By Ling Hui
KUCHING, May 8: The unimpressive-looking booth that supplies mini bananas as energy boosters to runners throughout the La Promenade Fitness Weekend run this morning is undoubtedly the day’s winner.
The banana station, prepared by Hock Seng Lee’s (HSL) La Promenade Mall, received no medals, cash prizes, or special acknowledgement. Still, it deserves the credit along with those who operated the booth.
As early as 5am, piles of mini bananas were already stacked neatly on the tables for the consumption of everybody there at the venue, and the supply flow never stopped.
La Promenade Mall had prepared 150kg worth of bananas, meaning over 7,500 pieces, and not a single one was left by the end of the event.
Though many were looking forward to the Milo truck that recalls childhood memories, it seemed like no one could go without the bananas!
Another highlight of the morning event was the “Best Dressed” competition which featured unexpected costumes from the Japanese kimono to the shark from the classic movie ‘Jaws’.
Harjun, who ran in the 10km category, was crowned the first runner-up for the Best Dressed category for wearing a shirt with a bloody shark head protruding from his chest.
Back to the main event, Izzat Haikas (male champion) and Lim Boa Yang (female champion) bagged RM1,000 cash prize each for clocking in the best times in the 21km half marathon in just 1:23:26 and 1:36:22, respectively.
On to the 10km category, Goliath Valeron crossed the finishing line first in just 30 minutes though the participants were not timed. Law Ngik Ching, on the other hand, is the female champion in this category.
The top 10 winners of both 21km and 10km categories were handed medals and cash prizes totalling RM10,000 from Kota Samarahan MP Datuk Rubiah Wang today before she proceeded to flag off runners of the 3km category at 7am.
For the 3km run, most participants were there to have fun or for a leisurely morning walk. Some even brought their children along for a stroll along Jalan La Promenade, featuring 1,800 pine trees.
It was a rare opportunity for the public to explore that far into the La Promenade Precinct compound and get a peek at the Precinct Premiere, Grande and Luxe houses, as the area is usually guarded.
The end of the run also concluded the two-day La Promenade Fitness Weekend, the largest fitness event ever organised in Sarawak since 2019.
Like the recent Sarawak Bonsai Open Championship, La Promenade Mall will make the Fitness Weekend an annual affair to continue engaging with the community. — DayakDaily
