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 M.Rameshon
Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)
Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)
Gold Coast Marathon 2012 - One will not be blocked during the race.
Picture 1 - (Left to Right) Ashley Liew, Dr Ben Tan and his wife, Lim Mui Khim, Ansley Ng and Rameshon
I remember Ng Soo Hong, who at the age of 19, doing 7min 26sec for 2.4km. I did in 7min 02sec for the NAPFA ENCOUNTER (1995). I believe that a sub - 7min was possible during the race, before going for SEA Games 1995. However, I was not able to do it because of being blocked in the early part of the race and the race route was too narrow from the 400m to the 1.2km. After the 1.2km mark, I came out of the situation of being blocked but it was already too late. The damage was already done. Nevertheless, I was happy with this time before going for SEA Games in Chiengmai, Thailand. In the meantime, I told Soo Hong to go to Gold Coast to do a personal best time. Soo Hong did 2hr 44min, while I did 2hr 24min 22sec in SEA Games 1995.
Picture 2 - Gold Coast Airport Marathon has a variety of races, including kids dash
Earlier on, all along, I have gone for London and Berlin Marathon plus other international races. However, I have been always wanting to run the Gold Coast marathon in the past to improve my timing. The opportunity did not come but instead, I was able to go to Australia as a coach to Ashley Liew where he did 2hr 41min there.
Picture 2 - Gold Coast Airport Marathon has a variety of races, including kids dash
After the race, we were invited for dinner by the Queensland Government Tourism Board. It was cordial and the Director who was in charge of the South East Asia region, by the name of Lim Mui Khim was warm to us. Dr Benedict Tan and his wife, and Ansley Ng, from the Today Paper, was also there. We discussed about the race. We found that the race was generally cool. After 2hours of the run, we felt that the weather became warm.
Overall the weather was good. The best thing about the race was the route. It is a very flat and fast course. A day before the race, the 10km race was held so that the race focuses on half-marathon and the marathon race. The race started such that people can see the start of the race. It was organised very well.
Picture 3 (Left to Right) - Stephen Lock, Ashley Liew and Lim Mui Khim
Overall the weather was good. The best thing about the race was the route. It is a very flat and fast course. A day before the race, the 10km race was held so that the race focuses on half-marathon and the marathon race. The race started such that people can see the start of the race. It was organised very well.
Lim Mui Khim told me that it was a 2-day event of 10km on the first day 31/06/2012, on a Saturday and the half-marathon and marathon on the second day 01/07/2012. She told me that this was just implemented and it has been a success so far. We thought that this was good in term of logistic in order to provide proper support for the race.
Lim Mui Khim told me that Singaporeans coming for this race have increased over the years. She told me that in 2007, about 24 people from Singapore went down to Australia to run in the Gold Coast Marathon. Over time, the figure went up to 36. Lim Mui Khim also told me that gradually the figure went from 62 in 1009 to 99 in the year 2010. Last year estimate shows that Singaporeans going for the Gold Coast Marathon had risen to 210. This shows that the Gold Coast marathon has become one of the most popular destinations to Singaporeans to run a marathon.
Lim Mui Khim revealed to me that Japan brings in the highest number of runners for this race followed by New Zealand. Singapore is now in the third position and then followed by Malaysia. She told me that the weather has always been an advantage for the runners. I was told that the people here do cheer the runners from the start, middle and at the end. The residents here are very supportive to cheer all or any runners to do their personal best time. She finds that the flat course provides one an opportunity to run a fast time. She cited a runner who kept improving 3 times until over time he chose to run in the triathlon events. All the way there was personal best. In comparison, in Hong Kong, the marathon race is run in near perfect condition but the terrain is hilly for one to do a personal best time.
Lim Mui Khim also told me that there are various attractions at Gold Coast where one can go, for example, Whale Watching. They could also go to the Theme Park. She told me that from Gold Coast one could drop by at Brisbane. There is also Sunshine Coast in Gold Coast. Besides Marathon race, in Gold Coast, one could register in the triathlon race. Right now, there is NOOSA triathlon which is popular in Gold Coast for triathletes. There is also the Challenge Cairns package for those who want to go for the Full Ironman race which is similar to an Ironman International race.
www.runningcoachsg.com
By Narayanan
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.
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.
