One Runner’s Journey
Jerome Tsang is an avid runner and a Financial Planner with BMO Bank of Montreal, the Title Sponsor of the BMO Vancouver Marathon
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The weather finally turned better in Vancouver this week. I can resume my training for the upcoming BMO Vancouver Marathon. I enjoy outdoor running, but never in the rain.
When I was young I was more of a sprinter and never a good distance runner. As a matter of fact, I did not like running long distance at all back in the day, as I loved to participate in fast-paced sports such as soccer and rugby.
After graduating from university, my physical activity level dropped drastically as I became more involved in my career. I went to the gym, but sporadically. The only sport I played on a regular basis was golf, and that was more for social networking rather than for fitness.
In 2012, I had had it with myself! I was only in my early 30’s but I was out of shape. I needed to do something about my health. For the next 6 months, I hit the gym 4-5 times a week for cardio and strength training. I remembered when I first ran on the treadmill; I could barely run 10 minutes straight at a slow pace. As time progressed, I was able to run faster and for a longer duration.
Running outdoors is very different than running on a treadmill. It’s harder on the feet and knees as there is less absorption when you hit the ground. At first, I was only able to run 5 km in about 30 minutes. At the time I felt that was a pretty good personal achievement. After running for about two months outdoors, I found myself running 10 km in less than an hour without stopping! Wow, I was impressed with myself. My original goal was to get in shape and shed some pounds,
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but I quickly found myself wanting a bigger challenge. I decided to set a new goal because I am a person who craves a sense of achievement. The BMO Vancouver Marathon was the perfect challenge for me. Last year, I completed my first full marathon and it felt great. But in November 2013, I got into a motorbike accident while on vacation in Thailand. The injury to my left foot significantly impacted my mobility. After physiotherapy, I started going back to the gym. It took a little while to get back at it but I feel okay enough to challenge myself in this year’s marathon. I tell people all the time that when it comes to running a marathon, you can train all you want, but your physical strength can take you only half way; the other half is all about your mental toughness. At this point, I am motivated!
We are blessed that we live in one of the best cities in the world! I live downtown, so it takes me five minutes to get to the seawall – that is such a treat! I run pass Yaletown where I see people walking their dogs along the promenade, under the Granville Bridge with a view of Granville Island across False Creek, and finally into English Bay with the nice sandy beach.
My tips for running outside:
- Get a good pair of running shoes – This makes quite a difference. The lateral stiffness of a running shoe is different than a regular training shoes – very important for long distances.
- Get a pair of running gloves
- Wear a compression shirt will keep you warm and dry – It’s worth the money.
- Have a running mate who helps keep you on track and motivated.
- If you run by yourself, plug into some good music!
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