MAN OF IRON

As if marathons weren't tough enough, naval diver Major (MAJ) Kong Eu Yen graduates from biathlons to triathlons and seeks out the challenge of a full Ironman.

Four wheels good, two wheels better. Regardless of how far his workplace was from home, MAJ Kong did not think twice about biking to work instead of driving.

"I used to cycle to Tuas Naval Base, put my bike on board the ship and sail off. I've even cycled to Changi Naval Base from my home in Bukit Batok when I was an OC (Officer Commanding) in NDU (Naval Diving Unit)," said the biking enthusiast. This love stems from his never-ending quest to find new challenges to overcome.

"I started off just running, but when I felt that I couldn't improve my performance any more, I decided to add in swimming. When I hit a plateau again, I added in biking."

After completing over 20 biathlons and triathlons, he sought out a new challenge: the Ironman race - a 3.8km swim, 180km bike and a 42km run - in Busselton, Australia, in December 2010.

Training while sailing

Preparing for the Ironman challenge was not easy to say the least, recalled MAJ Kong, as he was deployed to the Gulf of Aden from June to October last year - just months before the race.

As the commander of the Sea Security Unit then, his duties included leading his team to patrol assigned sectors of the Gulf and respond to distress calls from merchant ships.

He explained how he trained with limited space on board the Navy's Landing Ship Tank, RSS Endurance: "Though surrounded by water, I couldn't jump off the ship to swim, so I did shoulder and arm exercises in the gym to ensure my joints could handle the stresses of a long swim.

"For cycling, I placed my bike on a stationary trainer so that it worked like an exercise bike, and I cycled for about two hours every other day. To work on my running, I ran on the treadmill in the gym or on the flight deck when the ship was not conducting operations."

The discipline to train in the midst of the deployment eventually paid off for him when he finished the Ironman race in 15 hours.

Staying active

In his current appointment as the Naval Assistant to the Chief of Navy since last December, MAJ Kong's hectic work schedule involves frequent travelling both locally and overseas. Initially, this proved to be highly disruptive to his exercise routines, but was something he managed to get around through meticulous planning.

He said: "If I have a function at the airport, I'll head to the east earlier in the morning to cycle run before the meeting. On normal office days, I'll either wake up earlier to work out near home, or do it in the evenings after work."

"It's really all about being active, and doesn't require a lot of time," he added.

MAJ Kong also makes time to pursue his passion for adventure racing, which combines two or more endurance disciplines like running, kayaking and mountain biking, and is done off the beaten track in forests, rivers or mountain ranges.

"Cycling on roads or running in the gym can be pretty mind-numbing. Adventure racing is more challenging and engaging. More than just completing the race, you have to gel as a team, strategise and navigate your way to the destination," said MAJ Kong, who travelled to Tasmania, Australia, in 2006 for an adventure race.

He also took part in this year's SAFRA AVentura Race in January, and went on a trip to Sabah in April for a race in the Kinabalu mountain range.

Making healthy excuses

Although exercise is very much a part of his life, he understands that not everyone shares his passion to stay active.

"Many people find excuses not to exercise, but I say, find an excuse to do it. Instead of saying 'I can't exercise because I'm too busy', say 'Since I'm early for work, I can take the stairs'," he advised.

On how one can be motivated to exercise, he said: "Aim to stay healthy for your loved ones, because if you're in ill health, you can't care for them."

He ended by saying: "Knowing that you will be able to enjoy your life with your loved ones if you're active and healthy is the best motivation."

Many people find excuses not to exercise, but I say, find an excuse to do it. Knowing that you will be able to enjoy your life with your loved ones if you re active and healthy is the best motivation.
- MAJ Kong