http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/message/296641
--- In [email protected], "sunny" <ambon@...> wrote: > > http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/lifeandtimes/jogging-to-lift-the-spirits/417261 > > Jogging to Lift the Spirits > Tasa Nugraza Barley | January 16, 2011 > > J > > Jakarta Free Spirit is a running club that holds weekly events and annual > races. (Photo supplied) > > > > Jakarta is not exactly a city built for walking, let alone running. Those who > enjoy getting their exercise by pounding the pavement will find it quite > difficult to take on our city's congested roads, unless they don't mind > dodging motorcycles and open sewers as part of their workout routine. > > But there are plenty of people in Jakarta who love the sport so much that > they are willing to deal with such headaches to get their run on. You will > find plenty of them at Jakarta Free Spirit, a running club that offers > members a way to enjoy a good run while interacting with others socially. > > "It's all about running and having fun with other people," said Don > DiBenedetto, one of the organization's committee members. > > Founded in 2001 by expat Barbara Oravetz, Jakarta Free Spirit focuses on > promoting running as a recreational sport for people in the capital. But > DiBenedetto, a Canadian who's been in Jakarta with his family for four years, > said that socializing is also an important element of the organization. > > "We often talk with each other while running," he said, adding that many of > the organization's members make new friends and acquaintances when they join > the group's events. > > Jakarta Free Spirit holds two weekly runs. On Saturdays, fitness buffs and > fun runners meet up at 6:30 a.m. at Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta to pad out a > weekly five kilometer run. > > The entire run takes place inside the zoo, which enables runners to enjoy the > peaceful grounds while working up a sweat. The zoo's quiet, lush environment, > DiBenedetto said, has always been the event's main attraction. > > "I can tell you that it feels wonderful to run inside the zoo, hearing the > birds singing and seeing the animals," he said, pointing out that such > experiences aren't easily found in the city. > > The organization now has more than 100 members who pay annual dues of Rp > 150,000 ($17), allowing them to receive a weekly newsletter and a special > discount rate on entrance fees for all of the group's many races. > > And while members do get discounts, non-members are always welcome to attend > and participate in any of the group's events. > > Around 60 percent of the organization's members are expats who live in > Jakarta, while the rest are Indonesians. > > On Sundays, things get a bit more serious as the group conducts a longer > distance run - approximately 16 to 25 kilometers. To join this run, each > participant needs to be physically prepared for quite a taxing run. > > The organization's Web site states that "Runners should be able to maintain a > pace of 5.3 to 6 minutes per kilometer,". > > From their meeting point at McDonald's in Kemang, South Jakarta, participants > begin their run at 5 a.m. > > The reason why they start the run so early is because they want to avoid the > capital's busy streets during the day as well as beat the tropical heat which > can be withering by 9 a.m. The Sunday run takes a different route every week. > > While cooler and free of traffic snarls, running in the predawn hours does > have some consequences. Due to the uneven pavement and all open sewers and > holes that pockmark Jakarta's streets, runners need to be very alert and > careful to avoid hurting themselves. > > Dibenedetto said that he loves the energy of Jakarta, but still thinks it's a > pity that there are few parks and pathways where people can enjoy a nice walk > or run. > > "There's actually no proper place where you can run in Jakarta," he said. > Because of this, the Sunday run group often caravans to Cibubur in East > Jakarta or Sentul in West Java to hold their Sunday event. > > Other than the weekly runs, Jakarta Free Spirit also sponsors and organizes > several road races each year, usually in cooperation with a variety of > different institutions. Their annual 5K run and a biannual 21K race are both > held at Ragunan Zoo. > > DiBenedetto said the runners, most of whom are foreigners, especially enjoy > exploring different neighborhoods and interacting with every sort of Jakartan > imaginable. Most of the group members find it very amusing that they always > receive warm greetings from people on the city streets. > > DiBenedetto, who has travelled and lived in many countries around the world, > is quick to say that he thinks Indonesians are the friendliest people in the > world. > > "When I run, I always meet people on the streets saying 'Hello Mister' or > 'How are you?' " > > Despite running not really being a big part of Indonesian culture, > DiBenedetto said that the response he is getting from Indonesians is > improving each time out, with more Indonesian participants coming out to run > every time the members lace up their trainers. > > "They're very enthusiastic, cheerful and active," DiBenedetto said. > > For him and his ever-expanding group of runners, winning or reaching the > finish line is rarely the main goal. Getting healthy, having fun and making > new friends is what it's really all about. > > If you are interested in joining, but are worried that the other runners will > be too fit and fast for you to keep up, DiBenedetto said not to worry. > > "When I get tired in the middle of a run, I usually stop and just take a taxi > home," he said with a laugh. > > > Races held by Jakarta Free Spirit: > ISCI Road Race 2011 (Jan. 30) > Jakarta International School Road Race 2011 (Feb. 27) > British International School Road Race 2011 (March 27) > Jakarta Free Spirit Wintermar 5K and Fun Run (May 8) > For details go to: www.jakartafreespirit. > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! 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