WINDY BRIDGES

Chew Yiheng takes a trip to Taiwan to run in the Gallardia Islands Penghu Cross-Sea Marathon

- Chew Yiheng

The Penghu or Pescadores ("Fisherman") Islands are an archipelago of 90 islands and islets along the Taiwan Straits. Certified as one of "the Most Beautiful Bays in the World" at the world bay congress, Penghu features picturesque scenery with its saturated turquoise waters and white beaches as well as rich humanity and culture built on 400 years of history.

Once a year, the Gaillardia Islands Penghu Cross-Sea Marathon takes place here with runners taking to the roads and bridges that link the main islands. For 2019, the event was held on 3rd November.

At the invitation from the Taiwan Tourism Board, I arrived to experience the race for myself. I had signed up for the half-marathon, and the event certainly went beyond my expectations.

After a fun-filled night at the Penghu International Bay Light Festival loading up on practically every street food and seafood delicacy the island had to offer, along with the hearty gala dinner put on by the lovely organisers, any normal person would have chosen the option of diving back under the warm and cosy sheets of the hotel bed.

However, the athlete inside of me decided it wanted a piece of the marathon action and I soon found my groggy self in my running kit at the Hotel Lobby chowing down on a hearty red bean bun at 5.00 AM while waiting for our shuttle service to arrive.

BEFORE THE RACE