With the Chinese New Year just around the corner, we thought it would be good to get to know your CNY cookies. Snacking on some CNY cookies can be pretty addictive – like those dried shrimp rolls. I probably could whack half a tub whilst watching some Hong Kong movie, but what – 10 of those are already a whooping 220 calories? Half a tub would mean I’d probably need to run a marathon to burn it off.
Get to know your CNY cookies before stuffing yourself!
It’s always nice to have a running companion, and what better than men’s best friend. Especially for the female, running with a dog can give you more security – even more so when you are running after work or school when the sun has already set.
Whether you are looking for a long run companion, or a running friend for speed – there is a dog for every speed. For instance, the Husky is the King of Endurance whereas the greyhound is the Speedy Gonzales. It’s high time you get yourself your running best friend!
If your 2016 was filled with many a day hiding in the darkness and comfort of your office and home, you may want to take your weekends this year outdoors and into the sunlight.
But if you are scratching your brains out about the things you can do, here are some activities to consider.
Photo Credits: Tygodnikplus
Instead of heading out to the cinema or sheltered theaters to catch your favourite movie or play, try enjoying one out in the open. Botanic Gardens constantly has a slew of theatrical acts that allow audiences to relax on the lawn and feast on a good picnic while taking in the performance.
Outdoor movies are becoming all the rage again in recent years and many nostalgic locations, even shopping malls, are opting to go down this memory lane. Movies can range from comedies to chick flicks to horror, depending on the theme of the event. You can either enjoy the screenings seated on a lawn or in your car. Hipster 60’s anyone?
Besides the usual Pasar Malams we find sprouting up occasionally in our neighbourhood, you may have noticed many a themed food festival that have occurred over the last year or so all over the country. From Japanese food markets to curated food tasting events, we are now spoilt for choice when it comes to what we put into our mouths and stomachs.
Photo Credits: event-carnival
And then we have the outdoor dinner parties. When Diner En Blanc came onto the scene, everyone just went crazy over the concept. Still increasingly gaining in popularity even after so many years, it has seen an explosion of other types of themed outdoor dinner parties that you have to try to know what all the hype is about.
Make 2017 the year you and your loved ones get fit and healthy in the great outdoors together! Take part in the various running events and plan weekend mornings or evenings to be spent outdoors working out.
From hiking to running to doing vertical marathons, the list of such events has increased exponentially over the years, giving you a whole lot of choices and also several opportunities to put on your running shoes and go get the exercise you need.
Not only will you achieve your fitness goals, but you will also create a stronger bond and a healthier lifestyle for yourself and your family and friends.
IF I can have only one word to summarize Soh Rui Yong, Singapore fastest marathoner of all time based on IAAF certified marathon courses (2:24:55 at the 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon), it would be CONSISTENCY.
Like most Singaporeans, I first came to know his name in a 2014 Straits Times report that says that he broke the national record of 10,000m in a new record time of 31 min 15.95 sec. The old record of 31:19 by P.C. Suppiah was 41 years old.
On a few occasions, Doris Teo (my wife) and I had the privilege of sipping our favorite cup of beverage in a downtown café while we listened with great pleasure about his training stories including the one in Iten, a rural village in Kenya.
During each meet-up, he left us an indelible impression of a very determined young man who sets the benchmark so high for himself to a point that it feels ouch.
Thus we were not the least bit surprised that in his struggle to prove his ability in high performance sports he has had to overcome bumpers that come his way including a nagging plantar fasciitis – tissue inflammation at the bottom of his left foot in 2015.
Now, with the injury history behind his back, Rui is back running 6 days a week with 1 rest day.
As a high performance athlete, I was surprised when he told me that he plans his training in a 2-week cycle according to how he feels.
Waking up at 5.30 am on most of mornings, he starts the day with his workout before switching on his computer.
A typical 2-week training cycle looks like this:
Week 1
Mon – 90 min easy
Tue – high intensity workout
Wed/Thur – 90 min easy
Fri – tempo; Sat – rest
Sun – 2 hour long run
Week 2
Mon/Tue – 90 min easy
Wed – intervals
Thur/Fri – 90 min easy
Sat – rest
Sun – 90 min to 2 hour 30 min long run
Halfway through our conversation in his office at Sport Singapore, it suddenly dawned on me that at 25 years old, Rui is on track with what he wants to achieve in life. When I was at his age, I was still wandering aimlessly not knowing the purpose in life. For a moment, I felt embarrassed.
