On your marks, get set, go!

The 25 international members on the ITC Run4Fun Team are ready to run at the stroke of midnight tonight in the Batavierenrace. But with only a 15-minute lead time, will the team place in the race?
 
‘I’ve done the calculations,’ said Wan Bakx, the team’s coach and lecturer at the ITC in the Earth Observation and Science Department, ‘and at the Barchem restart, we may not make the predetermined time limit, with only 15 minutes to spare.’
 
Bakx is also worried about two of his male runners. ‘We don’t like to have students run who haven’t participated in our Wednesday afternoon practices,’ he explained. ‘We want everyone to finish in good health and with a smile on their faces. The two runners ran six km for me on Saturday, and they were tired.’ But were they smiling? ‘Well, yes,’ grinned Bakx in return. ‘Tired but smiling. We need a bit of trust here.’
 
The ITC Run4Fun team consists of half staff and half student members, and they have been training since December. When asked if they were under any strict routine, Bakx jested, ‘Yes, a study routine!’
 
‘This is mainly a social activity,’ said Simon Engelberts, who is also the team’s coach and a Process Manager at the ITC Service Center. ‘What’s important is we have a nice time.’
 
‘Simon and I share the same ideas about coaching and motivating students,’ said Bakx. ‘This activity helps stimulate the students’ physical and mental well being, boosts their confidence, and even has a positive effect on their study results.’
 
Arnold Thumba, 36, from Malawi and a Master student in Land Administration agrees. ‘As soon as I’m finished running, I’m fresh for my studies,’ he said. ‘This has been a great experience. Socially, it has joined us together and allowed us to interact. Otherwise, I’d just be busy with my books.’
 
Thumba never ran before coming to the Netherlands and is set to run 6.2 km on Saturday. ‘I was overweight and had respiratory problems,’ he said. ‘Since running, I’ve lost eight kilos and my lungs feel much better.’
 
He’s not the only one to try something new. Purity Mbaabu, who is the kick-starter for the race and will run the first 3.6 km, is from Kenya. She had never ridden a bicycle before in her life until two days ago. ‘I thought, it’s up to you! Just do it!’ she said while pedaling around the track.
 
Mbaabu, 29, ran in the relay-race for International Sports Day in Den Haag last March and her team came in first place. ‘I’m excited to run at midnight. I’ve never run at night before.’
 
PhD candidate Xiaogang Ma, 30, never ran in China but is now prepared to sprint 8.1 km in his fourth Batavierenrace. ‘PhD work in a foreign country is stressful,’ he said. ‘And I learned that running is a great way to release and recharge my energy.’ He is excited about the upcoming race. ‘It’s inspiring and a festival for everyone.’
 
But perhaps Ethiopian Tinebeb Gelassi, 26, says it best for everyone on the team. ‘I hope I’ll finish the race with a smiling face! We are all grateful to Wan and Simon for training us so well. They have put in a big effort and so far this has been a great experience.’
 
In the next print edition and available also online, read a full story on the ITC Run4Fun Team results and first-hand impressions of the 39th Batavierenrace from coaches and runners.
 
Catherine Ann Lombard

During the ITC Run4Fun Team’s last practice, they took turns posing as the relay gate and passing the green vest which contains a computer chip that marks the runner’s time. Photo: Gijs van Ouwerkerk