Better a year later
The recent run along the New Pantai Expressway was wellorganised and lively, writes Syida Lizta Amirul Ihsan
IT was 15 minutes before flag-off for the 10km run at the IJM-Allianz Duo Highway Challenge and I was frantically looking for a surau for Subuh prayer. There was no mobile one onsite. There’s a mosque next to the starting line but given the sea of humans building up prior to flag-off, it was quite impossible to get there.
Never mind, I thought. After the flagoff, I would make a detour and pray there first, before continuing my run.
Well, it turned out that the small gate next to the highway was locked, presumably for safety reasons. I was naturally upset. This was a highway run and I did not expect to find a mobile surau anywhere along the 10km route.
I had wanted to cross this race off from my list of good races because the flag-off time was close to the call for Subuh prayer. The race organisers should have set up a mobile surau at the starting line area.
Runners come from far too, and they need the reassurance that they can pray before they run. It’s the age of inclusivity, so some thought has to go into organising events.
About 10 minutes after flag-off, I found a small surau at the small building next to the toll plaza. Some runners went to use the restroom. Muslim runners took their ablution and pray. I gave a sigh of relief. Thank God for this little surau as I could then perform my religious obligation while doing what I like on weekend mornings — run.
HIGHWAY RUN
The New Pantai Highway (NPE) run attracted more than 9,000 participants. They started their run from Sunway Pyramid, making their way through the all-new Pantai Sentral Park interchange ( the 21km route) towards Pantai Dalam before returning to the finishing line. I’m sure everyone thoroughly enjoyed the breathtaking view of the sunrise against the city skyline.
Runners who completed the first leg of the challenge at Besraya Highway in April were excited to give their best for the second leg at NPE Highway as the Champion of the IJM Allianz Duo Highway Challenge.
The final winners were selected based on the fastest combined timing from the 21km and 13km at the NPE and Besraya Highway Challenge respectively.
Chief executive officer and managing director of IJM Corporation Datuk Soam Heng Choon says the company hopes to continue providing a safe and well-organised venue for runners, such as full closure of highway to ensure safety and wide spaces for them to run in.
“We have a lot of passion for sports and we are committed to hosting an event that promotes a healthy lifestyle and wellness, as well as community engagement, all the while having a great time doing it.”
Allianz Malaysia CEO Zakri Mohd Khir says seeing runners has assured the company that its efforts in supporting initiatives that advocate healthy living among fellow Malaysians is paying off.
“We will continue to support and promote events such as these to benefit the community and encourage people to live healthy.”
WELL-ORGANISED
Being a casual runner, I felt this year’s race was better organised compared to last year.
The bottleneck at the finishing line was greatly minimised with more volunteers giving out medals and ticking off that little box on your bib.
There was adequate space for runners to get their water, sandwiches and bananas too.
As for the sponsors’ booth, they were spread out along the front on Sunway Pyramid, with the finisher tee booth (for 21km finishers) located at the end.
The arrangement reduces congestion and allows space for warm-down. It also made it easy for runners to walk around to sample cereals and drinks without feeling claustrophobic.
The 10km route was similar to last year’s — a simple loop on the New Pantai Expressway.
The 21km uses a different road to show runners the new Pantai Sentral Park interchange but it was still a relatively easy route.
Overall, with the improvement in organisation — the frequent water stations and post-run sandwiches were a boost too). This is one run runners should tick in their yearly running calendar.
Well, I guess since national marathoner Muhaizar Mohamad had taken part, the organisers must have done something right to deserve him there.
The IJM Allianz Duo Highway Challenge will be back next year on March 31 for Besraya and April 28 for NPE.