Running for health and social unity

I REFER to the report “Study: Malaysia is the slowest marathon nation” (June 5 at https://bit.ly/2IspNNM) on Malaysians being labelled as the slowest marathon runners worldwide according to the State of Running 2019 study carried out by the athletic shoe review site Run Repeat and the International Association of Athletics Federations.

This slower pace may be due to the fact that Malaysians generally focus on their health and fitness instead of speed when they participate in marathons. Also, races here tend to be organised to boost unity and promote social integration among the people rather than being purely for competition.