Diana – Body Temple’s very own “Iron Man” Finisher !
Diana Lim Yee Fung
Personal Trainer; Body Temple
One of my most recent personal achievements was to be a first time Iron Man Finisher. The event comprised of a 3.8km open-sea swim, 180km bike, followed by a 42.2km run. The course was held on 7th December 2008, at Busselton/Margaret River Region in Perth, Western Australia, an immensely appealing area, abundant with the beauty of nature.
I have come to enjoy endurance sports like marathons, biathlons and triathlons only in recent years, and my motivation to participate has always been focused on the process rather than on the outcome of the race. The process in this case, is the physical challenge of months of preparation and training, which calls for a huge amount of determination and personal commitment. I find myself stretching my own physical limitations, learning more about myself, and each time I complete a race, there is a quiet sense of personal achievement. For example, if I manage to dutifully complete five training sessions a week in the run-up to a race, I would consider the race a success regardless of whether I am placed within the top 1% of all participants. Rankings, I believe, should come naturally, if at all.
Part of the reason why I enjoy endurance sports is because it is something that takes time and commitment, and is not just easily achieved in a matter of days or weeks. In a way, it enables me to put myself in the shoes of my clients, who work hard to achieve their own goals, and to maintain a healthy lifestyle. My clients need the same determination and personal commitment to achieve their objectives, and I sincerely share their joy when they reach attain their goals. I believe that having goals and working towards them is not just limited to going to the gym and to physical exercise, but some of the fundamental values learnt through a healthy lifestyle can also positively impact other areas of life.
Looking forward, I would definitely continue doing endurance sports as I truly enjoy the process and take heart at the positive influence I am having on many others to adopt the same positive attitude and lifestyle. My VERY long term goal is my final Iron Man at the age of 65years old. Right now, it’s back to training.
~Diana Lim, 2009~