Hundreds take part in Doha College’s fun run

By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter

Some 1,000 people from various expatriate communities participated in the fourth edition of the Doha College Fun Run at Aspire Zone yesterday morning .

The annual race had a number of categories, including the junior, open, veteran and sub-veteran and masters and sub-masters.

“Each year the race grows and brings something different. The course changes every year to make it more varied,” race director Nicola Symons told Gulf Times.

She recalled that the fun run had started with only 350 participants four years ago. Some 150 people in Doha also volunteered for the event, which was founded by David Thompson. He was a teacher from Doha College who left Qatar for good and went back to England.

Symons said the race’s goal was  to encourage fitness within the community in partnership with Aspire and The Torch Doha.

Many of yesterday’s participants came in groups: teachers, employees of public and private companies, students and those from different expatriate communities.

“There was lots of enthusiasm,” said Symons.

Nathan Riding won the 5km run (17:01) for the male category while Katia Bernart won the female category (20:12)

Andrew Jones was the winner of  the 10km race (32:18)  while Rebecca Botwright won in the female category (38:32).

Fifty-year-old David Fraser, an Australian, who finished the 10km-race, described the event as “fantastic”.

“It just blew me away: the excitement, the participation and everything,” he said.

He said Doha was a “magnificent place with friendly people who are all willing to help”.

Fraser felt the race was comparable with the similar events organised in Australia.

Jo Hunter, a 52-year-old female participant,  said she had a great time running.

The only challenge this year, she said, was the temperature – “a bit warmer than last year’s race”.

She urged residents to stay fit by joining similar running and sports events in the country.

The race also served as a bonding moment for employees, couples and families who took part in the event.