Ashley Liew - 2nd in SSCM 2010 (local) Men Open (Part 1)

Ashley Liew - A Top Marathoner In the Making

Progressively improving 10km Timing
2007 - 40min odd
2008 - 39min 21.98sec
2009 - 38 min 20.31sec
2010 - 35min 33. 17 (track) ; 34min 48sec (tarmac track)

"A 1second improvement in 10km means 8sec improvement in the marathon". (Alberto Salazer - 3 times champion of New York City Marathon)

Picture 1 - 19th December 2010 (Sunday Times Newspaper on Hot Bod)

Before I could interview Ashley on his experience of running this years SSCM 2010, I was curious to know about his past, between primary school and now. As a coach of Ashley Liew, I was not aware of few things until he revealed to me recently on certain things, today. Ashley spoke about his primary and secondary CCA. He spoke to me on his outside school activities that were done. Subsequently, he spoke to me on how he took up triathlon. The parents' support to him were all discussed in summary. Finally, he revealed to me about his stage by stage improvement in 2.4km and 10km times.

Picture 2 - An agonising finish for the costly mistake of going too fast at the first few kilometres. Final time 2hr 52min (Courtesy of Eugene Lim).

In primary and secondary school, Ashley took up golf, which was conducted outside school and not a CCA, since the school did not offer this sport. He was in the Boys' Brigade and was in chamber orchestra, learning to play muscial instruments like piano and violin. At that time, he recounted that he used to be a chubby kid. At times, he used to play soccer during recess. Outside CCA and school, he used to play tennis. I heard that he rarely play these games. I realised that he was not 'so active' as most research supports moderate to vigorous activity for children when they are young.

Picture 3 - Ashley as a fit person on the left as opposed to the chubby runner on the right. (Courtesy of Eugene Lim)

In Anglo Chinese JC, he took up canoeing as a CCA. Ashley told me that it was here that he used to do warm ups by doing some jogging and running. It was here that he did his running most. He picked up running and at year 2 and came to a decision to run the marathon in Singapore. He ran the race with  a minimum of 2 to 3 days of 5-8km and has a time of 4hrs 29min in his first marathon race. Ashley did not know the proper way to train for the marathon at that time. There was already a facination and a kind of 'words could not describe admiration' in him when ever sees top marathoners. He revealed this to me today. Hence, from canoeing, his next step was to take triathlon as a passion.

About his parents involvement, he told me that both parents were very supportive in what ever he likes to do. Also, as he is the only child of the family, a lot of love has been given to him to pursue what he likes. When I asked him, compared to mother and father, who was a little more supportive, he told me that the mother was the one. Any way, this does not discount the father's great support given in sports to Ashley. The father usually says words of appreciation when ever I go to Ashley's house for a function.

In Junior college years, Ashley told me that his personal best time for 2.4km was sub-10min. He told me that he is not able to remember much but it is definitely much faster than 9min 44sec, a time that enabled him to go to the Officer Cadet School (OCS course) and later on took up the responsibility to look after the Basic Military Training recruits as an officer in the Army. In the Army, he did 8min 50sec in 2.4km and attained a personal best. This year July 2010, Ashley did 7min 58sec for the Army Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT). At present, he feels that he could go much faster than 7min 58sec for 2.4km.

When he took political Science and Finance in Singapore Management University, in the first year he ran in the Inter-Varsity Track and Field Championships and did not get the top 8 placing (2007) in 5km and 10km races. He did 40min plus for the 10km. In 2008, he did 39min 21.98sec for the 10km and came in  7th position in the race. In 2009, he did 38min 20.31sec and came in 8th in the event which had a lot of competition. In 2010, however, finally he did 35min 29sec in the race and came in third finally. In that race, Mok Ying Ren, broke his own record and at the same time came in first while Girider Swaminathan, came in second this year's race.

In time-trials, done few months back on the tarmac track, Ashley has done a 34min 58sec and 34min 48sec in 10km on two occasions. I told him that if he does sub 33min, which is possible in a year's time, it is possible to do a sub-2hr 40min for the marathon. I remember doing 32min 22sec for 10km  in Singapore, which allows one to do a sub 2hrs 30min for the marathon.

At present, I see that Mok Ying Ren is on his way to do a faster marathon timing in the near future. During the SSCM 2010, the pace that Mok ran, according to my perception, was more even. There was patience in him.

Ashley's next race is going to be the Hong Kong marathon 2011. After the race, he told me that he wants to run the Gold Coast Airport marathon 2011 and finally run in the Singapore Standard Chartered Marathon 2011. Dr Benedict Tan and Lim Thow Wee told me that they want to run in Gold Coast Airport marathon as well before doing the Singapore Standard Chartered Marathon 2011.

As for my view as a coach, the best reward Ashley can get is to get a partner who is supportive in his chosen passion. The reason for my own success in coming in first in SSCM 2008 with a time of 2hr 49min at the age of 43 in local men marathon category was because of the understanding my wife, Sumathy, had when I was focused and committed to training. Credit should go to her for fully supporting me and for pushing and motivating me to get through my Masters in Education during trying times when I wanted to focus on marathon and not pull out from my masters course. In that year, Hwa Chong Institution (college) won the 'A' Division Boys team championships for the National School's Cross-Country Championships. It was a hattrick year for me achieving all three goals. Hence, thanks should go to my wife for her encouragement.

Picture 4 -  Zeling Goh and Ashley Liew, sharing SSCM 2010 victory together

Speaking about Ashley girlfriend, Zeling Goh, as I know her,  is not just supportive to his running but also very involved in giving Ashley the best possible support to enable him to run much faster. He told me that she in very understanding when comes to focus in training. I realised that Ashley training was never interupted and credit should go to Zeling for improvement in the 10km performance. She is also interested to come down to Hong Kong to watch the race itself.

Picture 5 - A Dinner Treat Given By Ashley and Dr Benny Goh at Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant