He left his corporate banking job to pursue his passion in fitness, now Seamus Chng is ready to embark on an all new journey - tackling his first full marathon with New Balance
The TCS New York City Marathon, held annually on the first Sunday of November, is one of the largest and most prestigious marathons in the world and part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.
It offers a 42.195km or 26.2-mile long course with electrifying crowds, taking runners through all five boroughs of New York City: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan finishing at Central Park.
Meet the six runners from Singapore who will be taking on the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon with New Balance in this five-part series with Sportplus.sg.
An economics graduate, Seamus Chng had initially chosen corporate banking as a career but decided to leave the corporate world to focus on pursuing his passion — fitness.
Using his past experience as a competitive footballer in his younger days, Seamus has a vision of building the next generation of everyday athletes to help them fulfill their potential, something he felt he did not fulfill with a lack of access to facilities and resources during his time as a footballer.
Now, the strength and conditioning coach who specialises in athletic development and mobility is looking to take on a new challenge - his first full marathon at the TCS New York City Marathon with New Balance.
It is a journey that has not been easy, but something that fully aligns with his beliefs and values of earning his dopamine reward, and philosophy of lifting heavy and running far.
Having recently incorporated more running into his training routine as an athlete, Seamus has fully embodied what it takes to be a hybrid athlete, and hopes to share his experiences from the New York City Marathon with fellow athletes and friends in the future.
1. Share with us what do you do for a living?
Seamus: I am currently a strength and conditioning coach at Sphere gym, and I specialise in athletic development and mobility.
I'm an economics graduate who left a corporate finance job to pursue passion for fitness, used to play football, retired at 20 as opportunities did not permit, and I hope to use my current experience and facilities to improve the performance of others, helping everyday athletes fulfil their potential.
2. Name an iconic location that most represents you and your personality when you do your runs
Seamus: Sunrise at Marina Bay Sands. Where night life meets the health enthusiasts. It's crazy to have been on both sides now.
3. What are your personal goals for embarking on this journey to NYC Marathon 2024?
Seamus: Honestly, it’s such a privilege. So I didn’t come in with any particular goals but trying my best to enjoy every moment.
If I were to dig deep, I guess. One, is to finish the marathon. Two, can I still stay strong (lift heavy) and run far.
4. What has been your biggest challenge when training for NYC Marathon?
Seamus: With 4-5 months to prepare, it was particularly challenging with load management and recovery. I did find myself being super disciplined on the amount of sleep I’m getting, which means sacrificing a lot of fun late nights and sinful food choices.
5. Could you share with us a regular run route of yours for Marathon training?
Seamus: I have a few regular run routes, but the more regular ones from Cecil Street (Sphere Gym) to Marina Barrage and East Coast Park then back for my long runs, Commonwealth abandoned track beside the MRT for my intervals, and from home to Nee Soon and Mandai Hill.
6. Who do you usually train with (if any)? Any individual / community?
Seamus: Former secondary school teacher Koh Wei Ping now turned training partner. Also his Fiance, Shannon Ho who sometimes cycles alongside him when he runs.
7. Share your journey into running with us, were they any major influences?
Seamus: I’ve actually only incorporated some running back into my routine last year ever since I stopped football in 2016. So I remember I will run based on time e.g 30mins at 120-150BPM HR for 2x a week and that wasn’t particularly easy (maybe I’m just lazy).
Initially, runs were for the benefits of improved recoverability and setting up the ground work for potentially playing football again (socially this time).
But I think it really has shifted into a mental challenge checklist of leaning into discomfort to earn your dopamine reward. As someone who is big on not just physical performance, but also mental resilience, I do try to set up challenges for myself on a weekly basis and runs are one of these things that I find a mental and physical challenge to overcome
8. Is NYC Marathon your first full marathon?
Seamus: It is! Furthest I have ever ran was a half marathon on my own for fun one fine day.
9. What made you sign-up for NYC Marathon with New Balance?
Seamus: Interesting story. I was actually recommended by Daniel Tamago, who had to pull out because of a serious spine injury (so I owe him this one).
Yeah, and when new balance came with this opportunity and in freaking New York, has anyone said no?! Haha
And I was already running in some old new balance shoes from 4-5 years ago at that time with a wide toe cap which was the factor that sealed the deal.
10. What does Run Your Way mean to you personally?
Seamus: Personally, it means anyone can be a runner. In this journey, I have met so many people from different backgrounds. You can have different goals in life but still be bonded through the same activity, which is running.
Take my secondary school teacher for example, a 45-year old runner who joins me on my training runs, or someone who has never ran a 10k in her life but can still be a runner (my Fiancé )💍, or a team sports athlete turned runner (me). It’s crazy.
11. What's your running philosophy / attitude towards running?
Seamus: I like this phrase a lot: Embrace discomfort. In this day and age where comfort is so easily accessible,
Cold? Cover yourself in a blanket. Hot? Turn on the air conditioning. Bored? Doomscroll.
I feel that we need to start rewiring ourselves to earn real dopamine rewards. Running is never easy doing it, but it feels amazing after. There’s many long runs, hot run, early mornings with no guarantee of success.
But running is something that truly tests you physically and mentally. Hence, it gives you the opportunity to earn that reward and trust the process!
12. What are your personal goals and what are you looking to accomplish in NYC Marathon 2024?
Seamus: Honestly at this stage, maintain as much strength and mass as I can going into this as I have and see what goes from here.
I think conservatively, with a 4 month prep as an early intermediate. I should be able to have a 4hr 30min finish but I cannot guarantee anything and won’t jinx it. So as always, I’ll do my best, let god do the rest. 🙌🏻
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