Contributing To A Child's Success In Their Chosen Sports (Part 2H/3)

Note:

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)

Impossible to possible

Dr Ansgar and I can keep talking about running and we do not get tired of it

I spoke to Dr Ansgar, 49, a dentist by profession, from The Specialist Dental, and a 3hr 35min marathon runner in Stanchart Marathon 2015, on how he took up running. From my conversation that I had with him, I realised that he has been running from young and he is still passionate about running till now. He told me the story of himself on how he got hooked in running after trying other sports.

As for me, before running, there are some incidents that had taken place were in the long run, finally, I took up running as I saw a purpose in it. 

When I was about 6 years of age, I was staying at Kampung Bahru (at base of Mount Faber). I lived in a Kampung, a Malay word for village. This particular Kumpung housed Malays and Indians together. 

My uncle, when he was young, used to attract me with toys, like plane and car, to make me take up a running sprint challenge with a Malay boy by the name of Cho. Cho was a very fast runner and I found that it was hard to compete with him. Always when there was a challenge, he wins and I lose all the time. I got frustrated with that as I was not able to get the toy, and as a result, I did not have the opportunity to play with the toy. Hence, I looked forward to the next challenge. 

After some challenges, somehow, on one fortunate day, I was able to win Cho in a 50metres type of sprint challenge. I felt so happy on that day, hoping to get the toy at last. However, my uncle told me that the race will be valid if I challenge Cho again and he told me that he will definitely give me the toy if I win him in the second round. I was upset with this as I found it impossible to win Cho in 50m dash. Cho seemed to possess a lot of toys and I had none. He was always luckier than me. So, in the second round of 50 m dash with Cho, I realised that I ended up losing him. It frustrated me a lot. A series of these kinds of situations keep happening again and again. 

Then, came a day where I started to be aggressive in going for it. The day came where I kept winning Cho all the time. However, my uncle told me that we need to run again, this time, Cho was given a head start, a few metres in front of me. I did not know why but for the second round challenge, I had this habit of losing to Cho. Over time, even in the second round, I was able to win him. 

At the end of the day, finally, I did not get my prize, as I came to a realisation that if my uncle decides not to give me the reward, then nothing can motivate him to give me the toy (usually a miniature car/helicopter/plane). At that age, even when Cho got the head start, a few metres in front, a privileged start, I did not know that my uncle was unfair. I thought that his rules and regulations of the race were the gospel truth and I thought it wrong to question him. Somehow, I used to wonder why I was not able to get it. Over a period of time, when I got matured I realised that Cho was a pet of my uncle and there was a clear indication of favouritism, which I was not aware of at that age. 

The act of losing and losing all the time can make children give up sports. In my case, I thought that I was born loser. However, the act of giving Cho a privileged start, in a way must have developed in me the instinct to be more aggressive in the approach if you want something badly. I think that this must have contributed my improvement in marathon running such that I was able to do 2hr 24m 22sec. (It is good that I learnt it from the school of hard knocks). 

The abandoning day of the challenge dawn upon me when on one day, I realised that I did win, although Cho got a privileged start. We were asked to challenge again for validity. Again, I beat him, But to my amazement and disappointment, I did not get my reward, eventually. Then I abandoned the idea of any challenge that my uncle was trying to get me and Cho to do. I realised that it was a waste of my time. When my uncle called for a challenge, between me and Cho, I decided to ignore the challenge. 

Nevertheless, these challenges that took place at an early age must have made my mind stronger to rebound back when I lose. 

A number of incidents, over time, of not being able to win some Singapore top runners appeared in my life. Impossible became possible. For example, I used to lose a runner by the name of Ramasamy, former national record holder of a marathon, 2hr 36min. I thought that it was an impossible task of winning Ramasamy, who had a personal best time of 16m 00sec for 5km. The thought has appeared a number of times that winning was just a dream and it is not going to happen. Over time, I was able to do a time of 15min 31sec, where I came in 4th in Singapore Open Track and Field Championships 1992, and I also overtake him in a number of races. Ramasamy was a good athlete at that time.

