還記得兩個月前 @marylaw 關於跑馬拉松的文章嗎？ 就在這文章後面的討論中，我才意識到原來下年度的渣打馬拉松已經接受報名了。我亦立刻報名了。
About two months ago @marylaw shared her marathon experiences in the post, I was reminded that enrollment of next year's 10K run. Therefore I registered myself at once.
近幾年大會改變了報名的方式，由早年的先到先得，網上 + 郵遞 報名，轉為先報名，後抽籤的方式。之前先到先得，好處是即時知道成功與否。但是幾萬名想報名的人，同一時間湧入報名網站，弄得網絡嚴重擠塞。想要成功報名就得忍受漫長的等待，動輒兩，三個小時才能進入報名的網頁。之後又要再忍耐遲鈍緩慢的速度去完成填寫資料和付款的程序。真的是很折磨人的。
Registration method changed in last few years. It used to be an online or by mail, first-come-first-serve registration. With this method, you got the result of registration right the way. However. in order to register the event, one had to wait for two or three hours just to get into the registation home page. Then with super slow responses, one had to spend long time to enter necessary information and complete payment online.
新的報名方則容許參加者在一段頗長的時間內(應該有幾個星期之久),先到網站填好個人資料。大會在截止日期之後再抽籤決定成功報名的名單。當中會不會有些人(例如以前曾經參加過並有一定成績)會得到優先處理這個不可知否。無論如何，一般人都要等待大會抽籤的結果。
The new method asked the runners to register any time before deadline, which was normally with a period of 2 ~ 3 weeks. Organizer would then randomly draw and decide who could join the event. You can do nothing but wait for result.
今天上午回到自己的位置，發現了一則電郵，標題如下：
I received an email this morning with subject like this:
原來抽籤結果已經出爐了。我今年亦得到報名的位置。為免參加的席位出什麼差池，我立即跟隨指示，上網付款，確認我的參賽位置。
That's the result of my registration. I got a place in the event. In order to secure my place, I followed instructions on the email and settled payment online.
回想起第一次參加這項國際盛事，是因為在舊公司的一位同事不停的慫恿及鼓勵下報名的。當我都是抱着一試的心態，反正未必一定能報名成功。結果當然就是幸運的給我成功了。既然已經報名，都是參加十公里的賽事，就要盡力去完成。那就是我第一次長跑訓練。其實我是什麼都不懂的。幸好該名慫恿我的同事從旁協助，訓練我。結果居然使我成功完成十公里的項目。忘了說那一位同事其實是一名業餘馬拉松跑手，聽說可以在3小時內完成全馬拉松。所以有了他專業的協助，我才能成功。
It was because one of my ex-colleague in my previous company kept pushing me to join that year's 10K run. I then decided if I could get a place in the 10K Run, I would then participate. Somehow, I managed to enroll that year. Therefore, I started my first long rum training. For a first time trainee, I won't success if my colleague, who was a full Marathon runner, didn't train me and support me. I heard that he could complete a full marathon within 3 hours.
後來我們相繼離開了舊公司，所自去了不同的公司工作，所以亦沒有再一起練跑。不過我仍然每年都報名參加這個項目，即是十公里跑。除了14年因為出差人不在香港，錯過了報名的日子而沒有參與外，我每年都有跑這個項目。
We both left my previous company later and joined different companies. That's why we didn't train together again. I still participated the 10K run almost every year, except for 2014 because I missed the enrollment day as I was traveling.
現在又差不多是開始訓練的時間了，看來我的晚跑又要開始了。
It's about time to start training again. I guess my late night run should take place soon.
