SIBU: Sergeant Donny Engkas, 37, hopes he will not miss the Borneo Post (BP) Run this Aug 30 as he missed last year’s marathon when duty called.
Sergeant Donny Engkas showing his certificates.
The marathon man said he registered for the run last year but failed to keep the date due to work commitment.
“I showed up, but I was on duty. I didn’t regret for not being able to run (because I was on duty). My duty is my priority of course, but nevertheless, I will never miss any opportunity to run in a marathon or any running activity if I have a chance,” he said.
This coming BP Run, he will be accompanied by his 12-year-old son Andersson Donny.
Donny, who is very passionate about running, has always encouraged his son to take up running.
He said it was important to nurture and to instill the habit of an active lifestyle at a very young age.
“Andersson started running with me at the age of seven. I trained him how to run, how to be fit, both physically and mentally,” he pointed out.
Andersson is an athlete in his school.
Besides both short and long distance running, he is also good in the long jump event.
Donny described his son as a great athlete, and said his son was free to take up games like football, basketball or badminton.
“That is up to him, but I want him to run because in every sport, you need stamina, and you can only gain that through running,” he opined.
Donny, who joined the Army in 1998, started running in marathons in 2004 when he was posted to Kem Sg Besi in Kuala Lumpur.
For the last 10 years, he collected many medals and certificates mostly from half-marathon runs – something he is very proud of.
Donny, who is from Machan, Kanowit, worked as a salesman before he joined the Army.
“I had no time for running when I was a salesman. When I joined the Army and was posted to KL, I had a few friends who like running, and we trained together and competed in marathon runs together,” he recalled.
He was posted back to Sibu in 2009, and had since been running less because there were not many marathon races here.
Donny is not keeping his passion in running to himself.
“I’ve always encouraged my colleagues to run, and I train some of them in long distance running. Health benefit aside, long distance running can be a good means to foster friendships,” he said, expressing hope of seeing more marathons coming up.