There are many valuable lessons one can learn from Rui even for someone like me who is double his age. After all, I have heard him spoke in 3 running clinics where his presentations inspired audience to run their best – one in Kallang Practice Track and twice in Young NTUC platform at One Marina Boulevard. To say that one understands the frustration, struggle, sacrifice and perhaps a moment of self-doubt in his running career is an understatement.
Consistency is the key takeaway point. Simply put, Rui was neither the fastest nor the most talented runner when he first started but with consistency, he made it out to be of what he is today.
As I sip over a cup of tea in Fun Toast at Kallang Wave Mall, in retrospection, I couldn’t help but sensed that something is missing in his life.
I just couldn’t figure it out. But one day, if I do, I will share with you. Right now, I am practicing the art of being consistency.
Note: In my next interview with Rui, he would share with us about a special group of people in his life. Stay tuned 🙂
Obviously being the humans that we are, we are inclined to go with life options that are easier and not as stressful. But what happens when we become too comfortable is that we become complacent, and ultimately deemed useless to our ever-evolving society.
So in 2017, perhaps you may want to consider doing the things that you have put off doing for so long and put yourself to the challenge. See how far you can take it and thereafter, how much further you can bring it.
So what are the advantages of challenging ourselves?
And I mean it in all sense of the word. If you choose to step out of your comfort zone to elevate yourself mentally in your job or to learn a new skill, you will realise how mentally strong you can be. If you choose to push yourself to exercise more and attempt new workouts, you will find out how physically strong the human body can be.
When you challenge yourself and push yourself to the limit, it will also open your eyes to varying ways of looking at situations around you. Your perspective of everyday things may change because you finally understand that achieving what you desire is not always so easy and we all have to work hard for it.
Challenging oneself to get over one’s fears can also be a very good thing. When we agree to put ourselves in the way of our biggest fears, we are also telling ourselves that we are actually stronger than that. It may even make you realise that all along, your fear was nothing to be afraid of.
Not just physically and mentally, but also as a human being in general. People who are confident, strong and yet genuinely nice to those around them are the ones who are truly the strongest because they themselves have been put through enough challenges to know everyone deserves kindness.
The bottomline is, when we put ourselves in the line of fire and challenge ourselves to outdo our own selves, we are actually making ourselves stronger and more hardy in the long term, whether it’s for work or play. It is only after you find out how far your mind and body can take you that you will appreciate every little thing that life gives to you thereafter.
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Hello world!
We’re well into 2017 now and no doubt most of us have set certain goals for this year related to running. Some will raise the bar higher, some will maintain their performance goals as they have reached a predefined limit, and some will somehow mellow down due to reorganisation of priorities. Whatever your goals are make sure they contribute to something for the long run. Running, like most other disciplines, is an incremental sport and it doesn’t achieve much for the long term when pressured too fast too soon.
I am grateful to be invited to write for Just Run Lah! where I would like to share with everyone my journey towards running enlightenment. Yes, running has indeed given me a sense of purpose and motivation I didn’t have before, where it challenges my very core to achieve what was impossible just a few years ago. I’d like to share with you my passion which will include my preparations, techniques, plans and gears. Not forgetting my thoughts on popular beliefs and conceptions. I think whether you are a seasoned runner or a budding newbie there is much we can learn from one another. Knowledge sharing is, after all, a trait found in most successful runners & coaches.
So what gives for me this year? I’ve set 3 running goals (which I think can be applied to many of us). They are quite specific because I believe what gets measured gets done!
To make your running year interesting, do create your own list of goals. They should be stretched goals though, as a little challenge will incrementally assist you to achieve greatness over time. To be honest, in the end I may not achieve all my goals but I will definitely do my very best to achieve them, every single kilometre!
Join me in this journey of epic proportions will you?
![Race Review: Gatorade Run 2016 [22km]](https://www.justrunlah.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/15995666_120300001559220277_345393010_n.png "Race Review: Gatorade Run 2016 [22km]")
Gatorade Run is one of the most awaited event I’ve been spotting on, since last year I wasn’t able to participate because of conflict on events.
