Runners give their best shot

Running is good for the body, and it can be good for the soul. That’s what more than 950 participants of Best Foot Forward fundraising run, organised by NTU, are motivated by where the funds raised by runners will go directly to three NTU philanthropic funds to support students’ education and wellbeing.

Runners started off in the beautiful sunset after a cooling rain. (From the right) Ms Tan Aik Na, NTU Senior Vice President (Administration), and Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Social and Family Development, flagged off Best Foot Forward.

To flag off the virtual fundraising run, an on-campus run event “X Campus Run” was held on 3 February in collaboration with the NTU Runners’ Club. NTU alumnus, Mr Eric Chua (WKWSCI/2003), who is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Social and Family Development, flagged off the physical run attended by more than 400 students, alumni, faculty and staff, with their family and friends, at the Wave, NTU.

Registration for the Best Foot Forward virtual run is ongoing until 31 March and is open to the public, NTU alumni, faculty and staff as well as students.

Mr Chua joined the runners in a 3km recreational run around NTU’s green campus. Ms Tan Aik Na, NTU Senior Vice President (Administration) and NTU Trustee and the editor of Lianhe Zaobao, Mr Goh Sin Teck, took part too.

Mr Ben Khoo was the fast runner and finished the 7km open category run in just 25 minutes and 19 seconds. NTU alumnus, Mr Paxton Hong (SSM/2022), finished in 25 minutes and 25 seconds and was placed second. In the third place was Mr Ahmad Arif Bin Ibrahim (NIE/2020). Both Ben and Arif are teammates in the triathlon national team.

The top spot in the women open category was clinched by NTU alumna, Ms Liaw Ying Hong (SSM/2017), who ran 40 minutes and 10 seconds, while the first runner-up, Ms Yee Pey Ling (WKWSCI/ 2004), took 44 minutes and 14 seconds. Both alumni are staff of NTU and avid runners who take part in running events regularly. 

In the student category, Cedric Chua (NIE/ Year 2) (27 minutes and 31 seconds) and Anne Geytenbeck (SBS/ Year 2) (31 minutes and 44 seconds) came out on top in the male and female sub-categories respectively.

Run event VIPs with student winners Cedric Chua (4^th from right) and Anne Geytenbeck (5^th from left).

Best Foot Forward 2023 is one of the three signature events under We Belong, the University’s flagship fundraising and volunteering campaign launched last year. All donations from Best Foot Forward participants go directly towards their chosen cause – either the NTU Bursary Fund, School Advancement Funds or the NTU Wellbeing Fund. 

Challenge yourself today. Participants donate at least S$30 and pledge a running distance for Best Foot Forward before 31 March 2023. The first 1,000 finishers will receive the run entitlements of a t-shirt, medal and e-certificate. Supporters of participants can also make a donation to root for a runner or a team in the peer-to-peer fundraising segment. 

View more photos from the X Campus Run. 

The alumni winners of X Campus Run share their running tips on optimising sport performance and where their favourite running routes are.

 

Ying Hong (left) and her mother at the CCK B.I.G. Farm Walk & Run 2022.	"Switching on my favourite playlist, observing the people around me, finding an entertaining running buddy and planning what to eat after the run are my secrets to having a great run! Some of my favourite running spots are Pang Sua Park Connector, Brickland Road and the Punggol Waterway Park.” – Ms Liaw Ying Hong joined Best Foot Forward with her colleagues from NTU Alumni Club
"Use runs as a means to explore places, especially when you are overseas, wake up earlier and go for a morning jog. Speed and pace doesn't matter too much if you only want to clock up some mileage. Go easy and enjoy the journey on the run. In Singapore, I like to get away from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle and run on the gravel tracks of Bedok Reservoir and Macritche Reservoir to be surrounded by nature." - Mr Ahmad Arif Bin Ibrahim from the triathlon national team	Ahmad Arif (front) was running with his teammate at the SEA games 2022 in Vietnam.
Pey Ling went for a weekend run with friends to explore the new Changi Bay Point area.	"Challenge yourself to a target or aim for a personal best. For myself, I challenged myself to qualify for Boston Marathon and to complete the 6 World Marathon Majors from 2015 to 2017. That prompted me to join a running club and from there I befriended many like-minded people who I did my long runs and trainings with. The camaraderie among friends made running a lot more enjoyable.” - Ms Yee Pey Ling has pledged to complete 100km at the Best Foot Forward virtual run