FIELDNOTES by Bussaya Hanchanachaikul

Event : The SCENIC ½ MARATHON PRANBURI 2022

Date : Sunday 27th March 2022

Time : 5.00 a.m. -7.00 a.m. (2 hours)

Place : Pranburi Seaside, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Thailand

5:00-5:30 a.m.

To my right is the starting point and the finishing line of the race. It is camped in a row of tents

in white decorated with banners of sponsorship. There are two MCs releasing the runners’

stresses and steps. They are entertaining the audience and interviewing some of the runners. To

my left is the black bubbling sea. I can hear the sound of the waves in a series clashing against

the reinforced concrete pier. The sea is windsurfing itself against the shore like a large school of

fish were popping up and down upon the water surface. Above my head is the dark sky with a

bright shine of the crescent moon. There was nothing but stars. Into the pitch-black sea, I saw a

line of green lights of those fishing boats in a distance and a red flashing second after second

from (what I believe) lighthouses flashing its signals on and off periodically.

5:30-6:00 a.m.

Now, the pitch-black sky is turning into a ray of red line. I can see a great range of shadowy

mountains towering the wavy black-and-blue sea. A foggy group of creamy clouds are scattering

over the mountains. It is clearer to see that the red lights coming from a few lighthouses and a

couple of fishing boats are swaying above the sea. Now, I can see figures of men in the fishing

boat while the sea waves are playing endlessly against the shore. The runners have already

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released from the starting point. Some of volunteers and staff of the event are finally free to place

their seats on plastic chairs chatting and making themselves cups of coffee inside their camps.

6:00-6:30 a.m.

Like watching the Pirate of Caribbean Sea movie, I can see seven fishing boats in the horizon.

The sky is turning orange mixing in a bright blue background like painting. Back at me is the

first winner of marathon reaching the finishing line. Both MCs work (not woke) hard again.

They say “Yeah! Welcome everyone back to the starting point!” but no sooner the MCs

announce, “Congratulations!!” The MCs then congratulate the finishers (individual, in pairs and

in groups). The sudden sound of screaming winner is piercing into my ears (of course, through

the speakers, though). Then a series of scream keep resounding one after another. The MCs keep

congratulating and complimenting them cheerfully and rigorously. Those finishers are guided to

report and obtain their medals. This time I am a complete observer because nobody knows why I

am sitting here nor what am I doing. I can see several finishers are packed up and have their

groups photographed. Some finishers are groups of families with lovely child and children.

Now, the sea is looking greener and livelier. The glowing sun is rising above the sea like a ball

of fire in the horizon. By the way, fewer fishing boats are seen from afar. More and more

finishers are flocking up and shooting their shots with medals and smiles (to their ears!) The

smell of salty seas and sweats reach to my nose. Dripping and dropping of drinking water from

plastic bottles and fabric bags are hung onto those finishers’ hands. The cool breeze from the

seaside gently touches my skin while a beam of heating sun is towering across the clear-off blue

sky over the restless waving sea.

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6:30-7:00 a.m.

At last, those patient runners arrive the finisher line. Here is where my friends and I meet after

we departed an hour ago. A couple of ambulance and cut-off cars are pushing their ways among

the running crowd, surpassing standing professional and amateur photographers shooting non-

stop snaps on winning finishers in the middle of the road and bystanders at the edge of sidewalk.

Meanwhile, those tough and tired finishers are gathering for queuing in line to receive their

squid-like trophies, squid-shaped medals, plastic bottles of cool water, and Thai-style breakfast

box, all of which are free offers. Dropping and dripping of sweats and water are seen

everywhere. Lastly, the MCs cheer up on 400 more runners in the course to keep up with their

own pace, while other finishers who have already accomplished their missions are gathering in

the finishing area to have their photos taken. By the way, over there come my friends with shiny

medals. I think it is time to take a group photo before we get back to our residence.

The observer’s commentary:

The main objectives of my observation are (1) what is the scenic marathon, (2) what people do in

the event, and (3) what I learn from the event. The reason why I participated in this event is

because my friends and I wanted to take a vacation somewhere by the seaside. Fortunately, the

scenic marathon was also held nearby our residence, and we had never taken parts before, so we

decided to join in the marathon too. At first, I thought this event would be boring and there

would not be many people since it is held in a very early morning in Prachuap Khiri Khan, which

means that it requires extra reservation and other expenses.

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But my assumption was wrong… I found it interesting to see that a huge crowd of runners were

altogether at the registration point before 4.30 a.m. (which means the participants should have

woken up at least 3-4 a.m.!!) Not only were there professionals and athletes, but many of them

were also amateur runners in different age groups: young, adult, and elderly. To my surprise,

most of them were friends and families, and several of them were parents accompanying with

kids, while others were teams, and all the rest were couples or ‘runner-lovers’. I was also excited

when I heard the horn honked and the songs were surrounding before and after the race.

However, it was totally silent when the runners had started off. Between 5.30 am. and 6.30 a.m.,

I noticed some staff, nurses, volunteers, police officers could relax and had some cups of coffee;

meanwhile, the DJ played more resounding songs to heat up the atmosphere before the finishers

soon arrived.

While reflecting onto my fieldnotes, I found it worth my while being there. In fact, I was not a

runner, but I was a ‘complete observer’ in this scenic marathon since nobody (except my friends)

knew what I was there for nor what I was doing! Indeed, not only was I excited to see the

arriving finishers, but I was also fascinated by the break of dawn. Amazingly, I must admit that I

felt such a thrill when I witnessed this breathtaking view with my own eyes. As soon as I turned

around to see other finishers behind me, what I saw in front of me was a huge crowd of the

participants, finishers, runners, and sea-viewers were capturing pictures of the rising sun with

their smartphones and cameras. More strikingly, what I found most precious there is neither the

BIB nor a certificate of participation, but it is the memento that I observed as well as the vibes of

the sea and the beating hearts of those runners who never give up. Now I understand what the

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‘specialty’ of ‘scenic marathon’ is, and why many people become runners in this race, that is,

running is not just a physical fitness, but it is vital for runners to have a mental strength too!!