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)
Stanchart Marathon 2013 - New winner expected as Ashley Liew, Mok Ying Ren and Anne Date will be running the SEA Games, instead.
Picture 1 - Lim Thow Wee (left) and Dr Benny Goh (right) Consistent performers in marathon races.
The SEA Games is between 11 Dec to 22 Dec and it has been confirmed in SAA's website that Ashley Liew and Mok Ying Ren are selected for the marathon event, while Anne Date has been selected for women's marathon race.
A few weeks before that, the Stanchart marathon race will be run on 1st Dec. As it is very difficult to run these two races, these 3 runners are highly likely not to take part in the Stanchart Marathon 2013. I would strongly encourage Ashley Liew not to take part in the Stanchart Marathon race 2013 as it will foil his SEA Games performance. It will be a very grave mistake.
While I got selected thrice for SEA Games, one of the reason for me not to run some of the Singapore Marathon races, which falls at that time in December period, is because of this clash of the two major races. To run both these races was not a wise idea for me as I am aware that many top runners would usually choose marathon races about 3 to 6 months apart from two marathon races.
Hence, the present situation is likely to be same for me and them, the above-mentioned three athletes. As the top local positions are now left vacant, it is prudent for many of the aspiring marathon runners to go for it. Go for the grab! It looks like we will be seeing a new champion. The advantage of coming in as a champion will give you high self-esteem that may ripple on you for a few years to improve upon your running.
Who is going to win, I don't know. However, my guess is that Derek Li, Lim Thow Wee and Dr Benny Goh are capable of winning the race due to their consistent performance. Derek Li and Lim Thow Wee have done 2hr 47min and 2hr 53min respectively in Gold Coast Marathon 2013. Dr Benny Goh, a dentist by profession, has done four sub 2hr 53min marathon performances over a period of 3 years. He is aiming for a sub- 2hr 50min at the present moment.
In the women's section, we have Vivien Tang who may emerge as a champion if she does not injure and is consistent in doing well in races. I have seen her training recently, but how fast she can run remains to be seen.
Anyway, a new runner out of nowhere may surprise us and win the local category race as many know that the top runners will not run the SEA Games marathon and the Stanchart Marathon, which is about two and a half weeks apart.
Having said this, I would like to wish all those aspiring goes for it to aim to win the men open and women open Stanchart Marathon race. I would like to wish all the best to them for the race.
As for me, I have registered for the Stanchart Marathon 2013 and have started my first workout by doing a 1km fast run today and by doing a 400m x 10 with times between 1min 31 and 1min 45, although my last set was a 1min 18sec. I hope to do a better time of my Gold Coast Marathon performance time of 3hr 55min, which was mentioned in Straits Times a few weeks ago.
I hope that many will attempt to do a good time for this 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.
