Ong in action at the 2nd Kuching Marathon. — Photo courtesy of KM36 Support Team
KUCHING: It was a mission accomplished for local marathon man James Ong Boon Kheng at the recent 2nd Kuching Marathon.
The 69-year-old shop assistant not only completed the Men’s Veteran full marathon (42km) in under seven hours but also broke his own personal record of 7hrs 45mins set in the Veteran 42km run in the Standard Chartered Marathon in Singapore last December.
He clocked 6hrs 42mins 23s to collect a certificate and a medal for his second Kuching Marathon run.
“This is another achievement for me and I am really happy to have broken my own record.
“In the Kuching Marathon this year, I had also targeted to complete the 21km in 2hrs 30mins but completed the distance in 2hrs 50mins.
“From that onwards I was more confident and finished the race. I did a good time because the race was flagged off early … at 3am, and it was cool and the weather was good,” said Ong.
“I met my target time as I aimed for 2 ½ hrs for 21km and 6 ½ hrs for 42km and I was 10 minutes outside the targeted time,” he said.
Ong’s preparations for the Kuching Marathon was an ongoing affair as he walked to and fro to work every Monday to Friday.
He also joined the City Joggers Club on its Thursday night runs of 5 to 7km.
“I could have clocked a faster time if not for a delay at the concluding stages of the run which was from the stretch of Jalan Padungan to Kuching Waterfront where the traffic management was not well done.
“There were no race marshals and at the Tua Pek Kong Temple traffic junction and in front of Harbour View Hotel, some officials were just standing there and watching and no-one came forward to control traffic flow.
Overall the water stations were well managed,” he concluded.
Ong will next be going for the September 16 ‘Run For Change’ to celebrate Independence Day and the Standard Chartered Marathon in Singapore in December when he will be looking to better his time again.