ISLAMABAD:To keep the healthy spirit burning, a running competition has been planned on February 20 by Islamabad Running Club (IRC) in coordination with the Directorate of Sports, Culture and Tourism Capital Development Authority /Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad.
The 10-km run will start at 11:00 a.m. from D-Chowk, where the participants can register themselves, and conclude at the same spot. The registrations will be opened at 9:30 a.m. and ended at 10:40 a.m.
Other organisers include Islamabad Cycling Association and Islamabad Capital Territory Administration, and The Diabetes Centre.
Founding member IRC Bilal Ehsan told reporter, “This time we are expecting around 150-200 racers.”
“We believe that a healthy lifestyle is the key to beat this virus and to improve the immunity system. Our members have had COVID-19 in the past but with the grace of Almighty their active lifestyle helped them to develop good response mechanisms and they came out of it very well,” said Bilal when asked about the prevailing pandemic.
At the conclusion of the event, the MCI will award cash prizes to the winners besides gift hampers, certificates and trophies to the athletes.
Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Nawaz ul Ameen Mengal, Deputy Commissioner ICT Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat, Deputy Commissioner Chakwal Capt (R.) Bilal Hashmi, Chief Officer MCI Capt (R.) Syed Ali Asghar, Director Sports Culture & Tourism Aamir Shehzad, Deputy Secretary CDA Shah Jehan and DDG Admin/HR MCI Laiq Zaman have been invited as special guests, who will confer the prizes to the winners.
This is the second time IRC is conducting a 10km running contest, with the first one held on New Year that saw over 200 contenders bringing their A-game on the field. Professional and aspiring runners of both genders, belonging to Lahore, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Chakwal, KPK and the twin cities took part. The winner in the male category finished the distance in 24.15 mins while the female counterpart wrapped up in 34.17 mins.
The chief guest to the previous relay was Ambassador of UAE in Pakistan Hammad Obaid Ibrahim, who also participated along with DC Chakwal.
The running club, which offers free of charge exercise sessions for the general public in local parks, was formed in 2021 to fulfill the need of a proper running club in Islamabad. The team hopes to inculcate the spirit of healthy living by collaborating with the government and various organisations through such running events.