Well the registration fee was a little bit pricey, 1,700php for 22km event, which includes Event shirt, finisher’s shirt, finisher’s medal & loot bag. But I think its reasonable because the shirts were from Adidas and I presume there’s gotta be a lot of Gatorade in all hydrating stations.
The event was held last November 27, 2016 and gun-start was 4am.
I reserved my energy in first few kilometers because this is my first time to run unusual distance, 22km. Each hydration stations had fresh cold water & Gatorade, and on last few stations had bananas & sponges. They had medical staffs to apply muscle sprays every 3km-5km. The weather was perfect too, cloudy enough not to get sunburned by 7:30am.
But the highlight of the event was the presence of cheerleaders from UAAP. They lively cheered all runners passing through them. You’ll gonna hear those drums from afar. It motivated me to push harder, faster even my legs already fatigued from long steady effort. The unique part was, you will jump to get your “Finisher” banner. You will choose the color of your banner, white or orange.
By the end of the race, they offer good post run stretching and it relieved some sore spots on my back. They also had free service that adds name of your choice on the back of your finisher shirt, only if you’re wearing Adidas running shoes.
The event exceeded my expectations and it was one memorable run for me. I crushed a new PR for my 21km.
Will definitely join for another Gatorade Run next year. 🙂
生活很好，传下去。
Life is good. Pass it on.
Race date: January 28
Race venue: SM by the Bay
Like organizer’s Facebook: Affinitea Run
#CNYluckyrun2017 #LifeisgoodPassiton #affinitearace
Great news for JustRunLah! readers. We are happy to be giving away 5 Free Racekits for 8km participation! Fill in the form below to take part in the contest!
The contest has ended. Thanks for taking part!
The winners will be contacted by the race organiser with instructions how to register for the event.
Listening to music while you exercising is something that most of us would do; be it brisk walking, running, gym workouts, interval training etc. Music tends to influence our workout in one way or another. I listen to music when I go for my runs or workouts. Music keeps me going and sometimes motivates me to work harder!
I recently got a chance to test out the Sony XB80BS EXTRA BASS™ Sports In-ear Bluetooth® Headphones. It is one of four impressive additions to the Sony EXTRA BASS™ audio line-up. These headphones are designed for the active sports person with extra bass sound to enhance performance. These headphones come in red, blue and black. I was super excited to receive the one in red as I love gears that make a statement! The headphones come together with a USB cable, a carrying pouch, Hybrid silicone rubber earbuds (SS, S, M, L x 2) and the starters guide.
Before I can bring the headphones out for a run or workout, I first need to set it up by pairing it with my mobile device. I’m currently using the Samsung Galaxy S6 which is built on the Android platform and has both Bluetooth and NFC capabilities. As with most wireless headphones, the MDR-XB80BS connects via Bluetooth seamlessly. The MDR-XB80BS also has the option of pairing using the Near Field Communication (NFC) function. I tried both methods and I was able to pair my mobile phone with the headphones easily.
Please note: Currently Apple iPhone mobile device and other Apple iOS devices do not support the NFC feature. NFC function is not compatible with Smartphone with Android 3. x operating system.
This is the first time I am using wireless headphones when I’m working out. I really enjoyed the workout experience and here are some of the reasons why:
When I wore the MDR-XB80BS for my run, I was surprised by the freedom I had in movement. Previously, I used wired headphones and the cables would always get in my way. It was frustrating because I frequently had to adjust them when working out. With the wireless in-ear headphones, getting tangled with cables or adjusting the cables are a thing of a past for me!
I also love the behind-the-ear looping shape because of the snug and comfortable fit when wearing it. During my run, never once did it fall off or move out of place. The design allows the headphones to stay in place while I move letting me focus on giving my best during the workout.
Besides being wireless and comfortable, the MDR-XB80BS in-ear headphones are extremely lightweight, weighing only approximately 27g; it is a feature you will love for a sport-friendly headphone model.
