About Me

Name: Hong Zi Shen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zishen
Instagram ID: hongzishen
Email: hongzishen@gmail.com
Garmin: zi_shen
Strava: zishen

My name?

You can call me Hong, or 方棨彦 (Fang1 Qi3 Yan4) or Zi Shen (zi:ʃen) or even just Zi and I will respond to any of them. :)

How did I start running?

Back in high school, I used to run the 400m and 800m races as an athlete. Honestly, my performance was nothing to write home about, but I enjoyed running nevertheless. I don't really remember how I trained for those races, but I do know that I was more hardworking than most of my peers. Even though I didn't have a coach or any guidance, I trained quite often, always with the goal of improving my own records. Looking back, I realize now that I made a very common newbie mistake by pushing myself to my limits in every training session. Fortunately, I didn't get injured. However, I never really kept up with my training after high school and hardly did any running in university. In fact, I completely stopped running for a good 10 years until 2009!

What got me into serious running?

In 2009, something sparked my interest in running again. It all started when I bought my first pair of running shoes "Nike Zoom Start" during Chinese New Year. I can't explain what motivated me, but I remember feeling excited to put them on and hit the pavement.

Just two months later, I signed up for the BHP run, a 10km race. I showed up alone, not really knowing what to expect. When the flag went off, I started running as fast as I could, but soon found myself struggling to keep up the pace. I ended up burning out and had to walk for a while. As if things couldn't get any worse, I was overtaken by a girl who was incredibly fast and beautiful. It turns out she was none other than Jessica Tang, a well-known and respected runner in the community. I was blown away. After the race, I decided right then and there to make it my mission to chase her down and improve my own running skills. And so began my "Chase Jessica Project v1.0"!

Cari

After the BHP run, my passion for running grew stronger. I started researching and stumbled upon Cari forum where I discovered a community of passionate runners. They introduced me to the concept of long slow distance (LSD) running and invited me to join them for a 20km run from Lake Garden to Sri Hartamas. Despite experiencing cramps during that first LSD run, I was hooked. I remember the names of some of the runners who joined me on that day, including Kok Yik, Shu Wei, Victor, and Seven. From that point onwards, I started running with them more often and eventually, we formed our own running group called the Cari Runners.

Pacemakers

After a month or two later, I was lucky enough to join the Adidas Adination Club led by Ronnie, and that's when I became a part of the Pacemakers family. It was an honor to be among such a dedicated group of runners and I was given PM60 as my lucky number. They were all very serious about running and being part of this group taught me so much, especially the never-give-up spirit of PIA.

Becoming a Full Marathoner and a BQ dreamer

I became a self-taught learner and did a lot of research on running. I started buying books and magazines, learning about tempo, interval training, running style, foot type, nutrition, and core workouts, among other things. With the help of my new knowledge, I upgraded from a 10km runner to a half marathoner, and eventually completed my first full marathon at the Singapore Marathon in 2009. Although it was a tough race and I suffered from cramps at km-26, I managed to finish in under 4 hours, which was a big achievement for me at the time. Since then, improving my marathon time has been a priority in my running journey, and I am working hard towards eventually qualifying for the Boston Marathon!

Puma Running Club

Back in 2013, I had an amazing opportunity to become a pacer for the Puma Running Club, and was eventually appointed as the leader. As with any startup, the initial stages were quite challenging. However, with the collective efforts of the pacers, runners, and Puma, we managed to overcome the hurdles and establish a thriving club.

During my time with the club, I also had the pleasure of getting to know Adele, a talented runner, coach, and an inspiration to many. I was impressed by her ability to motivate people to push themselves beyond their limits. In 2014, I stepped down from my position as the club leader and passed the baton to Adele and Victor. I'm proud to say that they have continued to grow the club and turn it into one of the most renowned and successful running communities in Malaysia.

Why do I still run now?

I've been pondering this question a lot lately, and although breaking personal records and pushing myself to my limits are definitely part of my motivation, they're not the only reasons I keep running. I think the main driving force behind my passion for running is the people I've met along the way. Through running, I've made so many amazing friends, and I'm part of several running communities like Cari, PM, and Wind Runner. I'm also connected with other runners through groups like Running Kaki, Lyn Runner, and Run89. The camaraderie and the shared experiences of training, racing, and celebrating together are what make running so meaningful to me. That's why I keep coming back for more, and I hope to keep making new friends and memories through running for years to come.

What do I do for living?

Are you ready to dive into the rabbit hole of my life? If so, you can add me on FB, my FB ID is Hong Zi-Shen. :)

So what now?

Nothing much, I plan on running until my legs give out, and of course, my ultimate goal is to BQ. Thanks for tuning in and happy running!

- Written in Sep'15