Come 3 November 2019 (Sunday) will be the return of the 14th edition of the Great Eastern Women’s Run (GEWR)!

For most female runners in Singapore (myself included), this is the highlight event on our running calendar! GEWR has various  categories for female runners to choose from – from the 100 m princess dash (for little girls starting their running journey) to the half marathon category (for the hardcore runners).

GEWR is more than another running event as it also creates excellent bonding time between the 2 generations  – such as the 2km Mummy + Me category (where Mummy can run with her princess during the race) or simply among your female friends/ relatives. Moreover, being an all female race, it is definitely less intimidating for new female runners to conquer their first 5km/10km/ half marathon since the camaraderie among the participants is strong.  Personally, it is always an enjoyable race for me – from the training runs with the official pacers, the fringe activities leading up to race day and the actual race itself!

Running Department is honored to partner with GE as the official pacers for the 6th consecutive year since 2014 to help the female participants achieve their personal running goals. As part of our A-to-Z Featured Friday series,  and with less than one month to race day, we are unveiling one of the half marathon GEWR 2019 pacers in this week’s Feature Friday for letter F.

Meet Fydia, who works in a treasury role in a real estate company. Fydia has been a loyal supporter for the GEWR from 2011 and (missing last edition due to injury) on her 8th GEWR this year, she is paying it back to the running community by pacing!

Fydia (left) with her sister, Glendys at GEWR 2016. 📷 credits: Fydia

RD: Tell us something about yourself!

F: I like to travel around! I enjoy getting in touch with nature or just relaxing on the beach!

RD: What has sparked off your interest in running?

F: I started running in my teenage years. Back then, I would do my own 2.4km run at the stadium tracks on weekend mornings. It’s a good way to declutter the mind and de-stress. This running habit continued into adulthood and running with school friends became regular outings. Gradually, as Singapore started to have more organised races, we signed up to run longer distances!

RD: How did you start running with Running Department? What kept you running with us?

F: I got to know about RD through my sister, Glendys! Initially, I was just a silent pacee following behind the pacers during their training runs at ECP. In Feb this year, I joined some of the RD runners on their Kyoto Marathon trip! It was an amazing runcation!

It’s definitely the people that kept me running with Running Department. The fun-loving, open-mindness, willingness to share and abundance of happy positive energy! Inarguably, the feel-good people! It’s a good place to make more friends outside of work and school!

RD: What’s the challenges of being a pacer and what kept you going in spite of it all?

F: Commitment to the training schedule! Putting in extra effort to set aside time for the runs and everything else, but this kinda also hones up my time management skills. Whenever we get to interact with the public runners who followed us for the runs, I feel that it is all worth it knowing that we are helping people to enjoy running and to run better. It’s the sense of satisfaction that keeps me going!

RD: When did you start joining the GEWR? Any fond memories to share of any GEWR you have ran so far?

F: My part-time job friend introduced me to GEWR in 2011 and I have been running in almost every GEWR since! My hubby (then boyfriend) came down to cheer me across the finishing line and made sandwiches for me! In 2015, my girlfriends brought me the GEWR charity tutu and they also joined the run as part of my hens party! Other fond memories also include running with my sister every year, especially the year 2017 when she dressed up as a unicorn pacer!

Fydia & friends in their tutus! 📷 credits: Fydia. 

Fydia at her first GEWR in 2011 with her avid supporter on her right! 📷 credit: Fydia

RD: Any tips to share with the ladies who are running their first GEWR on 3 November?

F: Have sufficient rest and hydrate well before the run. Start the run with a focused mind (remember why you have registered for this race!). Anticipate the euphoric moment of crossing the finishing line. And follow us (the pacers) and enjoy the run together!

See you ladies on 3 November!