Scenic 1/2 Marathon Chanthaburi 2024! Wanna run along the sea in the east area of Thailand?
🌊 Why don't you run & enjoy the view of the sea in Thailand?
🌊 Are you interested in running anywhere else besides Bangkok?
🌊 Would you like to know what a marathon event is like in May in Thailand? (the hottest season → the rainy season)
If your answer is YES,
🌊 Are you interested in running anywhere else besides Bangkok?
🌊 Would you like to know what a marathon event is like in May in Thailand? (the hottest season → the rainy season)
If your answer is YES,
"Scenic 1/2 Marathon Chanthaburi 2024🌊" is for you!!
"Running Wife in Thailand" couple had taken part in this marathon race held at Chanthaburi on May 26th, 2024. Of course, we had fun before/during/after the race😊! So, lemme share our experience here.
If you are interested in, DON’T MISS IT! If you are NOT interested in, NO WORRIES. This article will drive you to feel how fun running at the marathon race in Thailand is!😁
-Table of Contents-
💭Where is Chanthaburi in Thailand?
💰Perticipation Fee
🏨About hotels around the starting point
🏃Flow of the race
👀Atmosphere of the race
🏅After goaled
✅Wrap up!
When it comes to Chanthaburi, DURIAN is the most famous! Some of my Thai friends say that durian made in Chanthaburi is sweet and delicious. When we were moving around by taxi, the driver told us "Look! There are durian trees!". We realized that many durians are cultivated there. (BUT, we both are not very good at durian. lol)
In addition, Chanthaburi has a big church even though Thai people are almost Buddihist in general.
"Running Wife in Thailand" couple had taken part in this marathon race held at Chanthaburi on May 26th, 2024. Of course, we had fun before/during/after the race😊! So, lemme share our experience here.
If you are interested in, DON’T MISS IT! If you are NOT interested in, NO WORRIES. This article will drive you to feel how fun running at the marathon race in Thailand is!😁
-Table of Contents-
💭Where is Chanthaburi in Thailand?
💰Perticipation Fee
🏨About hotels around the starting point
🏃Flow of the race
👀Atmosphere of the race
🏅After goaled
✅Wrap up!
💭Where is Chanthaburi in Thailand?
This marathon race was held at Chanthaburi, which is located in the east area of Thailand. It's about 4-hours drive from Bangkok.When it comes to Chanthaburi, DURIAN is the most famous! Some of my Thai friends say that durian made in Chanthaburi is sweet and delicious. When we were moving around by taxi, the driver told us "Look! There are durian trees!". We realized that many durians are cultivated there. (BUT, we both are not very good at durian. lol)
In addition, Chanthaburi has a big church even though Thai people are almost Buddihist in general.
We also found some street market for gemstones.
These local sights differ from those at Bangkok, so you can enjoy the different atmosphere there😊, which must be fun!
💰Perticipation Fee
Half: 850 THBWe applied at the beginning of February, 2024, which was during the "Early Bird" price period. *950 THB for the regular price.
With some settlement fees, it costed 1819 THB for 2-adults in total!
💬FYI...
We moved to Chanthaburi from Bangkok by BUS!: one-way 218 THB/person (approx. 4 to 5-hours drive)The bus is air-conditioned. It has a bathroom and reclining seats. Thus, we were able to spend a coｍfortable time although it was a really long trip🚌 Pretty reasonable, isn't it?
🏨About hotels around the starting point
After finished up with the application, we were making sure the place of the starting point of the race, and serched for a hotel within walking distance to the starting area, ...but...Almost hotels within walking distance to the starting area were FULL when we were looking for a hotel right after the application😭💦NOT ALL, but ALMOST. We found vacant rooms at several hotels, but English was not available. Or, we were not able to understand how to book a room there. Since we both cannot speak or read Thai language, we gave up...
