By Amanda L
KUCHING, Dec 21: Team Haolian’s Elite Seven faced the Taipei Marathon this year with determination and grit. While the Sarawak record remained just out of reach, almost every runner achieved a personal best, turning the race into a showcase of discipline, resilience, and purpose.
Andy Yeo completed the 42.195-kilometre course in 2 hours 42 minutes and 4 seconds, improving his personal record by two and a half minutes. A former track-and-field athlete in secondary school, Andy transitioned to road racing at 17 and finished his first full marathon in 2017. By 2019, he had committed fully to marathon training.
Preparation for Taipei was far from smooth. A month before the race, illness forced Andy to rebuild his fitness through hours of aerobic training. The most challenging stretch came between kilometres 20 and 26, when strong headwinds slowed his pace. Crossing the finish line, he felt a rush of satisfaction.
“Finally, I got a new personal best, about two and a half minutes faster than before,” he exclaimed.
For Yeo, marathons are about more than speed.
“For first-time runners, just run and enjoy it. Life is like a marathon; we can’t predict what will come, so just run it,” he advised. For those chasing faster times, he stressed consistent training, mental endurance, and dedication.
Owen Tan Xian Wen completed the course in 2 hours 53 minutes and 50 seconds, tackling the same 42.195 kilometres under wet and windy conditions. Running became his way to stay fit and manage stress alongside a demanding career.
When fatigue hit, Tan broke the race into smaller segments, focused on form and breathing, and drew strength from the cheering crowds.
“It is more about resilience than records,” he reflected.
Training for the marathon demanded sacrifices from both runners. Early mornings and late evenings were filled with long runs, often at the cost of social life and sleep. Recovery became a priority, and maintaining motivation required discipline. Yet the rewards were evident.
Yeo described his result as a long-sought achievement, while Tan considered the experience a lesson in balance and perseverance.
“Running at this stage is about showing up despite constraints and being thankful for the opportunity to compete,” Tan observed.
Their advice to aspiring runners is simple: respect the process, be patient, and stay consistent. A safe and well-executed finish is always more valuable than chasing a goal at the expense of wellbeing.
Though the Sarawak marathon record of 2 hours 39 minutes and 57 seconds, set by Mohd Jironi at the 2016 Kuala Lumpur Marathon, still stands, Taipei represented a triumph of personal milestones, discipline, and mental resilience.
For Yeo, Tan, and the rest of the team, the marathon proved that determination and preparation can transform a race into a defining life experience. — DayakDaily
