DESPITE her achievements in running, Skechers brand ambassador Lauren Lim, 24, is flattered whenever she is called a prodigy because she thinks it is just a normal thing for an athlete to give her best during a competition.
She is slated to run as one of the Philippines’s delegates this October in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
“I see myself as a normal athlete. I think what makes me a good athlete is not what or how but the people who support me and believe in me,” Lim said in an interview with the BusinessMirror.
Before getting bitten by the running bug, Lim’s physical regimen was weightlifting, up until 2015, when a friend invited her to join a 5-kilometer run. The Ateneo de Manila University business management graduate clocked in with 60 minutes to finish the race. Later, she topped a 10-km race in the women’s division in the Fun Run sponsored by group World Vision Inc.
For her second foray into the 5-km race, she finished with a time of 30 minutes, which was pretty good considering that she was not a running buff before. With a record she considers a walk in the park, Lim yearned for more challenging races to determine if she could go harder, faster and improve her time.
“I never thought it would click; that it would turn into something I’m very passionate about. But it did,” she said.
Marathon take
TWO years ago Lim was encouraged by a friend to try the grueling 42-km marathon, which she handled with flying colors. In February last year she joined her first marathon and finished third overall with a time of four hours and 15 minutes.
“After my achievement in the marathon, I decided to join Ironman 70.3 and looked for a coach to prepare for it,” Lim said.
She admitted the transition from running to triathlon was a challenge, especially since she only had the basics of swimming and did not have a biking background.
“I had to learn how to ride a bike four months before my first big race,” she said. “I only learned to ride a bike in April that year and met accidents during the training.”
Running, triathlon
THE newest brand ambassador of Skechers said the biggest difference between triathlon and running is that the first requires a participant to pace one’s self to last until the final phase of the race. Lim said a runner has to have the discipline to focus on and beat a personal record.
Furthermore, she pointed out that training in triathlon requires a participant to divide the training into three disciplines.
Obviously, Lim adopted a Spartan regimen to herself in shape.
“I train early mornings or late nights, sometimes during lunch time. Other than that, I do workouts during regular hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. So to give you a rough idea of how my day goes, I wake up at 4:30 a.m., go to the gym by 5 a.m., train for an hour or so, get back home by 7 a.m., grab breakfast, nap a bit then go to work,” Lim said.
Chicago preps
ASKED why she decided to join the Chicago Marathon, Lim promised to herself after running her first marathon that she would do one marathon a year.
“It just so happened that I was lucky enough to be drawn during the lottery for Chicago. Also, Chicago seemed like the best choice among the world marathons because we have family who lives in the area. I’m also planning on visiting them while I’m there,” Lim said.
For the Chicago Marathon, she trains by running thrice a week: one interval run, one tempo run and one long run, as well as swim twice a week. Moreover, she bikes twice a week, just to maintain the triathlon fitness.
“I also lift weights and do high-intensity interval training as cross training and strengthening.”
It’s different from her usual routine because the intensity for the swim and bike has been reduced into half, as these sports emphasize more on endurance.
“I also have a diet plan,” she said. “I count my calories and macros but, in general, I eat just about anything as long as it’s not overly sweet or fried.”
Right gear
HAVING the right running gear is important for Lim and other runners.
“They can make or break you. If you’re not comfortable and stable running in your shoes, it will make the last part of the race really hard,” Lim said.
She looks forward to the Chicago Marathon as it is going to be her first world major marathon.
“I look forward to crossing the finish line with a good finish time and seeing my mom, aunts and cousins waiting at the finish line.”
After the Chicago race, Lim plans to sign up for both 70.3 races next year, hopefully an international full Iron Man-level.
“I already signed up for the Tokyo Marathon lottery. Hopefully, I get picked for that one, too,” she beamed.