I first know about Seow Kong about 3 years ago and bumped into him for the first time in my life during Kinabalu Climbathon 2011. Quiet. Composed. Wise. That was the 3-words i could use to describe having him sitting behind me in the bus coming back from Kinabalu Park to KK for our return journey back home.
Who is Seow Kong?
51 years young and ran no less than 100marathons. When I first know about him from the running community in Malaysia, i did a research and first hit was his participation in the Antartic Ice Marathon in 2007. I was in awe. While most of us brag about finishing marathons (42km), we have this fellow Malaysian, almost unknown and always under the radar, running in Antartica? Some Malaysians made more big deal dropping a car at the south (?) pole or claimed to had traverse the same (and twice cancelled, wonder why?)
To be honest, I've lost count till today on his personal achievement that he took upon himself to accomplish all the ultra-races. Inspiring is an understatement and despite being based out of Malaysia for more than 15 years, his heart is still very much with the country. He has always seen and has always told the world and the races he entered to be a Malaysian.
I do not believe many of you reading this know that he has competed (and completed) many races all over the world under his own funding and passion. One of the more epic race (to me) was him, running with the Tarahumara or the Raramuri people. Made famous in the book Born To Run, any runner (or athlete) worth their salt would know who Caballo Blanco is. Most of us read in the book or at best, seen the photo of Micah True (Caballo himself), but how many ever ran with him?
Micah True (RIP) passed away about 2 weeks after the race. It was a sad day for the ultra running community specifically and athletes, generally.
Badwater 135Miles
Badwater135 is recognised globally as the toughest race of it's kind with a 48hours cutoff time. With temperature up to 55degree C on a good day, it pits the athlete to the element and challenges the limit of human abilities. This race is by invitation only. You can apply, but you need to get invited for this, even if you are a race veteran.
Seow Kong's race started on Monday July 15 and some of us were tracking his progress throughout the miles marker set by the organiser. In this race, he ran alongside another legend - Dean Karnazes which finished his 10th Badwater135 race!
Seow Kong's race split was impressive and most important is that he looked in high spirit halfway through the race and even towards the finish. He made Badwater looked like any other races he entered!
The fantastic achievement shown by Seow Kong is inspirational to say the least. Why is he doing this? He is using this race to raise fund for a charity known as Good Samaritan Home. He intend to raise RM20,000.00 for the home of the less fortunate. If you are interested, click this website here to chip in. The current donation stands at 70% of the RM20K to raise. Make it happen for GSH and Seow Kong.
This is his Race Pledge:
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Congratulation!
Inspired? I know I am. Congrats Seow Kong for the splendid epic awesome race. You truly made the impossible possible.
Your intention and heart for this race and charity deserves more coverage and I hope my small write up here will help the charity you are supporting achieve the 100% you put in. Congratulation Sir! I salute you.
Update March 1, 2018:
Training for your first Marathon? Check this article from Sport Fitness Advisor on Marathon Training!
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| 2011 - 85kg vs SK's light sub 68kg |
51 years young and ran no less than 100marathons. When I first know about him from the running community in Malaysia, i did a research and first hit was his participation in the Antartic Ice Marathon in 2007. I was in awe. While most of us brag about finishing marathons (42km), we have this fellow Malaysian, almost unknown and always under the radar, running in Antartica? Some Malaysians made more big deal dropping a car at the south (?) pole or claimed to had traverse the same (and twice cancelled, wonder why?)
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| click for bigger font |
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| Seow Kong's Hydration pack with Malaysian Flag patch. Photo from Seow Kong's Facebook |
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| Seow Kong with Micah True. Photo from Seow Kong's Facebook |
Badwater 135Miles
Badwater135 is recognised globally as the toughest race of it's kind with a 48hours cutoff time. With temperature up to 55degree C on a good day, it pits the athlete to the element and challenges the limit of human abilities. This race is by invitation only. You can apply, but you need to get invited for this, even if you are a race veteran.
Seow Kong's race started on Monday July 15 and some of us were tracking his progress throughout the miles marker set by the organiser. In this race, he ran alongside another legend - Dean Karnazes which finished his 10th Badwater135 race!
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| Dean after his 10th BD135. Photo from RichRoll's Instagram |
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| Seow Kong making friends with the Sun. Photo from Adventure Corps. |
This is his Race Pledge:
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Hi, thank you for visiting my personal
fundraising page.
Through simplygiving.com you can make safe and secure donations to sponsor me. The proceeds of your support are immediately sent directly to my charity. Using this given platform is really simple and most importantly it's also a really cost efficient way for the charity to raise funds. My page allows you to follow my progress; share it with friends; voice encouragement or even join me and get involved yourself!
I will be taking part in the legendary Badwater Ultramarathon (217km single stage) in 15-17/07/2013 and aiming to raise money for Good Samaritan Home. This will be the first time in Malaysian running history that we have a Malaysian runner participating in this prestigious event, which will be held in the "driest, hottest and lowest" part of North America, the desert in Death Valley. Many times, this event has been voted/selected/named as one of the toughest races in the world.
I am a 51 years old Malaysian, who started running (barefoot) when I was 20 years old. As of May 2013, I have completed 102 full/ultramarathons (70full, 32 ultra) in 55 cities on 31 countries/states.
I am the first Malaysian to have run the coldest marathons in North Pole and Antarctica, and the hottest in Sahara Deserts in Morocco and Tunisia. I have also run Great Wall Marathon in China, and the world's highest marathon at Tenzing Hillary Everest marathon in Nepal. I am also the first Malaysian to have run 100 miles races, and ultramarathons of over 200km (222km in India, 240km in Australia and most recently in Apr 2013, the 250k Sakura Michi Nature Run in Japan).
