Ruben Galen - SINDA Excellence Award Recipient (2010)

Ruben Galen - Aiming to win gold medal in the SEA Games in the near future.

Pic 1 - From left - Galen, Rameshon, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam (Finance Minister) and S. Jeevanesh. Mr Tharman was very encouraging towards Galen and Jeevanesh during the tea session of the SINDA Excellence Award ceremony.

In the year 2008, Ruben Galen was first introduced to me by Mr Sebastian Lim, a fellow Josephian (Ex- St Joseph’s Inst student). Mr Sebastian and I talked about our glorious days in SJI. We talked about our principals, teachers and class-mates etc. Then, the discussion diverted to running where he told me that he has a runner by the name of Ruben Galen. He asked me to assess Galen and assist the latter in running. I did just that.

I told Mr Sebastian Lim that Galen is very talented and that he needs to do some preparatory training in October, November and December 2008 so that he can come in as the champion in the National Schools' Cross – Country Championships 2009. Galen was given instructions to train by our communications through phone calls. He was disciplined enough to follow the training, word for word.

In the 2009 race, Galen ran a superb race where he was coming in first in the cross- country race all the way. As he entered the Temasek Poly track, after running the course at Bedok Reservoir, as he was just about to win the race, he was not aware that Sumanthiran was just behind him, just about 20-30metres away. He decided not to push at the last part as he felt that winning is within sight. As soon as he turned behind to look for the second runner, Sumanthiran took the opportunity to outsprint Galen at the last part of the race. Sumanthiran ended as the ultimate winner of the race. It was a race that taught Galen a tough lesson not to be complacent in life. Mr Sebastian and I counseled Galen that the race belongs to the hardworking and not to those who are complacent. Galen took the advice positively.

In this year’s race, he had already done a personal best time, which would easily enable him to come in as the champion without much effort. He was clearly ahead of Zachary Devaraj of ACS (Independent) in the race at Bedok Reservoir (4.5km). He reached the 3km mark at 9min 40sec. However, as he was going down a long gradual hill, he had to do a near 90 degree left turn to enter the Bedok Reservoir again. At that point, he got a sudden meniscus tear. He stopped the race and fortunately did not continue. The doctors did an MRI, after the race, when he was in hospital, and told him that he got to rest for at least 3-6months.

He is now doing his GCE ‘N’ Levels and is ready to take up the challenge of winning the Cross Country Race next year. He knows that his contenders are going to be Zackary and Jeevanesh. Right now, as Galen is a former school-mate of S. Jeevanesh. Both of them will be working together to keep improving in running and if possible bring up the standand of running in Singapore.

As a SINDA Excellent Award recipient, Galen feels very motivated to do well in the near future. Let us find out about this student of Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School about his aim, goals and objectives in life through an interview.
Pic 2 - Mr Lim Swee Say (Minister, Prime Minister's Office) came to grace the SINDA Excellence Award 2010 ceremony. During the tea Mr Lim Swee Say talked to us in a friendly manner.

Can you give me your personal best for 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 5km, 10km and 15km, if you have any?
800m: 2:07
1500m: 04:23
3000m: 09:39:78 (March 10)
5000m: yet to be done
10000m: yet to be done
15000m:59min

What sports did you take when you were young?

When I was young,  I did not do any kind of sports, especially when I was in my primary school. I was at first in choir in primary 1 and pirmary 2. Subsequently, I was also in the symphonic band for 6 years. I was fond of music. Only after this, I realised that I should take up running and I gradually became interested.

What does the Sinda Excellence Award (SEA) mean to you?
Although, with or without award, I will continue to train hard, the award informs me that I have done well in my sports and I would like to see myself progress in sports as well as studies.

Does SEA spur you on to go further?
It definately does spurs me to go further but my coach and I feel that this is just an external motivation. Most importantly, we feel that true motivation must come from within. Anyway, I feel elated and honoured by this award and I would like to thank those who organised this event.

Was running a motivation for you in the past?

When I was young, I prefered soccer to any other sport. Over time, the achievements in running gave me great confidence in reaching greater heights. I also know that by doing this I will also be able do well in other areas.

How did running transformed into a passion for you?

I took up running because the teachers in my school told me that I have the potential to do very well and go far in running. Over time, Mr Sebastion introduced me to Mr Rameshon and the latter told me that I had the  potential of breaking national records in the future if I work hard and train consistently. However, earlier on, I thought that Mr Rameshon was just a normal coach without much experience, not knowing that he is our current national marathon record holder.

I ignored his advice and I was doing my best to enter singapore sports school. I realised that I could not enter. At that time, I was training with an elite group very hard with little results. Later on, as when I was about ot give up running, I realised that the training methods did not suit me at all. For four months I started to hate running. I was not training at all. Seeing this, my cross-country teacher in-charge, Mr Sebastian Lim motivated me to train with Mr Rameshon's guidance. As Jeeva was my former school-mate, I joined Jeeva for training. Later on, I felt very motivated and told myself that I want to go for South East Asian Games and win a medal in the future, if possible a gold medal.

How does your parents support you in running?
The support that they give me is really great. Nothing beats my parents support in my running.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan to improve year by year and enjoy running over the years. My main aim is to, over time, break the local marathon record and be the first South East Asian athlete to do a sub 2 hr 15 min, which I think I am capable of.

Pic 3 - Galen rarely fears when it comes to leading a pack of runners in a race.