# Penang Bridge International Marathon

The Penang Bridge International Marathon (Malay: Maraton Antarabangsa Jambatan Pulau Pinang) or Penang Bridge Marathon is an annual marathon event held at Penang Bridge in Penang, Malaysia, since 1984. It is organised by Penang State Tourism Development office (PETACH) and fully supported by the Penang State Government. It is known as the biggest run in the country. During the competition, participants run over the bridge and along a scenic coastal highway.

## History

The event started in 1984 as a road race from Esplanade to Gurney Drive. With the completion of Penang Bridge in 1985, it is usually held there in late November annually since 1986, with the exception of 2014 and 2024 when the events were held at Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge which is also known as the Penang Second Bridge. The 2014 edition began in Batu Maung, while the 2024 edition began in Batu Kawan.
In 2006, after a break for a number of years, the Penang Bridge International Marathon was revived as "a combination" of the Penang International Marathon, which was last held in 1999, and the Penang Bridge Run, which had been held from 1992 to 2003.
In 2020, the competition was rebranded with the introduction of the new logo as well as the tagline "The Asian Challenge", reflecting the vision of making it into an internationally acknowledged marathon run event.

### Controversies

In 2016, the event was rescheduled in order to accommodate requests from the parents of schoolchildren, causing trouble for runners who had already booked flights for the race.
In 2017, there were a number of issues, including issuing shirts of incorrect sizes, running out of water, handing out expired chocolate bars, delaying the reporting of results, and denying some podium finishers an onstage presentation. In addition, some runners waited for two hours for finisher medals, and over three hours for food.

### Cancellations

In 2018, the 10k race was cancelled for the first time "due to heavy rain and lightning", with all registered runners given finisher medals as a consolation.
The 2020 in-person edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all entries automatically transferred to 2021, and all registrants given the option of transferring their entry to another runner.

## Course

The current version of the marathon, for most of the time since 2008, runs on a loop course that begins and ends at the outdoor car park of the Queensbay Mall.
The course first enters Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, which runs along the eastern coast of Penang Island, with runners first running south and then back up north before turning back south to cross the 13.5 km (8.4 mi) bridge. Shortly after crossing the bridge, runners turn around in Perai and run across the bridge again, before heading south to finish back at the Queensbay Mall.
| Year | Bridge | Start | Finish | Turning point |
| 2003; 2006–2007 | Penang Bridge | Gelugor National Type Primary School | Universiti Sains Malaysia Main Campus, Gelugor | Perai |
| 2008–2013; 2015–2023 | Penang Bridge | Queensbay Mall, Bayan Lepas | Queensbay Mall, Bayan Lepas | Perai |
| 2014 | Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge | Batu Maung Interchange Ground, Batu Maung | Batu Maung Interchange Ground, Batu Maung | Batu Kawan |
| 2024 | Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge | ASPEN Vision City, Batu Kawan | ASPEN Vision City, Batu Kawan | Batu Maung |

## Other races

The Penang Bridge International Marathon also incorporates a half-marathon event and a 10-km run event. The competition also had a fun run event which was introduced in 2007, but it was removed in 2018 as part of rebranding exercise.