Several opponents that I thought that could not be beaten were beaten, over time. From 1990 to 1992, from 5000m to marathon races, I realised that I did not have challenges coming from anyone from Singapore, except for Ramachandran from Malaysia. I was coming first in all the races with commendable timing as well. However, I was not able to improve much in Singapore. 

This made me go forth to England to compete and study at the Loughborough University of Technology. 

From the story, I can see now that kids, if they keep continuing their pursuit with iron determination and excellent self-discipline, and they believe in themselves, they can over time be able to achieve their dream in a chosen sports. By continuing, we can see that those that we thought impossible to be beaten are actual 'human' to be beaten. 

Hence, losing when one is young is not the full story.

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.

Contributing To A Child's Success In Their Chosen Sports (Part 2G/3)

Note:

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)

Ego (win) Oriented and Process (learning) Oriented Children

It is very interesting to share with the readers of the blog post on personal training that I do with a kid. It is a known fact that some parents are hoping that their child can excel in their chosen sports. The thing that they are hoping for is the results. Some parents want quick and instant results. I have seen a coach taking a drastic move in order that the child gets results, leading to the child giving up sports later. Parents must be extremely careful about this. Strategically it is a good idea to work towards long-term results. The important component for parents to have is actually the patience that constant success will take place later on in life.  

The coach is strongly encouraged to have some form of Physiological knowledge before they take up coaching, if possible. The Singapore Sports Council and Singapore Athletics are working towards this. It is a good idea for the coach to take up a course which touches on Maturation as well. The message must be driven that kids are not miniature adults, and as such a lot of care must be taken such that they are groomed well in their chosen sports. Moreover, the kids will go through numerous problems and issues while they excel in sports. During the teenage years, they will face adolescence problem as well. It is important for coaches to be armed with Physiological knowledge to assist the child to the maximum. 

A carefully planned cycle or programme that will assist the child to do well in sports, from child to adult life. Whether it is for performance or health or fitness, the key point that the parent should know is that it is important for the child to know that there is a process that enables them to succeed, in the end. 

Without knowing the process of hard work and learning that naturally takes place in sports, a child may have the attributes of being an ego-oriented or product-oriented individual, always yearning to win, at the expense of seeing other kids losing. 

Hence, the first thing that the child needs to learn here is to accept that losing as an important part of training to excel and succeed one day. The child should be taught on success, by winning oneself rather on winning others. An ego-oriented child will do an activity as long as they win. If they lose they will give up the activity. When they are not good in a particular activity, the kid will not want to spend time doing it. 

The better way to arrest the problem of a child being an ego-oriented kid is to enable the child to understand that if they learn, for instance, the change of technique, style of posture in sports etc, these changes will make them a better sportsman over time. By making the child well informed on their chosen sports, the kid will learn to like sports. 

Also, we must keep reinforcing the idea that it is totally acceptable to lose in a game. I have seen children, who believe in doing well at that very moment only and are not wanting to work hard during a series of training sessions. When a parent sees this kind of problem, my advice is to suggest to them to use the significant others, like coaches, friends, peers, relations etc to influence a child to make them know the importance of constant hard work that leads to sure success. The most important thing that the child needs to know is that by improving oneself all the time, a number of successes will take place for them, over a period of time this could lead to not only in the real winning of a chosen sport but also in career and life as well. 

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.

MR 25 Ultra Marathon 2015

Note:

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 Saranniya

Today, I was told by Coach Rameshon that Mr Evan is just thinking of completing 10 rounds of the Mac Ritchie 10.5km course. It sounded like he is not competing as he has a race coming up soon during the last week of February 2016. Frankly speaking, I admire Mr Evan's courage for taking this challenge. We made it a point to support him, especially at the start of the race, at least. 

