Campus IT Services staffers and half-marathoners (from left) Richard Chhangur, Geeta Kissoon, and Frank Yee on a training run. Richard Placed sixth in the Overall Male Staff Category and Geeta Placed eighth in the Overall Female Staff Category.
Running a half-marathon isn’t just a test of endurance; it’s the performance of community and connectedness. In 2024, over 1,900 runners crossed the finish line at UWI St Augustine’s International Half-Marathon and 5K. This cohort included elite athletes, recreational runners, regional contenders, and UWI staff. Inaugurated in 2004 by UWI’s Sport and Physical Recreation Centre (SPEC), the event marked the 19th edition of the race on October 26, 2025.
Among the staff participants were Aneel Karim, office assistant and photographer at the Marketing and Communications Office; Frank Yee, network systems administrator at Campus IT Services (CITS); Geeta Kissoon, ICT trainer at CITS; and Kevin Snaggs, Manager of Student Accommodations. Staff involvement has grown steadily over the years.
It was Geeta who encouraged the staffers from CITS to break out their running shoes: “I got Frank involved, I got the whole of CITS involved.”
Forming their own running group, they have approximately 10 representatives for the 5K and three for the half-marathon. Running has become part of the CITS identity, focusing on wellness and community.
“We try to rope in people to actually get fit,” says Frank. “Everybody wants to join us.”
Kevin and Aneel prefer a more solitary approach. Prioritising morning runs and valuing quiet and cooler conditions, both describe running as a time for mental clarity and emotional reset.
Kevin shares, “It’s an opportunity to switch off. You’re focusing one step at a time.” Aneel’s outlook is the same. “When you wake up to run at 5 am on the bus route,” he says, “it’s just you. “When I am running, it is like I am free.”
Both train independently, without music or coaching, and rely on self-guided routines. Kevin uses structured programmes from platforms like Garmin (a sport and fitness tech company) and Runner’s World (one of the leading running publications). Aneel draws inspiration from elite athletes like Eliud Kipchoge and online resources.
Motivation is where they diverge. Though they both plan to finish strong, Kevin hopes to improve on his previous times, while Aneel, having seen the toll the half- marathon takes on the body, prefers to focus on finishing the race without injury, regardless of the time it takes.
Kevin, the defending staff champion, reflected on his recent performances: “I usually place in the top three, so it was nice to win.” He trains specifically for the event. “I am only training for The UWl Half-Marathon,” he said. “I start training somewhere around May/June, run the half, and then that’s it until next year.”
One Sunday, he was up at 4:30 am, running a straight 11 miles. “I was back before 6:30,” he said casually.
Aneel follows a similar routine, often simulating the course on the bus route at 5 am. “I ran the course, starting where you turn off and ran straight up to the turning point,” he recounts.
Facing 13.1 miles (21.1 km) requires preparation. Geeta and Frank apply a combination of consistent racing and other activities like badminton and hiking. Their preparation begins early in the running season. “We probably covered more than 20-something races this year,” Frank says.
It’s difficult to debate the resonance of a good run as Geeta reflects, “joy and excitement. You just keep going and going,” and more so on race day with friends and family along the route, cheering and encouraging you on. She shares her race-day recipe for success: the sideline support of friends with juice boxes and hearty cheers.
Despite training alone, Kevin and Aneel also acknowledge the sense of community on race day.
“In a nice race, there’s a bit of a crowd at the end,” says Kevin. “You get cheers, shouting of your name, and stuff like that.”
Aneel says, “Runners, it’s a brotherhood; everybody looks out for one another. It’s a really wonderful experience.”
But even with the runner’s high, The UWI half- marathon ends, leaving a bit of sadness in its wake. As Geeta says, “It gets sad because you don’t have a plan... then you start training for next year.”