The MDR-XB80BS comes with a built-in microphone and an inline remote so you can make and take hands-free phone calls while you are exercising. While on my run that day, a call came in. Answering the incoming call was a simple push of the power button and the quality of the call was clear; both parties could hear each other clearly. If the call volume was too soft, a simple adjustment of the volume via the inline remote comes in handy as you need not reach for your phone.
With the MDR-XB80BS, I can just concentrate on my workout and not bother about uncomfortable headphone problems. It is pure freedom in movement.
I love the sound quality of the MDR-XB80BS, it is not compromised because it is a wireless device and the headphones did not lose connectivity with the phone. The MDR-XB80BS’s built-in LDAC enhanced codec support, which lets you stream the highest quality audio without wires.
After my run, I normally would do some body weight exercises such as squats, push-ups, sit-up etc., the powerful “Extra Bass” sounds were a welcome! With bigger beats, I was motivated to push and go further to complete the number of sets need for that workout. I could feel the burn of my legs as I did my squats and lunges but the beats gave me that extra energy and focus!
This is one of the important features when choosing wireless headphones. There are two things the Sony MDR-XB80BS boasts, the first is a battery life of up to 7hrs when fully charged. Marathon and half marathon runners would appreciate this because you won’t want to be left without music halfway when you are working out or running. I’m looking forward to using the Sony MDR-XB80BS when I participate in my first half marathon event this year at the NTUC Eco Run 2017! I am sure it’ll provide me with the beats to keep moving!
The Sony MDR-XB80BS has ‘Quick Charge’ function which is super handy for people like me. I can be really forgetful and not charge my devices when I need to use them. With a 10 min ‘Quick Charge’ for 60min playback, I can just quickly charge the headphones and I can go for my quick runs or workout sessions!
Charging the Sony MDR-XB80BS is fuss free and easy; all I needed to do was to connect the headphones to the computer using the USB cable and it will automatically start charging.
Have you ever been worried that your headphones will spoil if they come into contact with water? I know I have, the MDR-XB80BS has an IPX5 rating which means that it is splash-proof and washable, you can wash it after exercising without worrying that you will damage it. No more dirty headphones!
Overall, I enjoyed using the Sony MDR-XB80BS. Features like their customizable, activity-specific fit, their rain and sweat resistance, and their audio quality features that optimise hands-free use are essential for sports headphones. They are clearly tailored to the highly active person. I love how comfortable and snug they feel when wearing them while providing the highest quality of music.
I would like to thank Sony Singapore and JustRunLah! for the review unit. It has been a pleasure testing the headphones. This review is based on my own unbiased opinion after trying it out. The Sony MDR-XB50BS is available at all Sony authorised retail shops with a recommended retail price of $119.
I wanted a break to enjoy the festive season and I got it. However, I did not get to enjoy the festive seasons because I had a really bad flu and cough. After two weeks plus of rest, I was finally back running.
I don’t usually get to run in the later part of the morning. However, I woke up late and sneaked out of the house as quickly as possible before anyone could cause me to stay back. I decided to run to Lower Seletar Reservoir. It has been a while since I did that to watch the sunrise.
When I got there, the sun was rising out. The orange yolk rose above the reflective, still water and the whole reservoir glittered from the bright orange light. It was such as visual treat.
While I wanted to continue running, I decided to join in the many runners and cyclists who stopped to take photos. God knows when I would be able to run at this timing again. I have run here umpteen times but it was always dark.
I finally completed my run after 9km (3km short of my planned run) as I was starving. For some reason, I completely lost my appetite when I fell sick. However, it is now back with a vengeance. I am constantly hungry and famished. See the emphasis?
At the end of this leisurely, beautiful Sunday morning run, my Brooks also decided to bid me farewell. My hubby got me this pair of shoes after I had my firstborn to return to running. It was one of the most comfortable pair of running shoes I ever had. The support was good and I liked the cushioned soles. I have three other pairs of shoes, which I rotate during my training and races. My Brooks is by far my favourite pair.
It was sad when it finally gave way. I have grown sentimental with them and I could not bear to discard them. Thanks for giving me many good running memories and helping me get back into marathon running. You have served me well.
For now, I will rely on my On Cloud until I find another pair that fits me this well.
Whether you are a workout junkie, or just someone who is looking for something new to try in 2017, you need to know that in our current, highly volatile society, there is always something NEW that’s happening somewhere. And you need to go try it out!