We reached the carpark at 6 30am, which was full. Somehow, a group of athletes from Flexifitness came to encourage Mr Evan for the race. They were full of zest. Later, we decided to meet at Mushroom cafe. 

In actual fact, the last time I saw this MR 25 Ultra-Marathon race was in the year 2014. We did not have any evening programme, at that time, and we decided to stay on all the way till night to support Mr Colin Chua and Mr Lim Thow Wee from 7am to 7pm. Both of them came in 4th overall in the team event of half-marathon 21.2km x 2. Both competed instead of completing it. 

As for today's race, I was there at 7am and the start was more organised. I was impressed with the organisation. At about 7am, the race started. The start was good to see as many athletes crowded in front of the racing group. The athletes were showing signs of excitement and enthusiasm to run in the race. Section by section, I did my best to take photos of the running crowd. 

Coach Rameshon, after the start of the run, went for his personal training, after seeing Mr Evan at the start of the race. The appointment was fixed about 2 weeks back. He came back to Macritchie at 9am to support. 

We met Aunt Helen Toh, Moonlake, and the rest of the athletes. They completed one round of the run. We were doing our best to locate Dr Ansgar Cheng and was told by Moonlake that he was still running with Mr Evan, at that time. Moonlake messaged us that Mr Evan was in the main group. 

While encouraging Mr Evan, the Flexifitness athletes went for their 2 rounds run around the 10.5km MacRitchie Reservoir route in a clockwise fashion, while Mr Evan had to run anti-clockwise direction. 

At 12 noon, our supporting runners had to go for another important programme conducted by Coach Saravanan. Coach Rameshon did not know what to do and he was in a dilemma and was weighing the situation, Finally, after discussing with some athletes we decided to go for the programme in the evening, conducted at Bukit Timah. 

We are keeping our fingers crossed and believe that Mr Evan will definitely do 10 rounds of 10.5km. Our spirit will be there with him to support. All the best, Mr Evan!

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.

Contributing To A Child's Success In Their Chosen Sports (Part 2F/3)

Note:

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 Murugiah Rameshon
Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)

Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)

Running gives you discipline, and discipline is a ladder of success in achieving anything. 

Both N. Ganesan, former National Record holder of Singapore 5km (14m 57sec) track race, and I, did not really talk about studies during training. Usually, it is all about running, running and more running. It is about how to improve and we strictly discuss the content of it. In order to attain this kind of high standard of training, one must be intrinsically motivated. We believe that this gave us the discipline and we got over our tertiary education later on in life. 

I remember my former cross-country teacher, Mr Joseph Varghese cautioning me, not to be obsessed about running when I was training very hard. He was teaching St Patrick's Secondary and I was teaching Catholic High School. It was in the year 1996. After our school' s victory in National Cross-Country race, Catholic High School were under 14 division Champions and under 17 second overall in the boys' race, he spoke at length on not to be too serious about running. I believe that I took running as a passion and not an obsession. That passion made me know the ingredients on running, and that led me to go to Loughborough University and do research for my degree programme. Running is responsible for making me finish my further studies in Masters in Education Programme (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008). Hence, running balanced my life in terms of pursuit and education. 

In my life, I have seen runner's running and being injured because of the wrong understanding they have on running. Every day, the so-called obsessed had been running. All they talk about is running, running and running. When you talk about diet, recovery etc, the runners tell that they have to go home. Hence, I feel that the obsessed person in running runs without a clear understanding of running. 

The runner does not reflect on whether the training programme will make them go forward or not. They are somewhat mad about running, but they are not passionate about running. The keyword is passion. Passion leads one to draw out a proper program and also do reflection after a race. I have seen a number of athletes running a race and just don't do any form of reflection. They just say in the mind," This is just another day," and run along. They do not bother about the fat percentage of the body and do something about it so that the performance gets better. 

