Women’s marathon returns

Loh says the event creates a platform for women to come together and celebrate International Women’s Day.

ONE of the rare few marathons for females, the MCIS Life Malaysia Women Marathon (MWM) 2022 is set to welcome men as well for its upcoming edition on the last Sunday of this month.

In explaining the decision to allow men to participate, MCIS Life chief executive officer and managing director Prasheem Seebran said it was the right adjustment to make for this run traditionally associated with the annual International Women’s Day, as society looks forward to greater inclusivity.

“Our tradition has always been about marking International Women’s Day by launching the run, which celebrates the importance of good health, a balanced lifestyle and honouring women for their lifelong achievements,” Prasheem said in a statement.

Founded by Karen Loh, the Malaysia Women Marathon (MWM) began in 2013 in Shah Alam. It was, however, not held in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The objective of this marathon is to celebrate the strength and resolute of women in developing their family, nation and the world.

“In that respect, the event creates a platform for women to come together and celebrate International Women’s Day,” said Loh in the same statement.

MWM 2022 represents the first face-to-face major sporting event in the country following the relaxation of restrictions on gatherings and mask-wearing beginning this month, with distance categories consisting of a full marathon (42km), half marathon (21km), and 10km.

“This year, plans are underway for the physical run to be different as we are making it possible for the first 500 runners to receive complimentary cancer screening thanks to our strategic partnership with the National Cancer Society Malaysia,” said Prasheem.

Prasheem says they are making it possible for the first 500 runners to receive complimentary cancer screening.

Other than the one in Petaling Jaya this month, the MWM 2022 will also be held in Ipoh on July 31, and Iskandar Puteri, Johor (Oct 2).

This year’s edition will incorporate all mandatory health and safety procedures as required by the relevant authorities, and there will be a cap of 1,000 runners at the physical event.

The full marathon here will be completed through two 21km loops around Petaling Jaya, which begins and ends at Padang Timur.

Those who want to “run” in the comfort of their homes can register on the run website for free, with no limit on the number of participants.

“A decade ago when we started, our aim was to encourage women to celebrate International Women’s Day through sports, as a physically active lifestyle can create a healthier mindset and self-esteem, which are especially needed for the empowerment of women.

“Over the years, our event has served a larger purpose of educating people about gender equality and also paying more attention to leading a holistic lifestyle as well as taking the necessary precautions to manage preventable illnesses through early screening,” said Prasheem.

Registration fee for the physical event is between RM50 and RM60.

More details, go to checkpointspot.asia/event/MCISLifeMWM2022, or check out MalaysiaWomenMarathon on Facebook.