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)
Run For Life - A Book on Mr Chan Meng Hui (One of the oldest marathoner in Singapore)
Picture 1 - Mr Chan Meng Hui, 81 years of age, is in the center of the photo
In the earlier post of the blog, I have featured on Mr Chan Meng Hui. I was elated that I could give my contribution of 6 pages to his new book on 'Run For Life'. I was sharing on my thoughts on this fine veteran of Singapore. He is an inspirational figure to me.
I have decided to write the foreword of this book written by Dr Kevin Yip. From here one could know more about this gentleman, who just like to keep running. He is also interested in making other people run.
FOREWORD
I was honoured when I was invited to be part of this amazing book. Having read some of Mr Chan Meng Hui's extraordinary stories, I have seen that there is more to this than a book about running. It is ultimately about overcoming the odds, and going through adversity while staying true to yourself. It is about hope and love for his fellow man, and letting one's light shine and sharing it with the world. It is about an ordinary man who has achieved extraordinary things - all by the power of the will.
The fact that Mr Chan did not start running until he was 55 years old, and that to date he has completed 87 marathons, not to mention runs of various other distances including a 100 km trek through Mongolia (despite the risk of running in the dark, he managed to complete 66 km), made me feel extremely humbled. The fact that he is still running marathons at the age of 81 is just awesome.
Being part of a growing group of middle-aged individuals who have taken up endurance sports at a relatively late stage in our lives, I can just about to appreciate what he has gone through to make it to where he is now with all those amazing achievements under his belt.
Someone once said that the longest distance in endurance races is the space between your two temples - the limiting factor in most people's lives is the willpower (or lack of ) to get out of your comfort zone (and your comfortable chairs) and start putting one foot in front of the other.
Mr Chan feels strongly that if he can do it, anyone else can. As he is often asked how he has been able to achieve so much and how he got started, he tells everyone how he could barely run 100m when he first started. And his book is to inspire others to push themselves beyond their own perceived limits. In doing so, they will discover a whole new person underneath.
As you begin reading this book, you'll see what I mean. You will appreciate why I am so glad Mr Chan has written his story down so that others may learn, be inspired and be healthy. The health benefits of such inspiration are so varied that it would take another book to fully detail it. Suffice it to say that the health benefits are both mental and physical, and include fending off diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, dementia, cancer and improve your sex drive.
The longest journey begins with a single step, and that is often the hardest thing. Once you have started, you will not stop because everything starts in change for the better.
And you will be the best that you can be!
Dr. Kevin Yip (Amateur Marathoner)
Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon
Gleneagles Medical Centre.
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.
