imaRunner: Kor Hong Fatt and Linda Lin

The Sunday Times on July 20, 2008 featured Kor Hong Fatt (76) and Linda Lin (52) in the article "Legs, don't fail me now". Hong Fatt started running when he was 55 (same as the other two runners featured a few days ago... there's something magical about 55, the common retirement age until a few years ago). But it took a heart attack when he was 70 to push him to take on the marathon. Linda took up running 6 years ago, in part to lose weight.

Both are hailed as examples of people who took up running in their 40s or older (sounds familiar?). Why so? According to the report, one reason is that people in their 40s are at an age when they have more free time on their hands and want to take up a hobby.

I don't completely agree. Folks in their 40s could well be in their prime in terms of career development. They could have young children who need their parents. Yet they take up a demanding sport that requires commitment in time and energy. I think the reasons are more complicated and multi-dimensional, but shall leave that for a subsequent post.

The point I do agree with is that veteran runners are more prone to injury as our bodies have gone through more wear and tear than those in their 20s. I read of runners who train for long runs no longer than 10k, and breezed through their first marathons. I read also of young and not-so-young runners who injure or re-injure themselves in the process of training or completing their races.

Hong Fatt puts it ever so aptly: "It's all about knowing your body well and listening to it."

Indeed, the epitome of running is to run injury-free and to run for life. As M puts it, ""My goal is to keep doing at least one half marathon a year till heaven."

That, and the sense of satisfaction that comes from delaying the inevitable deterioration of our physical bodies is reward enough to keep running.

imaRunner is a series about ordinary people and their not-so-ordinary running achievements.