Here are 3 crazy fun and new fitness workouts you can attempt to master in the new year!
Photo Credits: One Century Yoga
Have you ever attended a yoga class and while 90 percent of them are doing headstands like nobody’s business, you struggle even to get your head firmly planted on the ground?
If being able to do your yoga upside down is what you seek, then wall rope yoga will be something up your alley. Wall rope yoga, a style that involves the use of ropes, was pioneered by the late Indian yoga master B.K.S Iyengar in the early 20th century. But it gained popularity here only recently. If you would like to give it a go, the largest studio to hold such classes in Singapore is Pure Yoga at Ngee Ann City. Just so you know, there are only 3 studios in Singapore that do this right now.
If you think it is just hanging upside down with ropes against a wall and meditating, you may only be half right. Apparently, this form of exercise helps those who do it take note of the fine movements in the muscles and tissues.
If you loved jumping on trampolines when you were a kid, and maybe still enjoy doing it now, this may just be the workout for you.
Photo Credits: Boogie Bounce
In a Boogie Bounce Xtreme class, you can be just like a Gummy Bear and bounce here, there and everywhere while burning away those damned calories. But bear in mind (excuse the pun), while you are encouraged to bounce, you need to be mindful of how high you go as the aim here is to jump in a controlled manner – to work the various parts of your body.
Do take note though that it’s not all bouncing throughout the class. There’s also a mix in of pilates and balancing exercises that are done in the beginning to ensure you get a well-rounded workout.
The name says it all – literally! If you love to hit the karaoke joints and sing your heart out and you also enjoy working out, this is something you just HAVE to try.
The concept is simple. Basically you sing along to song lyrics while you move your body to the Zumba-like dance steps. Imagine being able to work out and move to that new tune by your favourite singer! If you are someone who wishes to improve your leg-eye coordination, this is perfect.
Photo Credits: Esplanade
Now you can experience how Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Beyonce sing and dance at the same time. Definitely not an easy feat but hey, if they can do it, so can you!
Let the year 2017 be one of trying new things! Life begins at the end of your comfort zone!
To many of us, experiencing our heart racing and feeling the blood rush to our feet may just be matters to talk and laugh about with our friends. For some people though, it may be a life or death.
Anxiety is felt by all of us when we are in stressful situations or when we are waiting for something to happen – and not in a good way. It can be a rather uncomfortable feeling that will cause us to feel cold in our fingers and feet or have heart palpitations that won’t cease even after countless deep breaths. The thing we need to know is that when we get anxious, our brain sends a ‘fight or flight’ signal to the rest of our body. When experienced in the long run, it can cause anxiety disorders where the affected person continues feeling highly anxious for months on end for no particular reason.
To bring this issue closer to home, remember the last time your boss called you into his office for a talk or you had to do a public speaking stint? The anticipation definitely didn’t feel too good did it? That’s exactly what anxiety is about. Besides causing you to feel faint and even pins and needles in your hands and feet, constant exposure to such anxiety inducing situations can result in you experiencing stomach, heart, and even bowel problems in the long run.
A short anxiety attack can cause our blood to drain to your feet, making us feel dizzy. Longer periods of exposure can cause us to experience breathless, make our stomach hurt when it shouldn’t and/or give us a heart attack (yes, for real).
Sounds incredible? Not so. As long as you have been in a highly stressful situation before, you will know how awful it feels when all you can do is sit there and wait for whatever is coming your way, especially when you know it isn’t going to be something good. You attempt to calm yourself down by doing breathing exercises or drinking cold water. Or you pace up and down and think good thoughts to take your mind away from the tension. But you realise no matter what you do, you are still thinking about what’s going to come your way and your body takes the brunt of all this stress.
But as much as too much anxiety is bad for us, a little once in awhile can make us more alert and aware of the things that are happening around us. When we get a little anxious, we tend to start taking note of the things people around us are saying or doing. This is our brain’s way of trying to take the load off ourselves by finding out what we may be in for.
So the next time you start feeling signs of anxiety, don’t get too uptight yet. Just don’t let it go on for too long and too much and you should be fine.