For example, in Kenya, a top elite athlete has 3 % fat percentage for the whole body. In Europe, one has 4%. According to my former lecturer Sir George Gandy, he says that the fat percentage is enough to determine who is the winner in the end. So particular attention is always taken by the passionate runner. The obsessed person in running does not have a direction. 

A passionate person in running does not have only have a diary, but he or she will also do self-reflection, in everyday training and also after a race, always finding for a room to keep improving.

That is why I have seen in Hwa Chong Institution some keywords for students to imbibe. One must have a passion for something and that passion will lead one to knowledge. As for me, there are proverbs in many faiths that knowledge will lead one to wealth. 

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.

Contributing To A Child's Success In Their Chosen Sports (Part 2E/3)

Note:

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)

In the past, when I was training in Singapore, usually I did not take holidays, especially during November and December period. It is known as a crucial period for runners who aspire to do well. My experience is that, after doing the November/December training, usually, there is this energy in me to take the year easily by being very relaxed. People told me that rarely I get angry. I believe that it came from my running pursuit.

I have seen many who go for holidays for a longer period of time, during the November and December holidays. After the holidays, I found that they tell me that they had been very busy travelling and they hardly had time to rest, and, in fact, recover, during the holiday. When they come back from holiday, they narrate to me that they actually need another holiday to recover from the holiday that they had spent. 

Hence, I feel that running can be a good way to relax from life's stress. Two months of easy running does make you quiet and to go within oneself to feel peaceful and appreciate life. Maybe, the oxygen in MacRitchie Reservoir makes one think better. My desires were less, to the point that I did not feel the lack of something is making me sad. 

When I was training seriously at secondary four, while I was in St Joseph's Institution, even when my mother argues with me, I tend to give in to her argument. Before that in much younger days, I used to argue my way out and she got tired out at the end of the day. Basically, it made me be an observer, like an out of order vending machine, not to entertain in argument as it really can sap one's energy. I became from a noisy person to a silent person. 

Another important point of November and December holiday training is that, usually, I felt myself improving throughout the year. Ganesan and I were not National Record holders in the past, however, we were aspiring to be one in the future. No one knew that we could do it. We did not know also but we were believing in ourselves, and we finally achieved it. It is important to believe in oneself that one can do it. That is the first starting point of improving oneself in running. 

Also, a point to note is that Ganesan and I will always keep discussing running and nothing else. It was all about how to improve and what food to take etc. Ganesan came from East Payoh Secondary, and he went to Singapore Technical Institute. Then, my friend Thomas Tan from Ngee Ann told me that it would be good for N. Ganesan to come over to his Polytechnic. My friend was a Sports Officer at that time. I shared this with Ganesan and he was very happy and he was yearning to improve in his academic pursuits as well. Sports gave him an opportunity to improve in life. He got in finally.  In Polytechnic he did 15m 06sec for 5km. Later on, he went to Loughborough University and did his degree. Eventually, he became a Physical Education teacher in Bukit View and right now he is doing his Masters Programme in NIE. 

Hence, running helped both of us in studies. 

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.

Contributing To A Child's Success In Their Chosen Sports (Part 2D/3)

Note:

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)

Passion Leads one to Knowledge Itself

Every coaching starts with being an athlete first. 

While training Clementi Town Secondary student-athletes in long-distance running, there were also some top athletes, of the past, who came to join me. N. Ganesan, the former National Record holder of 5000m came to join me for training. He has a lifetime personal best time of 14m 57sec for 5km. He also has 3min 58sec for 1500m. I helped him to improve his 5km time from 16m 46sec to 15m 41sec, within 4 months. (The current 5km Singapore National Record is 14min 51sec). 

