Started in 1938 by a group of British colonial officers in Kuala Lumpur, the non-competitive runs are now held weekly in 178 countries across all continents. The friendly gatherings attract a mix of ex-pats and locals for a few miles on the roads and a few drinks afterwards.
The name comes from the simple food the British officers used to eat in Malaysian thatched houses, from where the runs would begin.
There are now 1,878 chapters, or kennels, whose members, called Harriers, chase a lead runner, or hare, around a different improvised course every Monday night.
On Friday, the Freetown group organized a special Halloween edition, complete with drinks, food, and a t-shirt or tank top. About 50 people turned out for the scenic dash along Lumley Beach.
We left from the Beach Apple bar, ran all the way to the Royal Hall bar at the Family Kingdom complex, where we had a beer in the drizzle. On the way back, we stopped midway at Chez Nous for another beer, before returning to the Beach Apple for music, hot food, and a special treat from Bliss Bakery, one of the run’s sponsors.
I met Michael, Becky, and Laura from the U.S. Embassy. We talked about the challenges facing SL, the Koroma government’s ongoing efforts to extend the power grid to many of Freetown’s neighbourhoods, the buzz around Tuesday’s U.S. election, and of course, the spectacular intellectual vacuousness of the Republican ticket.
Like everybody else, I run for the opportunity to socialize as much as for the physical benefits.
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