On 20th November 16, John Chew ran a personal best timing of 3:19:37 in Japan’s Kobe Marathon, his second overseas marathon so far, and he is still hungry for more – a faster timing.
One can hardly imagine that he could run so fast. Looking back 10 years ago, the current fit John now looked nothing like him a decade ago. After all, he was overweight in junior college and he failed the 2.4 km time trial in the Individual Personal Proficiency Test (IPPT) before enlistment.
“BMT was a real culture shock for a concert band person like me. I decided to address my overweight problem through running. To my surprise, I enjoyed the feeling after each run – the sense of accomplishment.” said the 27 years old.
Transiting into working life, he decided to take running a backseat and that was where he lost the motivation to run and his fitness plummeted.
“But deep down, I knew I was not satisfied with my current state of life. I knew something was missing in life and I am not really living.” he conceded.
A man is made by the friends around him
That was when a good friend whom he always look up to came to his rescue – Melvin Wong, an accomplished triathlete and national runner whom he knows for 7 years.
“Melvin called me at the most appropriate time when I was about to quit running. He challenged me to start training for the year-end Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS). I accepted it apprehensively, and like they said, the rest was history.” the supply chain executive chuckled.
A key factor to John’s improvement is because he trains with a group of runners of similar fitness level. They called themselves “The Coney Runners”.
Heng Zhi Feng, 28, an IT professional who joined the group during the last National Day said:”John has a positive mindset and vibe which influenced me to always stay positive when the tough gets going during our workouts. He is also a very disciplined and self-motivated guy when it comes to achieving his goal.
“Outside running, John is also a very fun and jolly person who will often bring laughter to the group.”
How does your typical training week looks like?
Mon – Track workout or 45 min run
Tue – 40 min easy run
Wed – 60 min easy run
Thu – Track workout
Fri – Rest day
Sat – Tempo run
Sun – Long run along Coney Island/Punggol Park Connector
(Weekly mileage: 80 – 90 km)
If there is only one workout to train for marathon, what would that be?
3 x 10k at marathon pace with 5 min rest interval.
This workout would help to lock in the marathon pace, and is able to simulate race day conditions like taking gels.
What advice can you give to runners who are planning their first half marathon or marathon?
It will be advisable to run some shorter races before your first 21k or 42k.
These races will be like prep races as you could practice your race pace, hydration and gel plans in these races.
What are your goals?
Short term – run a sub 40 min in a 10 km race, and sub 3:10 hour in Gold Coast Airport Marathon 2017.
Long term – run a sub 3 marathon.
If there is one quote to describe you as a runner, what would that be?
A person who does not give up.
Note: John dedicates this interview to the runners who inspire him namely Melvin Wong, Alvin Loh, Chua Yew Wee, Nazri Rahman, Liu Zhiyong, Derek Li, Andy Neo, Joshua Li, Wong Ken Mun, Heng Zhifeng and Foo Gen Lin.
Week three into my marathon training program and here come the freebies: a blister, a broken toenail and skin chafing. And along with them some lessons I’ve derived.
The blister on my left ankle, which I never even felt (which is quite disturbing), is caused by myself using low ankle socks. They were fine when I was running 5K 3X a week before but the long runs involved in my training program has led me to realize I need above-the-ankle-socks.
Now about the broken toenail. I was traveling during week two and I happened to be in Dipaculao, Aurora for that week’s long run day. I was thrilled because there was a nice, paved road as far as the eye could see and gorgeous views of lush mountains and the Pacific Ocean. What I didn’t know was the elevation was crazy. It was a snaky uphill and downhill road that according to my Nike+ app which took me from 62ft to 564ft. As if the 13K I was supposed to do that day weren’t challenging enough. Anyway, that was that. I also neglected cutting my nails short before the run so again, lesson learned.
There was also a video I’ve seen before about properly tying shoelaces to prevent black or bruised toenails. I should probably re-watch that.
As for the skin chafing, it happened during one of my shorter runs. I think a 6K. I rarely wear shorts when I go for a run. I’m always in capris. But for some reason I put on running shorts that time. The result was inner thigh chafing. This was new to me. And it was not fun. Especially when I got in the shower.
