‘Batman’ keeps an eye on marathon runners

Ben Swee, 38, in his Batman costume hoisting his nine month old daughter Mia Swee after he finishes his 84km run in Straits Quay. With him is his wife Lee Yee Hua, 34 (right red t-shirt). //CHAN BOON KAI/THE STAR//(24th Aug 2014)

WHILE Batman keeps a vigilant eye on the citizens of Gotham, Singaporean Ben Swee watches over runners in the 84km Starlight Ultra Marathon circling Penang island.

Garbed in a Batsuit complete with cowl and cape, the 38-year-old fitness trainer stayed behind the group to render moral support.

“I just wanted to help the runners, especially the last few, to get to the finish line with words of encouragement,” said Swee at Straits Quay.

The first to cross the finish line in the 84km category was veteran runner Choo King Hoe, 53, from Kuala Lumpur, who took just over nine hours to complete the marathon.

Choo, who won the Men’s Veteran category, said the steep roads in Teluk Bahang were quite a challenge to him.

Nah Ai Choon and his wife, Tan Lee Peng, both 43, came out tops in the Mixed Team Relay category.

“Our interest in running started in 2008 and it was initially just to keep ourselves healthy,” said Nah.

The run’s organiser, Karen Geh, said the event was mainly created for all runners to come together.

The participants of the 84km run were flagged off at 9pm on Saturday, and given 16 hours to complete the run.

The challenge had two categories — individuals could attempt to circle the island solo or in a team of two runners covering 42km each.

Participants ran southwards along the eastern coast of the island.

They then headed west, where runners in the team category handed over the race to their partners.

Runners then ran northwards past Balik Pulau before reaching the northern face of Penang island, eventually ending their run back where they started.