"'Uncle Chan' takes on 100th marathon at age of 84 - CNA 04 December 2014
SINGAPORE: They say that age is a matter of the mind, and Mr Chan Meng Hui is a testament to that. Known affectionately as Uncle Chan, he is 84 years old but refuses to let his age slow him down.
He is seeking to set a new milestone at the Standard Chartered Marathon on Sunday (Dec 7) - completing his 100th marathon. "I set that target because every runner must have a target. So I have set 100. I have run 99 and I have kept this Standard Chartered Run (as my 100th). Hopefully I can finish," said Uncle Chan.
But he said that he has not always been this passionate about life and fitness - in his younger days, he led a very different lifestyle.
"During my younger days, people called me 'Superman'. Drinking, smoking, going to bars and cabarets until morning. The next morning, I did not go straight to the office. I would go to the washroom, wash my face and go to my table. When my manager called me, I would say I am very busy, because of the alcohol smell," he said.
He added: "I changed my lifestyle at the age of 54. I sat down for two to three days and thought 'should I continue my old lifestyle or change?' I do not know what struck me but I changed."
Uncle Chan hopes his story can help to make an impact on others: "I just want to inspire when I can do it. I try to inspire my fellow citizens and runners. First thing is that you must have very good discipline, willpower and determination."
An 84-year-old, running 42 kilometres in eight hours - these may just be numbers, but they are numbers Uncle Chan will be proud of."
Wow! Uncle Chen is fantastic!!
Lessons for me are:
1. I am attempting my 7th 42.194km on 7 December 2014 as my goal was to 'jog and walk' 10 marathons in 10 years starting from December 2008. This 'ambitious' goal simple paled against Uncle Chen's 100th marathon!! An inspiration indeed!!;
2. as our society aged, it is important to let the NEW YOUNG, those below 75 years old to KNOW that it is WRONG to assume that when one passed age 50 years 'young', we CAN STILL keep fit and healthy. In fact, I have been telling anyone who care to listen that the NEW OLD is 75 years old!! Only when we BELIEVE this do we start to look at our lifestyle of a 'new young' DIFFERENTLY from the old old of '50 years old!! Uncle Chen's story must be told and re-told as often and to as many people as possible!;
3. ANYONE with 42.195km to complete on the 1st Sunday of December each year WILL be very motivated to keep fit, healthy and eat well. The reason is simple: NO ONE want to suffer carrying extra weight along the 42.195km route! EVERYONE will want to make sure that they train well so that they will ENJOY the run or, for me, 'jog and walk', the marathon, in one piece and SAFELY!
Of course, we all must learn the proper technique of 'running' or 'jogging' so as to preserve our fragile knees!
When one SERIOUSLY train to complete a full marathon, one WILL develop discipline. Every time you say a lonely runner o jogger pounding the road and track, you SEE self-motivation in action! There are many who also train and run or jog in group! It is hard to find someone to run and jog with you for more than 4 or 5 or 6 hours as MANY find it monotonous, repetitive and boring!!
It is TRUE actually. So, I just do ONE marathon a year. The aim is to complete safely within the time allocated by the organisers. The good thing about SCMS is that it allows the maximum of 8 hours from the start time of 5 a.m. In other marathons, some cut-off at 5 hrs or 4hrs30mins!
Uncle Chen, have a good 2014 SCMS!!
He is seeking to set a new milestone at the Standard Chartered Marathon on Sunday (Dec 7) - completing his 100th marathon. "I set that target because every runner must have a target. So I have set 100. I have run 99 and I have kept this Standard Chartered Run (as my 100th). Hopefully I can finish," said Uncle Chan.
But he said that he has not always been this passionate about life and fitness - in his younger days, he led a very different lifestyle.
"During my younger days, people called me 'Superman'. Drinking, smoking, going to bars and cabarets until morning. The next morning, I did not go straight to the office. I would go to the washroom, wash my face and go to my table. When my manager called me, I would say I am very busy, because of the alcohol smell," he said.
He added: "I changed my lifestyle at the age of 54. I sat down for two to three days and thought 'should I continue my old lifestyle or change?' I do not know what struck me but I changed."
Uncle Chan hopes his story can help to make an impact on others: "I just want to inspire when I can do it. I try to inspire my fellow citizens and runners. First thing is that you must have very good discipline, willpower and determination."
An 84-year-old, running 42 kilometres in eight hours - these may just be numbers, but they are numbers Uncle Chan will be proud of."
Wow! Uncle Chen is fantastic!!
Lessons for me are:
1. I am attempting my 7th 42.194km on 7 December 2014 as my goal was to 'jog and walk' 10 marathons in 10 years starting from December 2008. This 'ambitious' goal simple paled against Uncle Chen's 100th marathon!! An inspiration indeed!!;
2. as our society aged, it is important to let the NEW YOUNG, those below 75 years old to KNOW that it is WRONG to assume that when one passed age 50 years 'young', we CAN STILL keep fit and healthy. In fact, I have been telling anyone who care to listen that the NEW OLD is 75 years old!! Only when we BELIEVE this do we start to look at our lifestyle of a 'new young' DIFFERENTLY from the old old of '50 years old!! Uncle Chen's story must be told and re-told as often and to as many people as possible!;
3. ANYONE with 42.195km to complete on the 1st Sunday of December each year WILL be very motivated to keep fit, healthy and eat well. The reason is simple: NO ONE want to suffer carrying extra weight along the 42.195km route! EVERYONE will want to make sure that they train well so that they will ENJOY the run or, for me, 'jog and walk', the marathon, in one piece and SAFELY!
Of course, we all must learn the proper technique of 'running' or 'jogging' so as to preserve our fragile knees!
When one SERIOUSLY train to complete a full marathon, one WILL develop discipline. Every time you say a lonely runner o jogger pounding the road and track, you SEE self-motivation in action! There are many who also train and run or jog in group! It is hard to find someone to run and jog with you for more than 4 or 5 or 6 hours as MANY find it monotonous, repetitive and boring!!
It is TRUE actually. So, I just do ONE marathon a year. The aim is to complete safely within the time allocated by the organisers. The good thing about SCMS is that it allows the maximum of 8 hours from the start time of 5 a.m. In other marathons, some cut-off at 5 hrs or 4hrs30mins!
Uncle Chen, have a good 2014 SCMS!!
No comments:
Post a Comment