From Running Skeptic to Completing Marathons: Ng Kee Haur
- Hana Basir
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Ng Kee Haur’s running journey was an unexpected one, but once he discovered his potential, he fell in love with the sport and the joy it brought him
Before becoming a runner himself, he used to think of the sport the same way most of us do.
“That’s crazy, why would anyone put themselves through such torture willingly?”
Seven years ago though, Ng Kee Haur’s perception of running changed, and so did his life. Deeming himself as overweight and out of shape, Kee Haur—then 42 years of age—took his physical health into his own hands and decided on making a change.
Starting out with mild activities like cycling and skating, Kee Haur then bought himself a Garmin watch, where he first stumbled upon a 5km running program for beginners.
That was the moment he fell in love with the rhythmic pulse of his feet striking the earth—a steady beat that accompanied him in his pursuit.
“In the beginning, I could only manage a couple of hundred meters before having to walk. It was humbling, but I stuck with it, slowly building my aerobic base and muscle strength from scratch. Progress was gradual—sometimes frustratingly so—but I learned to take it one step at a time,” smiled Kee Haur.
“As I gained better mileage, I noticed my body becoming more efficient. I started joining running events and gradually set new goals: 10km, 13km, 18km, then the half marathon. Each milestone showed me what’s possible with patience and consistency. Running became more than just exercise. It became a way to challenge myself and track my progress.”
Kee Haur took in every stride he took, and eventually made half marathons his forte. After a few years of running 21.1km races however, Kee Haur found himself at a dead end. He tried and tried to improve, but despite his best efforts, his progress seemed to be slow.
“For some reason, these runs always felt tough. I would start strong but end up with positive splits, or sometimes hit the wall entirely. No matter how much I trained, I felt like I was stagnating and not progressing. It was frustrating and made me question my approach,” he explained.
Knowing he needed to give himself a new challenge to push himself forward, Kee Haur decided to take his next big step, and targeted a full marathon. Just like that, he found himself signing up for the Taipei Marathon, stamping his flight tickets and booking a hotel. Subscribed to an online training plan and putting all his eggs into the basket, Kee Haur was ready to discover a part of himself he had never thought possible.
To his dismay though, the universe had other plans. It wasn’t his time—yet.
Just as he was about to take on the streets of Taipei, Kee Haur was hit with a gallstone attack. Landing himself in the hospital and requiring surgery, he knew that running his first full marathon would have to wait.
“I still remember it vividly—making all my cancellation arrangements from my hospital bed, it was incredibly demoralizing. Lying there, I had a lot of time to reflect. I told myself I wouldn’t let this setback defeat me. Instead, I resolved to come back stronger and to take better care of my body,” Kee Haur recounted.
“A week after the operation, I started with slow, gentle runs. Another week later, I joined the Team Hustlers weekly's intervals at the Yio Chu Kang Stadium.”
The very drive that had propelled him from skeptic to half-marathoner surged back into him, and this time, all the stars had aligned perfectly as he secured a spot in the Osaka Marathon 2024.
“It felt like fate. Everything seemed to line up for my first full marathon. With the slot confirmed, I shifted my training focus entirely to marathon preparation, using half marathons as stepping stones along the way. The anticipation of debuting at such a renowned event gave me extra motivation to train and push my limits,” shared the 49-year-old.
“Crossing the finish line in Osaka with a time of 4:28 was a huge milestone. It wasn’t just about the time, but about proving to myself that I could overcome setbacks and achieve what I want. The experience was so rewarding that I found myself eager to see how much further I could go.”
Last month, Kee Haur took on his second full marathon— and with his passion and determination—it’s no surprise that he gained a new personal best, completing the Seoul Marathon with a time of 4:12.
Now hooked on the serotonin rush that comes with progress, Kee Haur has embraced the art of multi-sport, determined to keep going for as long as his body allows.
“I’ve started my duathlon journey and picking up the bike again has been a great way to cross-train and reduce my risk of running injuries. Some friends have encouraged me to try a triathlon, and while I’m still considering it, for now, I’m enjoying the balance and variety that cross-training brings to my routine,” he shared.
His advice to anyone wanting to get started?
“Running is a progressive journey: you learn to be stronger, to listen to and understand your body, and even to appreciate and love it as you see what it can achieve. Over time, running teaches discipline and the value of trusting the process, which doesn’t happen overnight, but with consistency, it comes. Most importantly, running is about learning to overcome challenges, because every run is different and you never know what life—or the next kilometer—will throw at you.”
“Just take the very first step and start running. “