On Thursday evenings, Ms Chris Hortin-Tan, who has only 5% of her central vision in both eyes, usually dons a running singlet, shorts and track shoes. Ms Hortin-Tan is preparing for the Spartan Sentosa Sprint in March 2018. It is an obstacle course race which is more than 5km long and features more than 20 obstacles.
She is among some Singaporeans with disabilities who are not letting their condition stop them from taking part in marathons and other physically demanding sporting events.
She trains regularly with Runninghour, an inclusive running club which provides support for special needs runners and aims to integrate them into mainstream society. The group, which has more than 400 members, consists of “buddy runners” who might be physically, visually or intellectually challenged, as well as able-bodied fitness enthusiasts who volunteer as running guides.
The Spartan Singapore race’s business development and community outreach manager, Ms Meagan Douglas, 42, says: “Unless a particular athlete or team requests for special assistance, we do not differentiate between able and disabled racers.”
All participants who complete the race are awarded the same finisher T-shirt and medal, she adds, and almost anyone with any disability can take part. However, she cautions that some obstacles can be particularly challenging for people with disabilities.
But that is not stopping hotel communications agent Harun Rahamad, 29, from signing up for his fifth Spartan Singapore race. The Singaporean, who was born with cerebral palsy, experiences muscle stiffness in his left leg and loses his balance.
Another disabled Singaporean, Mr Shariff Abdullah, 49, is a regular at physically demanding events. The motivational speaker and para-athlete, who was born without a left foot and had his stump amputated after a skin infection in 2008, is known as Singapore’s Blade Runner because of his carbon fibre blade-like prosthetic leg.
He says: “In such events, just like in life, there are many obstacles. But as long as you have a never-say-die attitude, there is always a way to overcome these challenges.”
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Source: The Straits Times, 4 February 2018