KUCHING, 17 Mar: Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kuching had always bustled with community sports and fitness activities, such as day and night runs, full and half marathons as well as walks, aerobics and Zumbas, that usually involved hundreds, if not thousands, of participants, including whole families.
Kuchingites who are fitness buffs should be thrilled to know that Hock Seng Lee (HSL) is organising the ‘La Promenade Fitness Weekend – Leading Healthy X-tive Lifestyles’ that is scheduled on 7-8 May (Saturday and Sunday), which will include Sarawak’s first Half Marathon since 2019.
The event, which is on Mother’s Day, includes a 3-km Family Walk, a 5-km run, and competitive 10-km and 21.1-km categories with prizes worth almost RM10,000.
The runs will begin and end at La Promenade, HSL’s flagship property development, which is best known for its excellent landscaping.
The Family Walk is within La Promenade, including the 1.8-km tree-lined boulevard inside the gated residences, whereas the 5-km and 10-km runs will see participants gallivanting at parts of the Kuching-Samarahan Expressway.
The Half Marathon route is slated to bring runners from the mall to the picturesque Tanjong Bako and back through La Promenade’s gated community.
Discounted early-bird sign-ups are as low as RM30 (3 km/5 km), RM40 (10 km) and RM60 (21.1 km). Corporate sign-ups are even cheaper at RM140 to RM290 for a group of five.
According to digital marketing manager, Sophia Ong, HSL is subsidising the event to enable more people to enjoy it over Mother’s Day.
“We hope for a successful event, and we intend to turn the Fitness Weekend into a signature annual event for La Promenade Mall, like the recent Bonsai & Suiseki Championship,” she said in a press release yesterday.
The Fitness Weekend is a collaboration with Grit Event Management, Sweat Factory, Studio 23, Rentap Muay Thai, City Jogger’s Club and the Sarawak Government.
“We are pleased to be part of the Sarawak’s X-tive initiative to achieve the ‘Sports For All by 2030’ vision. The inclusion of X-tive at La Promenade will encourage healthy lifestyles, especially in the Samarahan district. This also means we will apply even higher standards to ensure safety for a larger crowd,” Ong added.
X-tive will include Zumba and yoga classes, Muay Thai demonstrations by Rentap Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu demonstrations by Studio 23 on both days, and all the events are free.
According to Grit Event Management founder, Awang Saifeluddin, X-tive is a great programme funded by the Sarawak Government to help society re-adapts to normalcy.
“The Sarawak-wide health campaign is aimed at both physical and mental well-being. One reason La Promenade was selected is because of its landscaping. A good environment plays a part in healthy living,” he said.
Sweat Factory, a functional fitness centre in the mall, is organising ‘The Sweat Challenge’.
“We’re truly excited to be part of the La Promenade Fitness Weekend. We’re organising two competitions: one for the public, another an ‘invitational’ for professionals across Malaysia. Even at this early stage, the response has been great!” Sweat Factory’s Richard Yu said.
“There are 24 confirmed teams, six from Kuching, four Sabah, five KL, three Miri, and two teams each from Penang and Bintulu,” added instructor Chai Kian Yew.
La Promenade Mall and the adjoining HSL Tower are Green Building Index-certified. They are the first privately built facilities in Sarawak to be rated green, ensuring 25% better energy efficiency.
In 2018, the 200-acre township won the prestigious Malaysia Landscape Architecture Award, during the World Landscape Architecture Month, in Kuala Lumpur, when the judges called La Promenade “a township within a park”.
The community has 1,800 Norfolk pine trees, over 25,000 tea leaf shrubs, Tecomas (better known as tropical Sakura trees), Hopeas and giant Bonsais.
For more info, visit lapromenademall.com.my and hsl.com.my, or search #PromenadeFitness and @lapromenademall on social media. – TVS