I made Ganesan do a one week once training with me, mostly on workouts of intense nature. I was his coach cum training partner. In our group, we also had a talented boy, at that time, by the name of Harpreet Singh, who joined us at 14 years of age. Consistently in the early 1990s, N. Ganesan, Harpreet and I were able to do a sub-9min 10sec for 3km. (Harpreet Singh has done a 14m 47sec for 4.8km time in National Cross-Country race when he was 16 years of age). So, at that time, I really had a very fast running group. There were extra four to five runners who joined us. Pei Hua and Helen Toh also joined us sometimes for workouts. 

After my 3 years bond with the Ministry of Education, I decided to resign from the education service to go to Loughborough to train and study. I badly wanted to train to improve the time for my 5km, 10km, half-marathon, and the marathon. In year Oct 1992, I left to Loughborough to train under Coach George Gandy, the former Middle and Long Distance Coach of Great Britain, as recommended by my former lecturer by the name of John Sproule. Gandy was our university coach. 

When I left Singapore to England for further studies, I had to leave behind a small group of runners to my friend, Eric Song, a former ACS coach/teacher. I also knew that it is unwise to train and coach at the same time, from then on. I mustered up my courage to focus my entire attention to be 100% athlete rather than to be a coach. Hence, I did 0% coaching but kept in contact with the past runners as friends. 

In Loughborough University, unlike NIE, NTU, NUS etc, athletes were allowed to be trained by their own coaches. Sonia Bowyer, Paula Radcliffe (current world record holder for the marathon), Tony Bignell, Tim Dickenson and other top runners were allowed to have their own coaches and run for the University team, so long they maintain their standard. In the university, Coach Gandy was a fantastic coach. Under his wings, a number of England top runners came under him and performed well in running, such that he was ordained, Sir George Gandy, by the Queen of England later. Gandy had done a number of extensive research in altitude training as well. He had contributed a lot to England's athletics. In his room, when I met him to sort out on training programme, I saw a photo of Jack Bugner, a 13m 10sec 5km runner, and a bronze medalist of World Cup 5km race. (It was from my friend Thomas Tan that I found out about Jack Buckner's achievement).

At Loughborough, knowledge of physiology aided me a lot in my running. I applied the knowledge to my practical training. 

Right now, if I am coaching, it has all to do with the knowledge that I have amassed from Physiology and being coached by George Gandy, and personal coach Alan Guilder, and my training done in Loughborough University. I ran 3 cross - country races in the league that progressed to a 31m 46sec for 10km race in Loughborough Echo 10km race. I was 10th in the race.

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.

Contributing To A Child's Success In Their Chosen Sports (Part 2C/3)

Note:

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)

Sports should, in the long run, lead to sports for life. 

When I left my 3 months teaching practice at Dunearn Secondary School, in 1987, the cross country CCA group had a big following. During my teaching practice, the cross country group were winning many races, Swift Cross-Country, Singapore Athletics Association Cross-Country races, in a span of 3 months and the school had many talents. The principal at that time was Ms Peck and she had requested to the Ministry of Education in placing me in Dunearn Secondary School. However, I was given Clementi Town Secondary School to teach, instead. 

The Dunearn Secondary School students, especially by the name of Helen Toh, and other students, suggested to me to come back to Dunearn Secondary School. I was very hesitant in this, but I was also disappointed to hear the news that I was not able to teach at Dunearn Secondary School. However, the enthusiasm of the student-athletes made me go to the Ministry of Education, at Kay Siang Road, to personally request for the change in the school to teach. The Dunearn Cross Country students also marched with me to MOE, but they stayed below the Placement building. However much I hope to go to Dunearn Secondary School, the earnest request was rejected from start till the end by the officer, who was attending to me, at that time. When I came out of the MOE building, I did not know how to share the news, but I finally had to break the sad news. The feeling on that day was, for me, going through a funeral procession. I had hoped but the hopes were dashed. 

The students were very sad but Helen told me to give the training programme, and with the help of a responsible student called Shuxian, I was able to assist Dunearn Secondary School while I was in Clementi Secondary School. At Clementi Town Secondary School, I nearly became a teacher-in-charge for NCC under the principal called Sister Maria. Later at the recommendation of a teacher, Sister Maria finally put me as a teacher in - charge for Cross-country The amazing thing is that my school was somehow able to come in second, nearly first, in one of the years for National Schools Cross Country race. 

