JEFFREY Kok, 67, simply loves to run and he will be leading a team of veterans — the Impossible Dream Team — in the Ocean-to-Ocean relay in Bangkok on Sunday.
The 120km relay, involving eight participants, will start at Lang Suan on the Pacific Ocean and end at Ranong (Indian Ocean). Kok, who is taking part in the Relay, labelled as the Sunrise to Sunset Run, and his entourage of 24 participants, will start in the Mixed Senior category.
“It is a very interesting and exciting run. Each participant will take turns to complete the run. A van will accompany each team throughout the route.
“The first runner will run about 5km and hop into the van. Then he or she takes over the baton from the eighth runner.
Ready to roll: The veterans training for their run. “In other words, each runner will have to run a total 15km. It will take about 12 hours for us to complete the 120km.
“The top runners are capable of finishing the race in seven hours,” Kok said after a training session at the Bukit Aman car park recently.
The Ocean-to-Ocean relay was promoted during the Standard Chartered-Kuala Lumpur Marathon in July. The organisers had set up a booth, displaying the medals and T-shirts and distributing brochures to the crowd.
Kok said the organising chairman Dr Auchai Kanjanapitak was also present to encourage Malaysians to take part in the exciting event.
“Soon, word spread and we managed to get 24 runners. But most of them were veterans and were active in road races. They were also excited about the event. Based on their regular participation in road races, they should be physically strong for the run,” Kok said.
Seasoned runner K Krishnan, adidas head of running and an active 10km runner, said he was prepared for the challenge.
“It was something new and I had signed up in July when the organisers were in Kuala Lumpur. I am proud to lead a team with a total age of 420 years. We are determined to complete the challenge,” Krishnan said.
The winning team with the lowest running time will receive a trophy. The top five teams in each of nine categories will receive a finisher medal and jacket.
The Malaysian team will leave on Friday by bus. After arriving in Hatyai, they will board a hired van and travel about six hours to Lang Suan.
The participants will be treated to a feast after the completion of the Ocean-to-Ocean relay.
Kok, who has completed 30 marathons in his running career, said the Malaysians would be part of a big celebration.
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