When I looked at some information about the last year's race on Facebook page, there were the suttle bus service to the east area from the starting point, so I asked the organizer on Messenger. They said that this year also has that service! Thus, we had booked a hotel at the east area from the starting point. We were a bit paniced at first, but relieved at the end😅
🏃Flow of the race
📅The previous day: May 25th (Sat)
We were going to depart from the Ekkamai Bus Terminal at 7:00am by bus. But, we got a phone call from the bus company on May 24th, and she said that our bus was cancelled for some reason. Instead, she made a new booking for us, which was the bus departing at 8:30am.So, we departed from the Ekkamai Bus Terminal at 8:30am. The arrival time was supposed to be 12:45pm, but actually we arrived at the Chanthaburi Bus Terminal around 1:45pm. It was around 4&1/2-hours trip by bus🚌
After arrived, we stopped by some food-court near the bus terminal to have a lunch. Before going to the race-kit collection, we decided to visit some sightseeing places: the church and the gemstones market.
However, since we didn't have much time, our sightseeing was quickly done. We headed out to the race-kit collection at "Hin Khrong View Point". It takes about 45-minutes by taxi to move from the gemstones market to the sea side.
During walking along the sea, there were many places to buy street foods as well as some restaurants. I bought a grilled squid, by the way😋
While enjoying walking and viewing the seaside, we finally arrived at the race-kit collection!!
Purple colored with several bright colors!💛
Okay then, after recieved our race-kit, we viewed the sea again...
We found some sports shops, too!↓
Checked the race information againg and again...↓
Made sure the starting point and the goal!👍
It is the rainy season in Thailand, so I was a bit worrying about the outdoor race-kit collection, but it didn't rain! A luckly day~🌟
We made it done, so wanted to move to the hotel to prepare for the race...
BUT! Trouble had been occured💣
"OMG... we cannot catch any taxi to the hotel..."
Well, NO taxi on app/on road. NO motorcycle taxi on app/on road.
I kinda remembered that there were many participants who came by their own car...
We decided to ask some organizer for help...😥
Us: "We want to move to this hotel, but is there any taxi coming?"
Organizer: "Umm, no taxi..."
Us: "Oh no... Really...😰"
At that time, our thinking was like..."OMG. Well, it is around 10km from here to the hotel, so it will take 2 hours on foot... What should we do..."
Organizer: "We can bring you to the hotel in 30 minutes for 200 THB."
WE DO APPRECIATE THEM😭 Thank you very much🙏That helped us a lot😭
Anyways, finally arrived at the hotel around 6:00pm. We went to a convenience store to buy dinner and breakfast, then took a shower, and prepared for the race.... it turned around 10:00pm💦 We tried to sleep soon as possible.
🔰FYI, if you will join this race-kit collection...
1. It might be hard to find a taxi at the seaside area! Better to keep a taxi if you find it at the downtown area.2. Or, better to consider to recieve your race-kit by mail in advance!
The sure thing is it should be better to be able to book some hotel near the race-kit collection/the starting point though...😅 Please be noted!💦
📅The race day: May 26th (Sun)
We woke up around 2:30am, and had a quick meal.
And then, we headed out to the bus stop of the suttle service around 3:00am!
It was very easy to find the bus stop! The organizers were there to guide us, so very helpful!
From the bus stop, it took around 20-minutes to the starting point.
We finnally arrived!↓
First, we went to the baggage drop, and then, went to the bathroom in advance...
Sure. The goal point was confirmed again...
Enjoyed viewing the mignight sea and waves...
a large amout of runners! lol
Since the starting time was approaching, we moved to the starting line, but...
Wow, already looong lined. lol A bit late to line, maybe? lol
But the good thing was... it was only 26℃! Little cooler. Not raining yet!
Well, everything was ready, and all I had to do was to wait for the start.
BUT, lemme share my personal 2-troubles little a bit. lol
First off, my smart watch band had been broken. I found out that when we arrived at Chanthaburi, so... ↓
There was no other way. lol
Sencondly, I was on my period. My symptoms are always very tough, so I tried to take a painkiller and some counterplans to join the race. I decided not to run faster or overdo it. (Caution: I DO NOT reccomend you to heavy running during period at all.)
👀Atmosphere of the race
Aside from that, the half marathon started at 4:30am!
It had been a while since we joined such a big marathon race, I was very overwelmed by the large amout of runners.
