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 Marcel Sng
Next Issue -Divyata and Aditya did 17min 10sec for Zoo Run 2.8km Kid's Dash 2013.
Hong Kong Marathon 2012 - Singapore's Top Marathon runner Ashley Liew's performance In the past.
I realised that the Hong Kong marathon was just over. Last year Ashley ran the race. He was actually training for the Gold Coast Marathon 2012. Coach Rameshon found that while improving, it was a good thing for Ashley to do the Hong Kong marathon. Thanks for the last-minute acceptance by the officials. Even on the day of the race, one could run so long one pays a price for it.
As it was in this race that Ashley was able to improve his time of 3hr 06min in Stanchart Marathon in Singapore, he was able to rebound in 2months and do the Hong Kong Marathon 2012 in a time of 2hr 38min. This is nearly a 30min improvement.
As the Hong Kong marathon was just over, I asked Coach Rameshon on the memories of the Hong Kong Marathon in the form of an interview.
An Interview With Coach Rameshon
What was your time in Hong Kong in the past?
I did 2hr 31min in the year 1990. That was the time that I broke Tan Choon Ghee's 2hr 34min national record, done in China.
How many months did it take for you to train to do this time?
It took me 6 weeks to do the 2hr 31min.
Can you give us more details about this?
At that time, I was still maintaining my fitness in 1989. After doing 2hr 36min in Singapore Marathon. I lost the privilege of going for California marathon and was selected to go to Hong Kong marathon instead. Bala came in first with a time of 2hr 35min and was selected to go for California marathon where he did 2hr 33min in the end. He was trained by me at that time. He decided to train under foreign coaches through correspondence later on after the race and we had to split from there.
What is Ashley Liew's time for Hong Kong Marathon 2012?
It was 2hr 38min plus.
What made you and Ashley to decide to do this race?
In the year 2011, Stanchart Marathon in Singapore, we found that there was something wrong in the race. No matter what, I myself have not done a 3hr plus as a serious runner. Eventually, after toying our memories of the past, we realised that our hydration strategy went wrong. For me, I realised that Ashley was ready to do a 2hr 34min, instead. This did not materialise. Some people kept asking me on 'what happened' several times. In order to squash this, we decided to enter a race asap by taking part in the Hong Kong marathon.
How do you feel about this achievement?
In Hong Kong, I have a good timing there. As for Ashley, he is still the fastest Singaporean for the Hong Kong route. This makes me happy. Although the weather conditions were not that favourable at that time, braving the cold wind, Ashley did a sub-2hr 40min for the course which consisted of many up and downhills.
Why did you and Ashley not plan to go for the Hong Kong Marathon 2013 this year?
Instead of running in the Hong Kong Marathon, I would wish him to run in the USA or a nearby country itself instead of running in the Hong Kong marathon.
If Ashley stays in Singapore, we would have considered the Hong Kong Marathon 2013. Hong Kong has proximity to Singapore. In the region, although Hong Kong is cold, it is a good thing to run the Hong Kong Marathon, it is organised very well and it is cooler, although the up and down hills are plenty.
What was the ranking of Ashley for the year 2012?
He was first in the year 2012 and currently is still the best in Singapore.
How do you feel about Ashley's performance at the 2012 Hong Kong marathon?
He has the calibre to go for the Olympics. He has not really told me that he wants to go for the Olympics openly. I believe that he is a quiet achiever. The kind of personality that he has I believe that he can attain sub-2hr 10min and below in the future.
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.