I was also embarrassed. I thought the chafing was a result me being overweight. But WeAreGoodSport.com assured me that this is a misconception. Chafing can happen to ANYONE and can occur on ANY PART of the body as long as skin meets skin or skin meets fabric.
Whew.
The site also mentioned that people who are “salty sweaters” are usually at risk from chafing. This is one of those aha moments. I turn into one of those after runs longer than 10K. Like today, after my 16K run, I think I could scoop up teaspoonsfuls of salt from my arms alone.
Yummy.
One can hardly miss them – their medley of bright colored balloons, whooping cheers, whistles dangling around their neck with the word “OFFICIAL PACER” or “PACER” running loud across their chests.
Yes. I am talking about pacers.
Being a lead pacer in 13 pacing projects, average 3.25 per year, I have witnessed the surge in demand for pacers primarily in local races and a shift in pacing duties.
By definition, “Pacer” refers to a person (runner) who sets the pace in a race.
Sounds simple? Maybe not.
These days, pacers not only have to conform to their targeted race pace on race day, they have to double up as cheer leaders and latest, route guides. Directly or indirectly, pacers help to reinforce the brand and set the tone for the race. Thus it is no surprise to catch sight of pacers from a serious marathon to a 5 km non-competitive fun run.
Regardless of time, the fundamental of a firm pacer selection remains unchanged.
Be the right runner for the right job
Pacing is not racing. It is not about you running your personal best on race day or showing off that you are a fast runner during training runs. The focus is about serving and adding value to something greater than self – so be humble, and be a good sport.
In return, the sacrifices and satisfaction that you get from a job well done is something that no amount of words can describe.
So if you are offered the chance to be a pacer, do not hesitate! Take the leap forward and be part of the unique running family called pacers!
Balloting for the World Marathon Majors is like gambling. You put your cards on the table, and you leave it to the dealer to roll your dice. There’s a reason why I don’t play blackjack, or roulette (it’s a luck dependent exercise). You are already beaten because the casino always wins. Poker, is my game. It’s a game of skill – one where you exercise informed decisions, one whereby your destiny is in your own hands.
Photo Credits: Tom Kauertz
So why ballot for the World Marathon Majors where you leave your fate completely in the hands of Lady Luck, when you can train, aim, target for one of the guaranteed slots slash semi-elite slots. It would be even more a privilege to be run the World Marathon Majors as one who has earned his or her spot through hard work, effort and determination.
So here are the World Marathon Majors that allows for you to have the honour of qualifying for it, and of course the qualifying standard
The Run as One Semi Elite (Overseas) programme is designed to provide excellent runners who reside outside Japan the opportunity to be a part of the prestige Tokyo Marathon, by hitting the qualifying standards. You must meet the qualifying standards in an IAAF Gold Label, Silver Label or Bronze Label Race and an AIMS certified race.
Photo Credits: Tokyo Weekender
For the male, this would mean a 221:01 – 255:00 marathon; and for the female, a 252:01 – 3:40 marathon timing would give you a slot.
The famed Boston Marathon is one that can only be participated by hitting the qualifying times. You get what you work for! But note that hitting the qualifying time does not guarantee you participation, but merely an opportunity to submit for registration. If the total amount of submissions surpass the allotted field size, those who are fastest among the pool of applicants in their gender and age group will be accepted. The faster you are, the higher the chance of participation.
The largest marathon in the world – it’s no wonder this is a tough one to claim entry. And to hit the qualifying standards is an achievement in itself.
#4 London MarathonIf you have completed a sub245 marathon for men, and a sub 315 marathon for women; or a sub 115 half marathon for men and a sub 130 half marathon for women, you may just be able to request a Championship Entry. However, additionally you must be registered with your National Governing Body or be a member of an athletic club associated with the British Athletics.
Photo Credits: Sports Tour International
Anyone who has run a verifiable sub315 marathon for men and sub345 marathon for women will be guaranteed a slot in this prestigious Chicago Marathon.
Berlin Marathon – where records are made! So of course the qualifying times for a guaranteed slot is blistering as well. For the year 2017 itself, you will need to run a sub3 marathon is you’re a female and a sub 245 marathon if you’re a male. Pre 1972 babies will have to hit a sub 320 for females and sub 255 for the male.
There is just something satisfying about earning your beef than simply having it handed to you.