## Winners
### Open category

Key: Course record
| Year | Men's winner | Time | Women's winner | Time | Rf. |
| 1984 | Budd Coates (USA) | 2:29:59 | Leslie Watson (GBR) | 3:02:43 | |
| 1985 | Hiroaki Oyagi (JPN) | 2:27:52 | Fung-fan Wong (HKG) | 3:01:08 | |
| 1986 | Shin Yen-ho (TPE) | 2:28:14 | Satsuko Hanafusa (JPN) | 2:58:00 | |
| 1987 | Jimmy de la Torre (PHI) | 2:29:52 | Satsuko Hanafusa (JPN) | 2:54:58 | |
| 1988 | Doug Kurtis (USA) | 2:29:40 | Satsuko Hanafusa (JPN) | 3:10:24 | |
| 1989 | Amaram Raman (MYS) | 2:35:09 | Sunita Godara (IND) | 3:03:02 | |
| 1990 | Trevor Scott (AUS) | 2:34:13 | Sunita Godara (IND) | 3:00:56 | |
| 1991 | Hsu Gi-sheng (TPE) | 2:29:29 | Sunita Godara (IND) | 3:01:29 | |
| 1992 | Trevor Scott (AUS) | 2:31:15 | Sunita Godara (IND) | 2:55:06 | |
| 1993 | Daniel Shungea (KEN) | 2:26:12 | Karen Moir (AUS) | 2:55:12 | |
| 1994 | Daniel Shungea (KEN) | 2:28:59 | Franca Fiacconi (ITA) | 2:56:49 | |
| — | | not held from 1995 to 2002 | not held from 1995 to 2002 | not held from 1995 to 2002 | not held from 1995 to 2002 |
| 8 June 2003 | John Kelai (KEN) | 2:29:56 | Yuan Yufang (MYS) | 3:09:19 | |
| — | not held from 2004 to 2005 | not held from 2004 to 2005 | not held from 2004 to 2005 | not held from 2004 to 2005 | |
| 30 July 2006 | Samuel Tarus (KEN) | 2:37:11 | Devamani Sothie (MYS) | 3:21:02 |
| 24 June 2007 | Sammy Kurgat (KEN) | 2:26:00 | Devamani Sothie (MYS) | 3:16:02 |
| 16 November 2008 | Benjamin Metto (KEN) | 2:24:50 | Doris Chepchumba (KEN) | 3:14:04 |
| 22 November 2009 | Kennedy Melly (KEN) | 2:23:55 | Doris Chepchumba (KEN) | 3:08:37 |
| 21 November 2010 | Alex Melly (KEN) | 2:24:30 | Rose Chesire (KEN) | 2:59:14 | |
| 20 November 2011 | Charles Kigen (KEN) | 2:21:56.9 | Margaret Wangui (KEN) | 3:06:38.6 | |
| 18 November 2012 | Isaac Kimaiyo (KEN) | 2:31:02 | Monika Fischer (GER) | 3:25:10 | |
| 17 November 2013 | James Cherutich (KEN) | 2:24:42.8 | Naomi Wangui (KEN) | 2:53:03.7 | |
| 16 November 2014 | Alex Melly (KEN) | 2:19:47.1 | Fridah Lodepa (KEN) | 3:04:09.6 | |
| 22 November 2015 | Julius Seurei (KEN) | 2:22:04.9 | Fridah Lodepa (KEN) | 2:47:46.2 | |
| 27 November 2016 | Bernard Muthoni (KEN) | 2:27:42.0 | Margaret Wangui (KEN) | 2:53:07.3 | |
| 26 November 2017 | Josphat Too (KEN) | 2:23:30.2 | Margaret Wangui (KEN) | 2:46:44.9 | |
| 25 November 2018 | James Tallam (KEN) | 2:24:22.0 | Peninah Kigen (KEN) | 2:46:52.9 | |
| 24 November 2019 | Moses Kiptoo (KEN) | 2:20:05 | Peninah Kigen (KEN) | 2:51:50 | |
| – | Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic from 2020 to 2021 | Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic from 2020 to 2021 | Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic from 2020 to 2021 | Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic from 2020 to 2021 | |
| 11 December 2022 | Geoffrey Birgen (KEN) | 2:14:35 | Peninah Kigen (KEN) | 2:46:07 | |
| 17 December 2023 | Anderson Saitoti Seroi (KEN) | 2:18:43 | Truphena Chepchirchir (KEN) | 2:44:41 | |
| 15 December 2024 | Moses Mbugua Gaikarira (KEN) | 2:18:34 | Rita Jeptoo Busienei (KEN) | 2:40:01 | |

