Disneyland half marathon. She only
began running three years ago - six
months after her third child was born.
“I didn’t really enjoy it when I first
started, but it was a means to an end;
I wanted to get back in shape and I
didn’t have a lot of free time,” says
Mel. “If you had told me back then
that I would be competing in a half
marathon I would have said you were
crazy, that it just wasn’t possible.”
Mel’s initial goal was to run five
kilometres. After surprising herself
by hitting that mark within a short
space of time, she began pushing it a
little further with each run. Not only
did Mel begin to enjoy it, running
has now become an important part
of her physical and mental wellbeing.
She heads out at 5.30am, four times a
week, to run for an hour on the roads
and trails around Pok Fu Lam. Mel is
home by 6.30am to get the kids ready
for school and herself ready for work.
“I’m definitely addicted to it,” she
says. “It’s the only hour of my day I
have completely to myself, with no
one hassling me or asking me to do
something. It’s a big stress reliever
and puts me in a great mood for the
rest of the day.”
Having now competed in two half
marathons, Mel has her sights set on
the main event.
“My aim is to run the New
York City Marathon next
year, soon after I turn 40,”
she confides. “I will need to
step up my training, which
will be a challenge with three
kids and work to contend with,
but it’s a great way to celebrate
a milestone birthday!”
Marathon maven
The NYC Marathon is
looming large for another Hong
Kong mum, who is training
hard and will be giving it her all this
coming November.
Forty-two-year-old Beks James
runs music and movement classes for
pre-schoolers in Stanley. She has also
completed three London Marathons
in the past five years, with her fastest
time clocked at an impressive three
hours and 24 minutes. Incredibly,
Beks is another mother of three who
only began running
after her children
were born.
“My husband
was doing a 10km
charity run and
asked if I wanted
to keep him
company,” she
says. “I thought
‘why not?’ and
started with a
little training.
I was amazed I
May 2015
39