I believed that with the leadership of the following athletes by the names of Helen Toh, and Pei Hua, the Dunearn Secondary School became team champions under 17 girls in the National Schools Cross Country. Over time, I suggested to Helen Toh and Pei Hua to go to ACJC as the college was welcoming them to come into the school. My friend Eric, was chasing me for the two athletes to come over to ACJC. Finally, both went to ACJC, over time. 

For me, looking back, I am very surprised that nowadays mainstream schools are not able to win championships easily. Usually, the autonomous schools and independent schools are winning currently as the budget given to these schools are very good. I believe that the mainstream schools can emulate schools like Dunearn Secondary School, and defy the odds, like the Dunearn Secondary School team led by Helen. I am very happy now as Helen Toh and Pei Hua are very successful in their education and career as well. It is a false notion that running will make us a failure as some parents at that time had, especially when we train hard. I remember the days where, rain or shine, both runners< Pei Hua and Helen Toh, will always train, and they do not give any form of excuses in training. Xu Pei Hua's best was being third in under 14 girl's race and Helen as second in Under 17 girls National Schools Cross Country race. They are still in contact with me and they are at present living symbols of sports for life. On top of that, they are still running currently in 10km races and half- marathon race. I feel that this is in a way success for me, in terms of enabling the student to empower them to balance life and go, and not to neglect health for the sake of wealth, as health forms one part of the eight forms of wealth. 

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.

Contributing To A Child's Success In Their Chosen Sports (Part 2B/3)

Note:

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)

After the success of training Sukhdev to win the individual championship trophy in Gan Eng Seng Secondary School's Annual Track and Field Championships in 1983, I realised the potential of coaching is in me. The belief increased in me, as a matter of fact. 

When I was at the then College of Physical Education (CPE), between 1985 to 1987, I was running practically every single day. Helen Gilbey and John Sproule were enthusiastic about running and they had been training while lecturing in the College. I learnt a lot from these two lecturers and I am appreciative to them for imparting me on the knowledge of Human Physiology. 

Helen Gilbey, an American by descent, was once losing K. Jeyamani, a top Singapore female runner, at that time, in middle and long-distance events, especially in the 10km races. Over time, while lecturing in CPE, Helen trained very hard and came in as the champion women open runner in numerous long-distance races, in Singapore. I liked the way she taught her lessons. Her lessons were very structured and interesting, and it was very progressive. 

It was from Helen and John Sproule that I learnt to teach in a very progressive and gradual way such that students are able to learn easily. The lessons that I teach, which I later on taught, were modelled after Helen Gilbey's and John Sproule's way of teaching. 

John Sproule, our Physiologist lecturer, who was a Scottish by descent, was running 10km every day. Running with him was a challenge to me, when I joined him for a run, as he was going a 45min kind of pace for 10km most of the time. It was from him that I learnt to drink electrolyte drink properly in a marathon. He was the mastermind on teaching me on the concentration of electrolyte drink that I should drink during a marathon. Helen taught me the importance of coming up with a structured training programme that works. She enabled me and informed me of why hydration is important. John Sproule, on the other hand, taught me the methodology on what should be the components of the electrolyte, the concoction of a drink. 

Basically, it was from the two great people that I have mentioned above that I learn to the point that things were pushing me from teaching to teach/coach.

For Teaching Practice, I was attached to Gan Eng Seng, Raffles Institution and Dunearn Secondary School, for a few weeks within the span of 2 years. In Gan Eng Seng Secondary, I did not coach anyone. However, in Raffles Institution, I decided to coach the team after knowing that the school did not have a team but it had the Athletics team only. I trained the group for three weeks. However, I did not recruit anyone at that time. 

