RAK FTZ TEAMs TAKE To ThE sTREETs - Ras Al Khaimah Free ...

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COVER STORY COVER STORY
RAK FTZ Employees Lived
the Experience
Friday, 19 February, before the sun had cast its first shimmering rays across the dunes of
Ras Al Khaimah, more than 70 RAK FTZ employees were already out and about, warming up for
the much-awaited RAK Half Marathon 2010, together with the other more than 2,000 marathon
participants and spectators.
In full support of the emirate’s premiere event, RAK FTZ was represented by
13 teams, one for each department, in the Team Relay Challenge Category.
Each team trained for three months in preparation for the big event.
Teamwork being of prime importance, each group, composed of four
runners, ran the 21.0975km with a confidence and enthusiasm borne from
regular practice and coordination – an exhibition of true team spirit in play.
After all the runners had crossed the finish line and their times were duly
recorded, the winners of the RAK FTZ internal relay competition were
announced at the free zone’s headquarters in Nakheel. RAK FTZ Team 7,
composed of Suresh Yadav, Pradeep Kumar, Bader Nazeer and Veeramuthu
Nani, who managed to bag ninth place overall in the RAK Half Marathon
Relay Category, came in first in the RAK FTZ internal competition with a
recorded time of 1:40:20.
RAK FTZ Team 4, composed of Yahya Abdo Ali, Saeed Sarhan, Habeeb K
and Jyothish Kumar, came in second in the RAK FTZ internal competition,
finishing at 1:55:09, while Team 6, composed of Michael De Versoza,
Amster Fajardo, Shameer Khan and Mohan Singh, came in third, with a
recorded time of 1:57:31.
RAK FTZ CEO, Oussama El Omari, who ran for RAK FTZ Team 10, was
all smiles when he reached the finish line. Cooling down after his run,
he said, “What a fantastic event! The RAK Half Marathon got a lot of us
hooked on a healthy exercise regimen courtesy of the regular training,
and it also gave us the opportunity to hold our own healthy, friendly
competition to set the best record.”
He added, “I am very proud of RAK FTZ Team 7 for placing amongst the
top ten teams overall in the Team Relay category, and I am also proud of
each and every one of our staff who came out here to run or give moral
support. This just shows what RAK FTZ is all about – great teamwork and
indomitable team spirit, at work and at play.”
True enough, the RAK FTZ employees present, whether as marathon
participants or spectators offering moral support for their colleagues,
exhibited the same enthusiasm and energy. Many expressed their
appreciation and gratitude to the RAK FTZ management for providing
uniforms, refreshments and their all out support for the teams.
“We had an awesome day, and we all look forward to taking part in similar
events, like the Terry Fox Run in March,” said one of the participants. With
spirits and a strong sense of social responsibility running high in RAK FTZ
employees, the region will surely see RAK FTZ represented in more events
of this type.
But for now, the RAK FTZ employees who turned out for the race can
proudly claim the RAK Half Marathon slogan – we lived the experience!
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