The much-anticipated Hong Kong Marathon makes its return in January. We are thrilled to have Michael Tomordy, an eight-time marathon runner and conqueror of Mount Everest, share his expert marathon advice. Join us as he gives tips and insights to help you prepare for this highly awaited race!
The first step
'Well done! You have taken the most important step of completing the annual Hong Kong Marathon—and that is signing up for the marathon. You may have had doubts whether you could do the training or complete the race, but you have arguably crossed the most important mental barrier.'
Progressing towards victory
'The second piece of good news is that when you get to the start line, you have already covered a significant portion of the race … You have likely spent 6+ months training and hundreds of miles and hours of training. The marathon is only 4+ hours… By now, you have nearly trained up to 20 miles (hopefully!). Therefore, you only have an extra 6 miles to complete which may take about only 1+ hours, "entirely possible!"'
Power of training and self-belief
'When it comes to marathon, it’s really about the quality and quantity of time you spend training… However, in addition to the physical training, the belief in your abilities and the passion in your heart also truly matter. This belief should be informed by planning, action, and results rather than mere "hope"… Training instils confidence in your capabilities and reveals your untapped potential.
Perseverance is key. Training is where you learn how much more capable you are compared to what you think you can do, and you are stretched daily…The mental growth in your belief in yourself, and your capability doesn’t happen in one day— rather, many incremental steps when put together make a larger growth.'
Pushing beyond limits
'If I find myself thinking, "Seriously, this is too hard, too emotional. My feet are bruised, my legs feel like concrete and I am moving very slowly, I want to stop", I then remind myself, "Michael, you have trained for a whole year, hundreds of hours, enduring pain, sweat, and investing money. Just imagine if you give up now after putting in so much effort. Think about having to start all over again with the training!" This is one technique I use to push myself a little further.'
Michael Tomordy's personal profile
- Everest Conqueror: triumphed over Everest’s 8848m peak in 2018 at 48, showcasing sheer grit.
- Marathon Aficionado: not just a climber, but pounded the pavement in eight marathons, including the prestigious Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon.
- Trailblazing Trekker: mastered Hong Kong's four toughest trails in one epic journey.
Source: Employee Benefits & Wellness Discovery January volume
This article is provided by Michael Tomordy, an eight-time marathon runner and conqueror of Mount Everest.
Information and materials provided is general in nature and does not constitute medical or health advice from AXA Hong Kong and is on an “as is” and “as-available” basis without representation and/or warranty of any kind, either express or implied. While AXA Hong Kong has taken reasonable care in providing such information and materials, they are not specific to your investment objective, financial situation, health or medical conditions or particular needs. No warranty or responsibility is assumed by AXA Hong Kong and our related or holding companies regarding non-infringement, security, accuracy, completeness, adequacy, reasonableness, fitness for a purpose or free from computer viruses in connection with the information and materials provided. AXA Hong Kong and our related companies and holding companies do not accept any liability for any loss, damage, cost or other expense, whether wholly or partially, directly or indirectly, arising from any error, inaccuracy or omission of the information and materials to the extent that such liability is not excluded by law.
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