As a result, I have now qualified and been invited to run in this prestigious event, the Badwater Ultramarathon in United States this coming July 15-17th. I would like to call on your support of my participation in this race by way of donation to the charity I have chosen, the Good Samaritan Home. All donation will go 100% to this charity, as I will personally bear all the race expenses which includes flights, accommodation, food, hiring of support vehicle for my support crew and myself.
Please dig deep and donate, every little counts!
Seow Kong Ng Through simplygiving.com you can make safe and secure donations to sponsor me. The proceeds of your support are immediately sent directly to my charity. Using this given platform is really simple and most importantly it's also a really cost efficient way for the charity to raise funds. My page allows you to follow my progress; share it with friends; voice encouragement or even join me and get involved yourself!
I will be taking part in the legendary Badwater Ultramarathon (217km single stage) in 15-17/07/2013 and aiming to raise money for Good Samaritan Home. This will be the first time in Malaysian running history that we have a Malaysian runner participating in this prestigious event, which will be held in the "driest, hottest and lowest" part of North America, the desert in Death Valley. Many times, this event has been voted/selected/named as one of the toughest races in the world.
I am a 51 years old Malaysian, who started running (barefoot) when I was 20 years old. As of May 2013, I have completed 102 full/ultramarathons (70full, 32 ultra) in 55 cities on 31 countries/states.
I am the first Malaysian to have run the coldest marathons in North Pole and Antarctica, and the hottest in Sahara Deserts in Morocco and Tunisia. I have also run Great Wall Marathon in China, and the world's highest marathon at Tenzing Hillary Everest marathon in Nepal. I am also the first Malaysian to have run 100 miles races, and ultramarathons of over 200km (222km in India, 240km in Australia and most recently in Apr 2013, the 250k Sakura Michi Nature Run in Japan).
As a result, I have now qualified and been invited to run in this prestigious event, the Badwater Ultramarathon in United States this coming July 15-17th. I would like to call on your support of my participation in this race by way of donation to the charity I have chosen, the Good Samaritan Home. All donation will go 100% to this charity, as I will personally bear all the race expenses which includes flights, accommodation, food, hiring of support vehicle for my support crew and myself.
Please dig deep and donate, every little counts!
-----
Congratulation!
Inspired? I know I am. Congrats Seow Kong for the splendid epic awesome race. You truly made the impossible possible.
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| Seow Kong at finishing line with Jalur Gemilang. Photo by AdventureCorps. Caption pasted by a supporter on behalf of Seow Kong. |
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| Seow Kong's official time split for BD135 2013. Data from Adventure Corps |
Update March 1, 2018:
Training for your first Marathon? Check this article from Sport Fitness Advisor on Marathon Training!
wow, just amazing when i read about the list of his achievement. He make Malaysia proud.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Makes you wonder those that does smaller things but have huge government backing isn't it?
DeleteI'm wondering too
Deletehe also makes Singapore proud.....
ReplyDeleteAnd everyone that knows him!
DeleteI was glued to the Computer for that 2 days as the cut off time is 48 hours. So so so proud of Mr. Ng Seow Kong for being the 1st Malaysian to have entered and completed the Badwater 135 miles. What makes me more proud is that he always have Malaysia logo on his running attire / hydration pack / flags before, during and after his run :) Thank you TriStupe for a lovely write up.
ReplyDeleteSo was I, because I knew he was running it. :) His support crew were made up of friends and his wife.
Deletewow..what an amazing person he is. inspiration and yet just under the radar. Thanks stupe for this entry :)
ReplyDeleteRazinah
psst - there is a few more others very low profile. I will slowly introduce them. One of them is so humble you wondered if he even exist. But his achievement includes Ultra Trail Mont Blanc, Fuji, Boston ;-)
Deletehe is definitely a living legend.
ReplyDeletetruly inspiring. :)
More to come.
Deletesomebody should do a documentary or tell Mr. Ng's running journeys in a book...it would be an inspiration to all runners and Malaysians.
ReplyDeletePerhaps, Seow Kong could be penning a biography now?
Deletethanks stupe for the entry.Reading all his achievements is really really inspiring..
ReplyDeletetill saw the finishing photo with the flag..demmn sebak...
:) Same! Many Malaysians running overseas has made it known the country of their origin and Jalur Gemilang has many times, flew high!
DeleteIn the spirit of Malaysia Boleh... Woww, I got goosebumps by reading his Ultra achievements and resume... To top it all, it's his recent achievement in Badwater 135miles... Ultra inspiring indeed!!!
ReplyDeleteNicely done, your humble write up on this legendary Ultra Runner... I'm so proud to be a Malaysian!!! =D
We all are, and always be proud to be a Malaysian. :)
DeleteSeow Kong is a perfect example of a true hero. Quiet, unassuming, generous and terribly humble. Salt of the earth kinda man. You know.... if only a dato-ship in Malaysia is worth a more than what money could buy, I would personally be nominating him for a conferment.
ReplyDeleteI've highlighted this to our YB Sports Minister. He has helped Re-tweet the achievement. I only hope he (KJ) will do more. This is a real achievement, not those that "I try to get money from gohmen first, then do, if fail, i still get he money"
DeleteI got Goosebumps reading this.
ReplyDeleteAn inspiring person.
Lovely write-up too.
Thank you for sharing. :-)
My write up is my small little way to help him in this quest. The main point here is to raise fund for The Good Samaritan Home. The Badwater 135Miles is his aspiration which the charity made it more worth his effort. :)
Deletecongrats to him...he is a true hero...thnks for sharing...
ReplyDelete:D Thanks for reading!
DeleteThat's my dad. =) One of a kind, and always taught me that attitude is what changes and decides your fate. Can't be more proud of him.
ReplyDeleteGary - you are very lucky to have a great mentor at your disposal. Your dad is superawesome!
Delete