GEORGE TOWN: To mark 64 years of Merdeka from the British, Ahmed Faisal Mohd Lazim ran 64km around Penang island.
It took him nine hours, meaning he ran at an average speed of 7kph.
Doing what he does best: Ahmed Faisal has been doing this solo run every Malaysia Day for five years. — KT GOH/The StarTaking advantage of Malaysia Day last Thursday, the Maybank executive finished his solo run at 9.30pm and dedicated it to the country and pandemic frontliners.
“I hope to contribute something to the country through something that I am good at, which is running.
“Although I am not a competitive runner, I can run, so I want to use this to inspire others,” said Ahmed Faisal, 47, who believes that Malaysians – regardless of race – are united when it comes to sports.
“So I hope to bring Malaysians together with this run.
“When we see Malaysian athletes competing in the Olympics or other events, we naturally come together and I want to foster this spirit,” he said before he began his run from Al-Bukhary Mosque in Lebuh Sungai Pinang.
Ahmed Faisal’s route took him through Persiaran Bayan Indah, Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, Gurney Drive and the George Town heritage enclave before finishing at the Penang Muslim League building in Queen Street.
The weather was good although he tripped and fell over a pothole about 40km into his run.
“This is the fifth consecutive year that I am doing a solo run on Malaysia Day, and I hope to do this every year.
“My record distance was back in 2018 when I ran 93km from Jalan Pegawai in Alor Setar to Wisma YMSC in King Street here.
“This year, I continued this solo run after a small start ceremony by the Penang Muslim League.
“The run this year is a bit different with the Covid-19 pandemic. It is almost a symbolic, signifying that the challenges we face have not ended.
“Through this run, I extend my support and gratitude to all our frontliners who have been fighting the pandemic for over a year,” he added.