Ultra-marathon duo aim to complete 2,500km in 50 days to mark SG50

Veteran ultra-marathoners Lim Nghee Huat, MediaCorp’s Chinese current affairs editor, and Hwa Chong Institution teacher Yong Yuen Cheng (picture, centre) will attempt to run 2,500km over 50 consecutive days as part of “Go 50: A Nation in Motion”, one of the events leading up to Singapore’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Jointly-organised by the Institute of Technical Education and Heartware Network, the campaign takes place from April 16 to June 4, culminating in the grand finale of the torch light-up ceremony of the 2015 South-east Asian (SEA) Games. Lim and Yong aim to complete 50km daily over the 50-day schedule.

Lim became the first South-east Asian to complete the 217km Badwater Ultra-marathon — the world’s most difficult footrace in the hottest place on earth — in the United States, while Yong is Singapore’s fastest Ultra-marathon runner after completing the 2010 Ultra Marathon Run Round Singapore in 31 hours, 28 minutes and 51 seconds.

Those who want to be a part of the campaign can pledge their own distances and “run” in spirit through the Go 50 website (www.go50.sg). Organisers are also looking for partners to adopt one day of the proposed 50-day schedule. Photo: Robin Choo