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)
My Experiences - It only makes one strong
I remember running and coming in first in the Standard Chartered Marathon 2008. As a champion of the marathon race category for local men, at the age of 43, I was selected by SAA to represent Singapore in Hong Kong International Marathon 2009. While I was there, I met Anne Date, the female representative from Singapore to take part in the race.
Anne Date was asking me on why I became a vegetarian and I told her. Later on, in the Berlin Marathon, that year, I met her. Daniel Ling and I saw a transformation. She became very slim. She told me that she became a vegan. She told me that she took more of plant-based product and fruits in her diet besides being very particular in her diet. The vegan diet, as mentioned by her, enabled her to lose her weight a lot. In the past, in the Hong Kong marathon, I felt that she was a bit chubby for the marathon. After being a vegan, she ran the race in 2hr 51min, about nearly 10min faster than the time she did in Hong Kong Marathon 2009, while Daniel Ling did 2hr 49min in the same Berlin Marathon race.
This shows that there is an advantage in being a vegan/vegetarian, that, in the past, I myself did not know about this.
Anyway, the reason for me to be a vegetarian has to do with non-violence through speech, thought and action, the principles followed by MK Gandhi, who won independence for India by following non - violence method. In short, it is being kind to animals.
As for me, by being a vegetarian, I had at first the feeling of being a bit weak at times. I remember running in Japan in the Biwako Marathon 1988. In that race, I did 2hr 46min. The weather actually took a toll on me and I could not concentrate on my race. The last part of the race was 10 degrees and it was too cold as I was not used to the weather.
For the first half, I did 1hr 17min and was not able to run well towards the last 10km, especially the last 2km, where my pace was very, very slow at that point. A Singapore official, by the name of Maurice Nicholas, was there to support. His wife told me that I should take a meat diet to run well. In my heart, I told myself that even if I am going to run slow, I would still want to be a vegetarian. I knew that I had a passion for running. However, I would also like to have compassion towards the animals as well.
For the first half, I did 1hr 17min and was not able to run well towards the last 10km, especially the last 2km, where my pace was very, very slow at that point. A Singapore official, by the name of Maurice Nicholas, was there to support. His wife told me that I should take a meat diet to run well. In my heart, I told myself that even if I am going to run slow, I would still want to be a vegetarian. I knew that I had a passion for running. However, I would also like to have compassion towards the animals as well.
If you look back, there are many dignitaries who were vegetarian. I will mention some of them here. Einstein was a vegetarian. Carl Lewis, who won 4 gold in the 100m, 200m, long jump and 4 x 100m in the same Olympics is a vegetarian. Bill Pearl, a Mr Universe in Body Building competition once is also a vegetarian. I felt that if they can do it, I can also do it.
Luckily, through knowing my then Lecturer by the name of Helen Gilbey, who was able to win Jayamani, Singapore's only gold medalist in SEA Games. She was able to defeat her in the 10km as well. Helen discussed with me that a vegetarian diet will not in any way affect my race. She told me the importance of taking vitamins B12 and taking some of the essential amino found in food, that cannot be manufactured by our body.
I started to be conscious of this. However, I was feeling just as normal as others.
The good thing is that since the day I became a vegetarian, the emotion and thought pattern changed a lot. I became calmer and this allowed me to go deeper into meditation. In the past, I was not able to meditate well with a non-vegetarian diet.
Even Japa, monosyllable word, that is repeated as much as possible was very easy for me. I found that my focus was better. By doing Japa and meditation, I was feeling a kind of inexhaustive power that was increasing in me. My will power in me also increased as I would say a no if I cannot find vegetarian food. This action, in fact, increased my will.
I feel that by increasing my will power, finally, I was able to go from a 2hr 31min in Hong Kong Marathon in 1990 2hr 30min in California Marathon 1991 to a 2hr 29min in London Marathon 1993, to a 2hr 28min in Berlin Marathon 1993 to a final 2hr 24min 22sec. in Chiengmei Marathon 1995. By doing the marathon, I felt humbled by consuming a vegetarian diet as it only makes one strong and not weak.
During the World Vegetarian Conference in Malaysia, last year, I met many who were vegetarians and vegans. I would like to tell the public to consume more plant-based product and also reduce the risk of getting cancer and heart problems. Above all, one can feel proud that one is discouraging one to kill the animal for food. It is good to have control over our own tongue. If we see the killing that takes place in the background before food is being served, we may not feel like consuming meat products.
At least, it is good to go without meatless for some days. One would feel good with this change rather than all the while consuming non-vegetarian food. We would spare many animals from being killed by doing this action.
Next Issue- An Interview With Team V.
Those who are interested to read on vegan/vegetarian, please take note of this website http://www.vegetarian-society.org/
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.
