Running time also family bonding time

SINGAPORE - A family that runs together stays together.

For married couple Stephen and Pushpa Winter, running events such as Sunday's The Straits Times' Run in the Park are family bonding time.

They allow the family members to spend precious time together, given their hectic schedules.

Mr Winter, 55, who works in the property industry, is the most enthusiastic runner of the lot. He has a marathon personal best of 2hr 58min - clocked at the 1988 London Marathon.

Early this year, Mrs Winter decided to latch on to her husband's passion and make family events of the local runs.

For the run on Sunday - the couple will be running the 15km, and their children Anatolia, 16, and Oli, 13, have signed up for the 10km.

It will be the second time the whole Winter family will be taking part in such an event.

Said Mrs Winter, 52, a housewife: "We don't go out often as a family, so this is one way for us to have fun together."

That they have not been able to train together is an indication of the pressures on their time and the conflicting schedules they have.

Also, it takes some persuading to get Oli, whose hobby is music, out for a run.

Said the Commonwealth Secondary School student who loves playing the piano and who sings in his school's choir: "I don't enjoy running. But if family members come out together for a certain event, then I'll join them."

Mr Winter is still hopeful that his son will someday discover a love for running and follow in his footsteps. But for now, he is working on Anatolia.

The father-daughter duo have been doing some 4km training runs together the past two months.

Said Mr Winter: "I feel proud that she is making all this effort. Sometimes, you don't really know what your child is capable of unless you do something together with them."

Anatolia, who studies at Clementi Town Secondary School, enjoys these joint runs: "It's special, every time I run with him. I like having him coach me."

ugenec@sph.com.sg

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