Bangkok Marathon 2024! Running on a highway in Bangkok!【DNF】
🏃Are you interested in runnning on a highway in Bangkok?
If your answer is "Yes",
how about trying ... "Bangkok Marathon 2024🇹🇭" ?
It was held on November 17th (Sun), 2024 in Bangkok. Me, Running Wife in Thailand(Click here for my profile), and my husband had took part in this marathon, and actually DNF(did not finish)... BUT! We can share our experience untill the point we dropped out, so lemme talk about it!
-Table of Contents-
💰Perticipation Fee
∟💬Our question and tips for application
🏃The flow of the race
👀Atmosphere of the race
👀Atmosphere of the race
✅Wrap-up
💰️Perticipation Fee
Let's start with Perticipation Fee, which is a bit complicated.
Full：Thai 1200 THB Overseas 75 USD
Half：Thai 800 THB Overseas 55 USD
Mini(10km)：Thai 600 THB Overseas 35 USD
Micro(5km)：Thai 400 THB Overseas 25 USD
Well, yes. There is a significant price difference between applicants from Thailand and ones from overseas!!
The application started from June 1st, which was around 5months before the race date. We also tried to apply for the half marathon on June 1st.
💬Our question and tips for application
So, the question is...
"Are we applicable to the fee for Thai? Or from overseas?"
Since we had been in Bangkok for around 2 years, we might be applicable to the fee for Thai... So, I decided to contact the organizer by Facebook Messenger. ↓
Me: We are thinking of applying for the Bangkok Marathon online. We are Japanese who live in Bangkok. My husband has been working for 2 years in Thailand. And, he has a "work permit". Do we have to pay an international fee? I mean, 800 THB or 55 USD for 21.1km?
The organizer: If working and living in Thailand, pay in Thailand at a price of 800 THB.
It was WORTH ASKING the organizer before applying!!!
Anyway, we kept going on the application, but the application page was still showing the price of 55 USD, SO texted to the organizer again...↓
Me: (By attaching a screenshot of the application page) It says I have to pay 55 USD? Is it fine if I pay 800 THB, then attach the slip?
The organizer: 800 THB.
Alright! Then, I was gonna try to keep going by paying 800 THB...! Bank transferred, and attached the slip on the application page.
I was a bit worried if the application was not completed, so again, I contacted the organizer just in case. ↓
Me: (By attaching a screenshot of the application page) Please confirm my application.
Then, finally our application was completed!
What we learned in this case is that it's better to ask which price range is applicable to you if you live in Thailand! I hope this helps!
🏃The flow of the race
As for a marathon/running event in Thailand, we normally have to visit a race-kit collection, and go get BIB and souvenir items until the day before the race date*. If you are busy to go pick up, they can be sent by mail in most cases in advance. In our case, we try to go visit a race-kit collection as much as possible since we love to feel the exciting atmosphere there!
*Bangkok Marathon 2024 Racekit Collection: November 14th (THUR) - 16th (Sat)
We had already a plan on the Saturday, so we went to pick up them on the Friday.
📅2-days before the race date: November 15th (Fri)
The race-kit collection was held at... Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station!(The station is a so-called Bang Sue Station.)
We got off the train at the MRT Bang Sue Station, and first-off, looked for the Gate-4.
That was a bit hard to find the Gate-4 from the MRT station. Anyway, we kept walking to the opposite side of the MRT station.
At the dead end..., finally the Gate-4!
Just went through...
Then, went up to the M-floor by the escalator, which is in front of a food-court. And, finally...
Here we are!!!
There were check-in booths (at the right side) and some shops (at the left side). Because we were there around right before the closing time, it was not crowded. So, very easy to complete our check-in and recieve our race-kit!
Here is the souvenir items ↓
Some landmarks in Bangkok are printed on the souvenir T-shirt and a tote bag. This tote bag seems to be made of cotton. I can use this for eco bag!
📅 The race date: November 17th (Sun)
I was actually not feeling well on Saturday, a day before the race day. I was not able to sleep well... literally in bad physical condition... BUT, I headed to the starting point anyway. (AND, this is NOT recommended ⚠️because I gave up the race...)
The starting area was located on Sanam Chai Road, which is between Grand Palace and Saranrom Park.
↑Grand Palace was illuminated nicely✨ It was in the middle of the night, so those illumination looked amazing!
Quickly went to the bathroom in advance, and left our baggage at the cloakroom.
Then, we headed to the starting point!
👀The atmosphere of the race
What we were surprised at is...
We can stand in line on a first-come basis. (Bangkok Marathon 2024 didn't use a wave start.) Since I felt there were a lot participants, I guessed a wave start can be applied. But well... there was no mention about wave on BIB, so yeah... first-come basis.
Anyway, half marathon had started on 3:00am!
It was 28℃ according to my smartwatch and very humid😬💦
First-off, we were running towards the Rama-8 bridge from the Grand Palace area. During the road to the bridge, there were many beautiful architectures and palaces, which was fun to run!
Running around 4km, we had arrived at the Rama-8 bridge with a huge amount of sweat💦💦lol ↓
After passing the bridge, it seemed like mostly running on a highway. The road is well paved, and there is not a strong up/down hill. I feel it is probably good for breaking Personal Best. On the other hand, to keep running on highway can be boring, and it can be a bit hard to find out how many km we already ran. It might be better to find your own landmarks by looking at maps in advance.
Around 8km point, my sickness went worse and worse, so I gave up running. I was walking on... untill 11km of the turnaround point... then, dropped out at 12km point... Yes, DNF for my first time😂
✅Wrap-up
Even though I didn't finish the race, how did you like "Bangkok Marathon 2024🇹🇭"?
It seems almost running on a highway, which can be actually a RARE experience for you! It might be boring sometimes to keep running on this course, but if you look at it from the other side, you can stay focus on your running or breaking your personal best!
If you are interested in, try to take part in it! And, of course, don't forget to make sure which group of participation fee can be applied to you!
■One of the most popular marathon in Bangkok! Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok 2023
Running events in Bangkok are also fun and easy to join!↓
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