Later on, I was sent to Dunearn Secondary School. It was here that I met Mr Sim Song Hwa. He mentored me to train the long-distance running team. Mr Sim saw that I was very keen on Long Distance coaching. He supported me a lot that enabled me to start recruiting students. 

The first student from Dunearn Secondary School that I trained as a secondary one girl by the name of Xu Pei Hua. While teaching Physical Education during a lesson, I saw potentials in her. Pei Hua joined immediately after my effort to recruit her into the long-distance running group. There were other female and male students who joined me as well over time. Of the group, Xu Pei Hua and Helen Toh were the two very keen female students who started to train regularly.

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.

Contributing To A Child's Success In Their Chosen Sports (Part 2A/3)

Note:

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)

The Coach - Story leading me to become a coach. 

When I was a student at St Joseph's Institution, one of the foreign teacher by the name of Mr Brown, from England, asked me what I am going to be in future. Immediately, I told him that I would like to become a coach. That was when I was a secondary two student. Our school, at that time, supported sports to the maximum. My principal Dr Kevin Bryne encouraged us to run faster. In one annual School's Cross Country race, he mentioned my name in front of my father, in an announcement that I did 15m 55sec for 4.8km, and it made my day. However, my curiosity was there to see whether this manifestation of becoming a coach will come true or not, over time. 

At age eighteen, I assisted Sukhdev Singh, Maran and another Eurasian boy, who was Sukhdev's friend. It was at that age that I got myself started to be a trainee coach. It was more of learning how to coach. Sukhdev told me that he wanted to win the individual champion trophy in Gan Eng Seng School Track and Field Meet. He told me that he had been losing every time to a competitor by the name of Akaramutalvan. Akaramutalvan was genetically well endowed and was faster than him. I trained Sukhdev for about 3 months or so, and the latter became the individual champion, eventually. Akaramutalvan's elder brother Arul was a sub-33min 10km runner at that time until the latter became an Air Steward.  

After this achievement, I was focused on my own running. Most of the time, I had a problem struggling with studies, as there was not much interest in me to study. I found studying a chore at that time. In fact, I was not able to get through my GCE 'A' Levels Examination. I had to go into the Army to do my National Service. Only on the last two months, before leaving Army, that I trained very hard to do well in South East Asian Army meet at Lumut, Perak, Malaysia, 1986. I was able to do a 36min 31sec for 10km. I was very happy with the time. It was my biggest personal best at that made me adventure further into running. 

After that, I decided to go to the then College of Physical Education to study and train. I got in as I got through my GCE 'A' Levels, finally. After the first week, at the College, I told myself that it is important for me to train hard. I trained nearly every day, despite very heavy physical training from being a teacher trainee. When the things got tougher, somehow, I forced myself to run at least 10km every day. My friends, about 5 of them, used to run with me on three days per week. As the load got heavier for physical activities during our course, they decided not to run, as they were too tired to run, although we had planned to run together. 

I stayed away from coaching as I was thinking of running a fast 5km. 

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.

Contributing To A Child's Success In Their Chosen Sports (Part 1/3)

Note:

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)

Parents - The Significant Others Helping Kids To Succeed

It is a fact from my research, done for the partial requirement for my Masters In Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008), that outside school agents, for instance, like Clubs etc., can enable the child to achieve excellence in their chosen sports.

I feel that this is true, as I could share my past, as a St. Joseph Institution athlete, in the year 1978 to 1981. We were given once a week of training when we were training between the year 1978 and 1979. My friends and I improved a little but we did not progress much. At first, my time for 4.8km was around 25min plus, when I joined cross-country as a CCA. In the year 1979, the fastest time I did for 4.8km MacRitchie Reservoir Cross-Country route was 18min 52sec, February. I was stuck with this time for the whole year round and I did not know what to do with the situation. I was very frustrated with the stagnation. I decided to read books on running.  My teacher/coach Mr Joseph Varghese, at that time, just gave us once a week training. Mr Varghese, was fine with us training with Clubs, and I am still grateful for that action even until now. In fact, he encouraged my friends and I to join Clubs, outside of school, so that we can excel. Mr Varghese was selfless in his action.

