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)
Claire Soon - A Force to be Reckon With
(1) 4th and 12th individual position in Nat Sch Cross-Country 2007 and 2008, respectively. The year 2008 - Team Champions.
(2) 5As in GCE 'A' Levels
(3) President Scholar 2010 - Clinched the 50th President's Scholarships
(4) President of the 34th Student Council
(5) Lee Kuan Yew Award for All-Round Excellence
(6) Ong Teng Cheong Award for outstanding leadership
(7) Reading History at Keble College, Oxford
In the year 2007, Daniel Ling and I saw a girl from Nanyang Girls School. Her name was Claire Soon. As Daniel had to do Tahan Club and Outdoor Activity Club, I was asked to assist in the girls' training at times. From two girls joining us the group had seven girls.I found out that Claire was a councillor in Nanyang Girls' School. When she was there, she was running middle distance 800m with Coach Tan Yew Leng. For Daniel and I, we decided to program it such that her training is similar to the past. It was very challenging for us. I know that there was a time when I trained N. Ganesan for 3 months, giving him workouts, he was able to do 16min 46sec to 15min 41 sec. When I was giving a training program to N. Ganesan, he was steeped in the past with the past program. This, in fact, caused the program to be changed to suit N. Ganesan. It is very hard to change a person who has trained from the past with other coaches. The pattern is hard to change.
Claire was not like that. She was very adaptable and was willing to give our program a try. Thus, we were very fortunate of her. She only trained 3 times per week with us. The other girls were training 4 days per week. Very soon, I saw significant progress taking place in Claire such that I decided to pace her for most of her workouts. Her mileage was not that high at that time because of the heavy involvement in Counselling. She will do everything diligently and leave the training ground when the training is over. She does not fritter her time away. She spent the time wisely.
She had an excellent attitude towards training and she respected teachers. Usually, I feel happy to see her. She is also not the sort to argue back, although she was outspoken. She has her own perception when it comes to opinions and I respected her for that. For Daniel and I, we felt that we have some work to do and if this girl cooperates with us, we will be able to see results from the training. In the year 2007, Claire, with all the distractions of Council's organisation of events, especially The Chinese New Year, she ran the National Schools' Cross Country Championships and came in 4th. At the last 300m, while Daniel and I were in the plane off to London to run in the London Marathon, we were told that Claire was coming in as the first runner at that bend. The position of the fourth was really amazing.
For the year 2008, with Emelyne Teo (2nd), Louisa (6th), Samantha Koh(4th), Zakiyah(3rd), Claire (12th) and Patricia (17th) came in as the champion team. One week back, before the National Schools' Cross Country Championships, Claire came in as the individual champion for the Swift Club Cross Country 2008. The best thing of all for me was that Claire was able to deliver even with pressure from the Students' Council's President job. Some days, it was found that she was not around. What we found was that she will do her own training whenever she misses her training. Claire is also a very cooperative person. Actually, in 2008, in National Schools' Cross-Country race, Claire came forward and contributed to our championships. The school thus is really indebted to her and will always remember for her feats and achievements. Most importantly she has created in Daniel and I an indelible impression upon us before graduating from Hwa Chong Institution (College Section).
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 to do marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners to do sub-4 hours for 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.
