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)
Journey to Sub - 2hr 36min has begun for Ashley Liew and Mok Ying Ren
Picture 1 - Ashley Liew, in the center, wearing blue tights, winning in one of the age group category in a triathlon race.
Upcoming race
June - Mok Ying Ren is running a marathon in New Zealand, Christchurch
July - Ashley Liew will be running the Gold Coast Marathon
Mok Ying Ren's 1hr 08min plus performance shows that a sub 2hr 36min is very possible.
An Introduction
I will discuss about the past marathon scene before discussing about the current situation. I feel that the current situation is coming back to an exciting season as compared to the past few years, where it was hard to see a person doing a sub 2hr 40. I remember Ralph Mochbahani, the then Technical Director of SAA, running to me during dinner, congratulating me for Daniel Ling's 2hr 46min performance in Standard Chartered Marathon 2007.
Scaling New Heights
Mok Ying Ren's 1hr 08min plus performance shows that a sub 2hr 36min is very possible.
An Introduction
I will discuss about the past marathon scene before discussing about the current situation. I feel that the current situation is coming back to an exciting season as compared to the past few years, where it was hard to see a person doing a sub 2hr 40. I remember Ralph Mochbahani, the then Technical Director of SAA, running to me during dinner, congratulating me for Daniel Ling's 2hr 46min performance in Standard Chartered Marathon 2007.
Scaling New Heights
In the past, I remember in the SEA Games, Ricky Khoo and Tan Choon Ghee doing sub 2hr 40min. Khoo Chin Poo has done a 2hr 39min in Vietnam SEA Games 2004, after doing a 2hr 41min in the Gold Coast Marathon 2004, July.
In the past, fifteen to twenty years back, I was used to listening to people doing a sub 2hr 40min. Last year, if you bring time backwards, we saw only Mok Ying Ren doing 2hr 38min for the Singapore Standard Chartered Marathon 2010. Ashley Liew has done 2hr 45min in Hong Kong Marathon 2011
5 to 10 years back, I saw the time moving towards 3hr flat for the men's time. I was thinking that something should be done to improve the standard. In a meeting in the year 2007, as a Swift Club training and selection manager, I told Mr Loh Lin Kok, the former president (SAA), to increase the prize for the local champion to $10000. He told me that an increase of $1000 should be enough. That means that he wanted the champion to get $4000, instead of $3000. A certain percentage will still go to the government as tax. That, I felt was a low sum of money compared to $5000 that we used to get twenty years back. Right now, the prize money has been corrected. It is $10000 for the champion. The second and third prizes are ok for now. I believe that the prize money should be raised according to the inflation rate. Else, athletes will not train hard for it.
The sub-2hr 40min timing has been very evasive for many top Singaporeans. As you can see, due to hard work and keeping at the sub-goals of short and long term goals, it looks like 2 gentlemen - Ashley Liew and Mok Ying Ren - will be in the short term bring the time down to sub 2hr 36min for sure. This is my prediction. Mark my words. Over time, these two have the potential to bring the time down to sub - 2hr 30min. Over the few years, the time will go down more for these athletes so long they keep to their long term goals. The sky is the limit!
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.