In the year 1980, I joined SWIFT Club for training. I did not join everyone in the Club but with some of the runners. We did four days training by ourselves and one with SWIFT Club. By 1991, my time was 15m 55sec. I came in 6th in National Schools' Cross-Country race's finals. I was actually very happy with the results. 

I did not win any form of National Track and Field Championship' s track event, at that time. I kept training hard consistently and at about 17 years of age, I did 16m 36sec in 5000m track race. I believe that by joining my Club, Swift, I was able to improve a lot.

Later, I was in the army, with another two more months to go to leave National Service (Army), I was surprised that I got selected for the 10km Lumut, Perak, South East Asian Inter-Army race. I did 36min 31sec.

After leaving the army, I got into the then College of Physical Education and ran every day, without fail, after two weeks of being a trainee teacher at the institution. However, the joining of the Club significantly helped me to do well over a period of time.

It was here that I got first in men's open 10km races and I was getting first for the three years in a row. In the year 1987, I got the 2hr 40min time and I was first local in Singapore Mobil Marathon. I got selected to represent Singapore in Japan to run in Asian Marathon Championships at Biwako Marathon. The weather was extremely cold that out of 10 runners selected, I was 7th, with a time of 2hr 46min. I nearly stopped in that race. 

Then, in 1990, when I was a Physical Education teacher in Clementi Town Secondary School, I ran and did 2hr 30min in California Marathon.  Subsequently, in the year 1991, I did 2hr 31min in Hong Kong Marathon, I came in 5th with a cash reward of $3000, at that time.

Mr John Sproule, my Physiology lecturer, at that time, and sometimes a training partner to me, at the then College of Physical Education suggested me to go to Loughborough University to train under world reputed Coach George Gandy. George Gandy was in fact, the Head Coach of Middle and Long Distance in Great Britain, at that time. In the year 1993, March, under the mentorship of George Gandy and training partner Alan Guilder, I clocked in 2hr 29min for the Flora London Marathon held on the month of March. Eight weeks before that, Gandy gave me some workouts which made to do a time of 31min 46sec for 10km. Unfortunately, I had to scale down my training and had to study for my 1st Year Exam. The 1993 SEA Games was held around that period and it was held in Singapore. Hence, I did not come and run in that race, although I was selected for the race.

Finishing my Year One Final Exams, I decided to do the Berlin International Marathon 1993. which was held in September. I did 2hr 28min there. Alan Guilder, my training partner became my coach. Alan has a personal best of 13m 32sec for 5km. 

In 1995, I went down to Chiengmai to run the SEA Games route and did 2hr 29min and ended the first qualifier for the South East Games, for running within the bronze medal time of previous South East Games marathon, in 1991. After 9 months of the run, I was again there for the 1995 SEA Games and I did 2hr 24min 22sec for the marathon. After some minutes, Yvonne Danson, Singapore's woman athlete, at that time, ran and did 2hr 34min. 

The summary of events above, I believe could shed some light on I transformed from an athlete to a coach. In the above passage, I am sharing my experience on why my interest did not die down until I reached the age of 29. It is with the intention of parents to social facilitate kids to enable a child to succeed in the end that I am writing this. As a coach now, I could see that parents, in the process of bringing excellence in a child's chosen sports, earlier in a kid's maturation period, may unknowingly contribute to the demise of the child's interest in a sport. I have already met a number of disappointed parents who have put in a lot of effort in the earlier part of the kid's life.

 

I shall discuss my experience as a runner in this part, before I write the experience as a coach. Finally, I will write some sharing from fellow coaches on how parents can enable a kid to succeed in the long run. 

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.