Get Fit
TEXT
NICOLE CHIA FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
PHOTO
JASON QUAH/ST PHOTO
T
he 2019 edition of The Straits Times
Run will see one of its youngest
participants in five-year-old
Ashton Ong. He will participate in the
new 3.5km Fun Run, which was created
to mark Singapore Press Holdings’ 35th
anniversary, with his family.
His family comprises parents Danny
Ong and Christine Chew, and Ashton’s
two siblings – Emilee, nine, and Brigton,- They will be joined by his parents’
14-year-old godson Damien.
Ong, 43, an aquatics educator who
teaches people with special needs how
to swim, participated in last year’s ST Run
with Brigton and Damien.
He said he was impressed with the
ambience and organisation of the 5km
race. “(The run) was not tedious – while we
were jogging, there were people cheering
and live performances under one of the
bridges, which made the run interesting.
“There were different activities along
the way to keep us motivated.”
The Ong family of five also participated
in the 5km category at the recent Osim
Sundown Marathon. Ong said the fact that
Ashton completed that run was “amazing”,
adding: “I told my wife to let him try and if
he really cannot complete it, it is okay.
“He managed the race quite well – he
ran the first one-third, then eventually got
tired so he walked, but he completed the
whole 5km.”
Ashton and Chew, 38, are looking
forward to more family bonding time at
the Sept 29 ST Run. Asked what he enjoys
most about running, the boy said: “I get to
run with (my parents).”
Chew, a valuer, added: “It is good
family interaction time when the kids can
be away from their gadgets. Even whenAshton couldn’t run during the 5km (at the
Sundown Marathon), we spent a lot of time
talking and looking at the scenery.
“So, it is a very good (chance) to
interact with family, and 3.5km is very
manageable for his age.”
Though Brigton and Damien do not
display as much enthusiasm for running as
Ashton, Ong believes that running together
is an important activity. They frequently
swim and cycle together as well. Ong said:
“I think it is important to maintain an active
lifestyle as a family.
“It is not just about doing activities as
a family, but also to push their limits and
(learn the importance) of perseverance and
not giving up. It is important to finish what
we start.”- To sign up for the ST Run, visit
http://www.straitstimesrun.com.
Mr Danny Ong and Ms Christine Chew with their children (from left)
Brigton, Ashton and Emilee, as well as their godson Damien.It doesn’t matter if you aren’t a regular runner. The 3.5km
Fun Run at ST Run 2019 is beginner-friendly, and promises a
great bonding time for friends and family members.
A RUN FOR ALL
SHAPE AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2019| GET FIT | 63