If you are keen and have queries, please contact Coach Rameshon at 9100 4369 or you can email him at m.rameshon@gmail.com or swift.rameshon@gmail.com. Please refer to website http://flexifitness.com.sg (for more information on him and his programmes)
By Rameshon
Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)
Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)
Picture 1 - Lim Thow Wee (left) and Ashley Liew (right) enjoyed the run, but were affected by the sharp turns for the route and the hilly terrain.
I met Ashley after his run and he told me that he did 1hr 12min 57sec, about 3 seconds away from Ruiyong 1 12 53, a former Chinese High student who went to Raffles Institution, who is in the Army right now.
I was told that the winning local time was by Mok Ying Ren who ran in 1 10m 27sec. It seems that Mok told Ashley that the route was about 20.4km, according to a distance marking gadget. Hence, I went to check with the 2 PDF runners, who felt that they could be the champion unit for Army Formation, judging from the fast times that they did this year. I found out that some felt that they were 5 min faster. Later they told me that, after averaging out the timing, the distance should be 700m short. I spoke to a number of people and they told me that the route is definitely short, except for the twist and turns and short hills.
Army Half-Marathon - Most of the runners did 5min faster than their personal best time
Devadas Sathianathan did 1hr 15min, behind Ashley Liew. Zhiyong, the 2PDF runner did a similar time as well but slightly slower than Devadas. Ashley's friends, Lim Thow Wee and Wong Ken Mun did 1hr 23min. Jonathan Kang did 1hr 29min.
Several runners that I met there were complaining about the distance markers, either the markers were non-visible or the markers were not placed properly. One runner told me that the markers were put for convenience of the marker to be seen such that the distance could be longer or shorter. Organisers who can redress this situation can assist Singapore athletics to be developed so that runners can pace themselves well and use every fruitfully.
One runner told me that the route was good in a sense that it was flat, however, the route had a lot of turning, some nearly 90 degrees turns, which affected the race momentum.
One runner told me that there were a number of hills. The two main complaints that the runners were complaining was more on the hilly course and sudden turns to their surprise. The runners felt that this affected their performance. They were hoping that the future organiser can look into this and do some changes.
Anne Date did 1hr 20min 30sec to come in first in local category women category with Vivian coming in second with a time of 1hr 25min 16sec.
Another of Ashley Liew's friend, Dr Ben Tan, who is at present training for November 2011 New York City marathon informed me that he did 1hr 27min plus. Just as he predicted, he did well for this. He feels that he has a lot of work to do to run in the 2011 New York City marathon.
Note:
By Narayanan
Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’ by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).
He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.
