital in achieving a healthy lifestyle. And this augurs well with an individual’s quest of striving for the best.“

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“These are fundamental to an environmentally responsible lifestyle. It is a stepping stone in learning to appreciate nature and understand the need to be environment friendly,“ added Dr Kerschbaumer.

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Aside from monetary support, Volkswagen supplied the vehicles needed for safety, medical and logistics purposes. And in some cases, helps to illuminate some pretty dark roads as you will see later on.

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Run Day

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For those who did catch some wink, the day started probably at 3am as alarms started beeping and the toilets get occupied. Everyone needs to be at the starting point by 4am where the marathon will be flagged off.

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Check out all the handsome faces … the energy and excitement is palpable. One might think they’re all there for a superstar concert if not for the running suits they’re in.

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Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Nah, probably a bat

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Yeah, I know. No worries, I’ll be there in the next one in September!

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Kudos for being first in line!

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Amidst all the happy faces, there are those who carry these tags to remind everyone of the lives lost during the recent Boston marathon bombing.

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Indeed, Boston was not far from the minds of participants as a minute of silence was observed in memory of the 3 lives lost and the dozens injured. We should all be grateful that we live in relative peace compared to the US. Despite that, the organizers took no chances and ensured that security and medical assistance was available at all times.

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There is no other car more fit to take the lead than the VW Golf Mk VII 1.4litre TSi. Compared to the Mk VI, the Seven probably did a couple of marathons and came back leaner with huge weight reduction. Despite not having the Active Cylinder Technology spec-ed in some other countries which can deactivate two of the cylinders, our Golf still manages to return an impressive 5 litres per 100km combined fuel consumption and a CO2 output of only 116g/km. You’d be doing 10 rounds on the full lap and still have fuel remaining.

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Are we ready?

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And we’re off!

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Smell the clean, fresh air. Listen to the sounds of crickets chirping. No traffic, no pollution, no UV from the sun. The perfect track to be on.

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Oh, hi Mr Nuts. I’m Ken.

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That’s it … look into the blue light. You won’t remember a thing after this.

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A marathon is truly the time when we see the 1 Malaysia spirit. It recognizes no race, no religion, no political affiliation, no age. It is a time when everyone gets together and be a part of the running community. We see all sorts of people participating; some are there to truly challenge themselves, some to challenge each other while others are just there sweating out with friends. Age is just an excuse for not participating. It’s a good thing that the weather was crystal clear that morning.

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If life is a race, why take it so seriously? Lighten up as these fellas did!

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And just when you thought you’ve seen it all ….

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Errr, boss … I think I was holding the GPS upside down.

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A runner needs not be acknowledged by others; you are your best audience and it’s up to you to put up a good show for yourself.

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After probably a million light years ahead, the No 1 runner decided it was time for some posing with the No 1 Car of the World.

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Run Strong, Run Free; Just you and the road. Define yourself.

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The Force is strong in this one.

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Can we say the same for cars?

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It all ends here!

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And here comes the race leader. Trust me, he’ll never miss a RapidKL bus, ever.

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Kudos to the top 3 finishers. Though there’s no trophies to be had, they walk away knowing they’ve put up a hell’o’va good show for themselves.

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Hey, I just met you …. and this is crazy ….. but here’s my number. So call me maybe.

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Miss, that beige bag with the black strap is mine …. somewhere in there.

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All in all, it was a great event! Well organized, superb logistics, excellent weather …. but it wouldn’t have been possible had it not for the volunteers and staffs supporting the run. Langkawi folks, you guys rock!

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The new public service and RELA models posing for photoshoot

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Ultimately, it was a team effort by all to make the marathon such a success. As a business entity, Volkswagen has certainly made its point in going all out in supporting eco friendly activities. As the world’s 3rd largest car manufacturer in 2012, having sold 9.07 million vehicles worldwide, Volkswagen recognizes its responsibility (and impact) of producing cleaner, more energy efficient cars and this key message is being adopted by all of its brand portfolio which includes Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, Skoda, Seat, Bentley, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, MAN, Scania and Ducati. Ok, maybe some brands like Lamborghini might take a little longer in offering a 5litre per 100km engine but all else is well and good. It has certainly left a lasting impression on me.

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There was one other business that greatly benefited from the event; the airport massage chairs were all occupied all the time!

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Pictures are all courtesy of Mr Khairulzaman who had to brave the challenge of waking up in the wee hours of the morning, fight the local population of mosquitos and take fantastic shots. Without him, this article would not have been possible and I would not have had such an urge to join the next marathon which will be held in Hulu Selangor on 1st September (more details HERE). Hope to see you guys there!

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