Activity 19/2010 - October 17 - City Run

Distance : 8.08km
Route: Prangin Mall/Komtar -> J.Dr Lim Chwee Leong -> L. Carnarvon -> L. Acheh -> L.Armenian -> L. Canon -> L. Pantai -> L. Light -> L. Farquhar -> J Sultan Ahmad Shah -> J. Larut -> J. Burma -> J Pangkor -> J. Macallister -> J. Penang -> J. Dr Lim Chwee Leong > Komtar

This is an annual event organised by Kwong Wah Yit Poh daily, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The distance of this event had been increased slightly as from last year by including certain roads covering certain heritage sites in the city. Nevertheless ambiguity remains as to the official distance of 10km published by the organsers all these years. After the addition of the new route in these heritage sites last year, the actual distance was increased from about 7 km to about 8.5km. Yesterday's route was only 8.08km according to my GPS watch even with the omission of about 0.5km to the Esplanade.

It is misleading when one looks at the winners' time of 30"s for a distance of 10km. Wonder how long are the organisers going to hang on to this obvious shortfall error of about 20% in distance. Heard the distance of this event of more than 10 years ago was actually longer which included part of Weld Quay.

The race started well with the flag-off by our Chief Minister at 7:15am. Weather conditions were favourable especially after a rain on the previous night like what happened a fortnight ago during the Tanjong 10km Run. Rain seems to a worrying factor for the exceptional many event organisers and participants these days.

There were more than a thousand participants at the start and what surprised me was that merely after 750 meters after the start suddenly I saw the 1st 'wrist band collecting point which is right at the tight corner of a narrow U-turn of Carnarvon St. causing a massive congestion for runners rushing for the bands. Understand it does not serve the purpose to give wrist bands before the Start to the not quarantined runners but to do after a short distance when the runners are still massive is not the alternative.

Anyway the event, with the technical assistance from the PAAA was well organised.

Below are the results of our top trophy winners:
Women Junior:
1st - Chen Ee Ven --- 41:06
Women Senior:
5th - Gan Hoay Jen - 44:31
7th - Lee Heng Kiat - 44:55
Men Junior
5th - Liew Chien Sioen - 33:40
6th - Tan Ah Ching (Ah Soon) - 33:51
7th - Tan Cheng Jin ---- 33:57
(these results were taken from the print-out after the race at the Finish from the organisers but there is a slight variation in the results published in today's KWYP)

Congratulations the the winners and thank you to all the runners who participated in this race.
Thank you all the helpers who went up to Gelugor to collect the bibs.
Thank you again MLing and thank you Ah Soon for the delicious food you prepared and brought along. Thank you MLing and SK for the photographs.

Click here for a photo album courtesy of Mei Ling