### Veteran category

| Date | Men's winner | Time (h:m:s) | Women's winner | Time (h:m:s) |
| 16 November 2008 | Lautredoux Jean-Pierre (FRA) | 2:40:06 | Not contested | Not contested |
| 22 November 2009 | Lautredoux Jean-Pierre (FRA) | 2:35:26 | Not contested | Not contested |
| 21 November 2010 | Phillip Chirchir Lagat (KEN) | 2:45:36 | Not contested | Not contested |
| 20 November 2011 | Phillip Chirchir Lagat (KEN) | 2:45:27 | Not contested | Not contested |
| 18 November 2012 | Phillip Chirchir Lagat (KEN) | 2:58:07 | Monika Fischer (GER) | 3:25:10 |
| 17 November 2013 | Phillip Chirchir Lagat (KEN) | 2:50:55 | Deborah Chinn (USA) | 3:23:20 |
| 16 November 2014 | Julius Rotich (KEN) | 2:38:01 | Margaret Njuguna (KEN) | 2:58:41 |
| 22 November 2015 | Caleb Chemweno (KEN) | 2:30:07 | Margaret Njuguna (KEN) | 3:08:06 |
| 27 November 2016 | Hillary Koech (KEN) | 2:33:36 | Yuan Yu Fang (MAS) | 3:25:45 |
| 26 November 2017 | Joseph Mwangi Ngare (KEN) | 2:30:45 | Julia Wangui Njari (KEN) | 3:00:10 |
| 25 November 2018 | Joseph Mwangi Ngare (KEN) | 2:34:37 | Julia Wangui Njari (KEN) | 2:58:30 |
| 24 November 2019 | Joseph Mwangi Ngare (KEN) | 2:29:58 | Margaret Njuguna (KEN) | 2:52:19 |
| – | Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic from 2020 to 2021 | Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic from 2020 to 2021 | Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic from 2020 to 2021 | Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic from 2020 to 2021 |
| 11 December 2022 | Joseph Mwangi Ngare (KEN) | 2:28:29 | Margaret Njuguna (KEN) | 2:58:30 |
| 17 December 2023 | Joseph Mwangi Ngare (KEN) | 2:24:16 | Jane Wanjiru Muriuki (KEN) | 2:58:23 |
| 15 December 2024 | Geoffrey Birgen (KEN) | 2:24:31 | Mercy Jelimo Too (KEN) | 2:59:06 |

### Malaysian category

| Date | Men's winner | Time (h:m:s) | Women's winner | Time (h:m:s) |
| 20 November 2011 | Shahruddin Hashim | 2:54:46 | Cheah Meei Meei | 3:46:43 |
| 18 November 2012 | Shahruddin Hashim | 2:49:27 | Ling Mee Eng | 3:51:19 |
| 17 November 2013 | Shahruddin Hashim | 2:46:14 | Ewe Bee Hong | 3:45:12 |
| 16 November 2014 | Fabian Osmond Daimon | 2:47:03 | Ng Sun Nee | 3:38:12 |
| 22 November 2015 | Muhaizar Mohammad | 2:42:48 | Loh Chooi Fern | 3:29:16 |
| 27 November 2016 | Nik Fakaruddin Ismail | 2:40:03 | Yuan Yu Fang | 3:25:45 |
| 26 November 2017 | Nik Fakaruddin Ismail | 2:43:34 | Loh Chooi Fern | 3:28:14 |
| 25 November 2018 | Nik Fakaruddin Ismail | 2:45:54 | Loh Chooi Fern | 3:17:30 |
| 24 November 2019 | Nik Fakaruddin Ismail | 2:40:53 | Noor Amelia Musa | 3:18:51 |
| – | Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic from 2020 to 2021 | Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic from 2020 to 2021 | Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic from 2020 to 2021 | Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic from 2020 to 2021 |
| 11 December 2022 | Poo Vasanthan Subramaniam | 2:37:59 | Noor Amelia Musa | 3:16:21 |
| 17 December 2023 | Nik Fakaruddin Ismail | 2:43:57 | Noor Amelia Musa | 3:14:36 |
| 15 December 2024 | Muhamad Haziq Hamzah | 2:46:19 | Tiffany Lee Siok Chin | 3:09:06 |