june-2011

WORDS: ABHISHEK MEHROTRA
WELL + GOOD
GOING THE
DISTANCE
People are taking to the streets to join a
growing crowd that likes nothing better
than to pound the gravel for glory
Since the legendary Greek messenger
Pheidippides looked into a mirror, mistook
himself for a horse and ran all of 42 and a bit
kilometres from Marathon to Athens, longdistance
running has become a pastime for
more ordinary mortals; and in recent years it
has zoomed in popularity.
Lim Baoying, a 29-year-old medical
doctor, is one of those regularly clocking
up the kilometres. Her desire to compete
in marathons began in junior college, when
“despite being relatively non-athletic” she
decided to join the cross-country team.
She was inspired both by the challenge
of keeping up with her teammates and
of emulating her coach, Leong Chee
Mun, who indulged himself in a buffet of
endurance sports ranging from triathlons to
mountaineering. It was with those aims in
mind that Baoying gradually worked her way
up to running full marathons.
Last year, she won the Sundown
Marathon in Singapore, completing the race
in three hours and 41 minutes. “I just felt
incredulous — it was my fi rst attempt at
Sundown Marathon,” said the Singaporean.
“Just earlier in February last year, I had hit my
fi rst sub-four hour marathon in Tokyo, but
the conditions were not ideal — too cold and
wet — and I was just not acclimatised; hence
the Sundown was the follow-up marathon
distance I attempted. I did not expect to better
my timing, let alone win the open category.”
FOOD /// STYLE /// GADGETS /// PLACES /// EVENTS /// PROFILES
Baoying’s motives are similar to those of
us lesser mortals. “The thrill of competition
and [desire for] fi tness keeps me going. I am
still chasing for a better timing with each
marathon I do,” she says.
Despite its numerous physical and mental
advantages, there are people who think the
ability to run lost its evolutionary benefi ts
when we stopped being chased by tigers,
leopards and other homicidal fauna. More
often than not though, it’s the relatively
boredom of running [compared to watching a
hilarious episode of Modern Family] that puts
people off.
“Do not be overly ambitious, and listen
to your body,” cautions the doctor. “Train
smart and reap more benefi ts with shorter,
more intense sessions that allow your body to
improve its strength and fi tness.”
So there you have it, straight from
the horse’s mouth. And since this one’s a
thoroughbred, it would be prudent to listen
to her. Who knows, you might be crossing the
fi nishing line in triumph in the near future!
KEEP IT
LIVELY
“Take different
routes when you
run, explore places
that you have
previously only
cycled or driven
along — this
will change your
perspective of the
place. Or fi nd a
training partner —
having someone
to talk to while the
kilometres roll past
certainly reduces
the boredom”
The Auckland Marathon
is the most popular in
New Zealand; BOTTOM:
Lim Baoying wins the
Sundown Marathon
UPCOMING MARATHONS
Laguna Phuket International Marathon
12 June 2011
Perth Marathon
19 June 2011
Sundown Ultramarathon, Singapore
25 June 2011
Standard Chartered KL Marathon
26 June 2011
Manila International Marathon
26 June 2011
St. George Melbourne Marathon
9 October 2011
Adidas Auckland Marathon
30 October 2011
Penang Bridge International Marathon
20 November 2011
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