WITH 11 days to go, DiGi employees are stepping up their practice sessions to prepare for various races in the upcoming Penang Bridge International Marathon.
Since July, various fun sporting activities and recreational challenges like basketball and volleyball matches, runs around Shah Alam, Wii games over lunch, wellness talks, treadmill challenges and many more were organised with the aim of preparing employees for the big race.
“Over 1,200 staff members have signed up. Prior to kick-starting the programme, we conducted a poll to gauge employee response to running the marathon. Poll results were positive and it was a go,” said DiGi corporate administration head Khor Choo Lin.
DiGi staff from all around Malaysia will board about 80 buses and make their way to Penang to chalk up various marathon miles. While most will be participating in the 10km Fun Run, close to 70 staff members will be tackling the 21km half marathon while more than 10 have signed up for the full 42km marathon.
Cheryl: ‘I wanted to show everyone, including others like myself, that we can all do that extra mile.’ “It is our tradition to have a big annual activity that we do as a company. Last year, we broke the Malaysia Book of Records for forming the longest human domino. Not an easy feat but we pulled it off,” said Khor.
“This year, we want to push the envelope. The journey of running a marathon requires a lot of preparation and not a challenge that can be accomplished overnight.
“It calls for a change in one’s lifestyle and mindset. Ultimately, healthier and fitter employees can only mean a stronger, better DiGi,” she added.
Head of business performance management Benjamin Tan, 34, said he was inspired by how active and fit their chief executive officer is.
“When I found out that even the Fun Run was 10km, it suddenly seemed quite long,” he said.
Undeterred, he started training in August and found himself losing 6kg, a fact that has made his wife a happy woman.
“My wife has always wanted me to start working out. So, the company has just effectively fulfilled her wish.
“Doing it together with a team, keeping tabs on each other, setting goals and encouraging each other is a great way of sticking to it,” he added.
Fellow staff Cheryl Mohan, a 27-year-old who has had cerebral palsy since birth said her disability has not hindered her from joining her fellow teammates at the various training and fun activities in preparation for the run.
She plans to do between 100m and 150m of the Fun Run.
“I have done walks for charity before too. And I was part of the human domino activity last year.
“I wanted to show everyone, including others like myself, that we can all do that extra mile. It is also great to go along and be part of the team, of the atmosphere,” said Cheryl.
Shobanbabu Appalnaido, 36, from the network, planning and rollout department, said he had tried various activities such as futsal and cycling but nothing seemed to work for him.
But in preparation for the run, Shobanbabu has run up to 10km and has been training for more.
“I have never in my entire life ran more than 5km until March this year. It is cool to be motivated. I get updates from my friends on how they are doing in their training.
“I am targeting the half marathon in Penang. It is great to come to work and do something as a group in a vibrant environment,” he said.
The emphasis of the challenge, Khor described, was not the marathon itself but the journey each employee has taken and the impact to their lives in the long term.
“Being fit has become part of our agenda and we have engaged trainers and even nutritionists to help us.
“The journey has made many of us go beyond our comfort zone, own the ‘can-do’ mantra, become healthier individuals and a stronger team,” she said.
The public can look forward to some fun activities and prize giveaways when they make pit stops at towns like Kampar, Bidor and Taiping en route to race at the Penang Bridge International Marathon.
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