In addition, I was still trying to stay awake. lol
It was a bit cooler as mentioned before, but I actually was sweating a lot from the begining. Because of the high humidity? There was a wind sometimes, but sweating never ended. I took a cup of water at every water station, anyway.
According to my watch's GPS, the overall course has up and downs. In fact, I felt an upslope between 7km and 8km point: elevation of 15m.
At 10km point, some energy jelly was provided, so I got the energy charged. Also, I went to bathroom around there. I remember that there were bathrooms located each 5~6km, which is very helpful!
After 10km point, I was able to see the sea sometimes.
At 14km point, there were some fruits and Thai sweets provided! I tried some Thai stickly rice sweets, and that was tasty~💛
I was able to keep running untill 18km point, and I was like...
"3km left! Easy walking and jogging!"
But, some thinkings came to my mind:
"Where is the scenic point in the course?"
"Was it the view I saw somtimes after 10km?"
Well, "the scenic" was came out around 20km point.
"WOW! THE SEA! Finally!"
At the same time...
"WOW! The SLOPE???"
Yes. Up and down slope. I don't know the meaning of this road sign, but it sounds steep...
After that, still kept running along the sea...
Then... here... again...
In addition,
"WOW! SO MANY PHOTO SHOOTINGS!!! lol"
There were many photographers around there. (You can buy later.)
The last 2km, This marathon race has...
1. Beautiful sea view
2. Up and down steep sloopes
3. Photo time
are waiting for you. lol
I was conflict with these feelings like...
-"It's a big chance to enjoy the view of the sea!"
-"To be honest, better to walk than run on these steep up/down slopes..."
-"BUT! Photos of me running at the race should look nicer than those of me walking the course!"
during the last 2km.
In the meantime, I had goaled! lol
My record this time was not the best, but the biggest pleasure is that I was able to stay running untill 18km point! It didn't rain, which was also good for us!
🏅After goaled
Me and my husband had finished the half marathon, and we had recieved the finisher T-shirts and the finisher medal. ↓
We also got a bottle of water/sports drink, an ice cream, meals....as always, but the most unusual thing was this....↓
We got Mangsteens and Rambutans! Sounds very "Fruit Capital, Chanthaburi"!
The baggage drop was going to close at 8:30am, so we went there to pick up our bags in a hurry. We wanted to stay more to feel the atmosphere after the race, but we couldn't since we didn't want to miss the suttle bus to go back to our hotel.
After back to the hotel...
We were taking a shower,
→ Enjoing breakfast/blunch at the hotel,
→ Heading out to the bus terminal.
We departed from the Chanthaburi Bus Terminal at 12:20pm. ETA at the Ekkamai Bus Terminal was 5:30pm, and actually arrived at that time. It was about 5-hours bus trip🚌
✅Wrap up!
How was our experience of "Scenic 1/2 Marathon Chanthaburi 2024🌊"?
We were able to fully enjoy the sea at Chanthaburi🌊 during race-kit collection/during the race/after the race!
Some regretable things are...
-We didn't have much time to sightseeing.
-Also, we really wanted to chill out at the goal point after the race.
We had no choice because it was only 2-days trip from Bangkok. If you have more time, it might be better!
If you are interseted in this race, and if you cannot book the hotel around the race-kit collection/the starting point, BE NOTED about the race-kit collection:
- If you choose to pick-up the race-kit at the previous day,
Good point: You can see and make sure the starting point in person!
Good point: Any other confirmation available!
Good point: You can enjoy the atmosphere of the race-kit collection!
Caution: You may have to consider about a car/taxi to move.
-If you choose to recieve your race-kit by mail in advance,
Good point: You can have more free time at the previous day.
Good point: You can go sightseeing at the previous day.
Caution: You might not be able to see and make sure the race information in person.
I hope this helps you😉!
Other articles about the marathon race BESIDES Bangkok area are here↓
Of course, running at Bangkok area is fun! ↓
Articles about my running practice at Bangkok are here↓
We are going to join Cross Country next month, June! Stay tuned😆!
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