The making of an Ironwoman – Hsing Ling’s Drive to Strive

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NAILING THE IRONMAN

You must be then wondering how she trained for the Ironman. Her training was eclectic, from techniques to endurance and mental strength. “Training for such a race requires discipline and a lot of sacrifices. For instance, I had to turn down party invitations or even a simple girl’s day out. It is a commitment. If I am not training, either I am working or spending time with my family.”

She continued, “Racing wouldn’t hold much meaning if you didn’t have a journey of training.”

Hsing Ling tries a variety of routes for her training. Her most favourite route is the Dragon Back loop from Bukit Jelutong to Puncak Alam. “The entire stretch is undulating with three major steep climbs.”

Broga Hill loop, on the other hand, is her best choice to get away from the traffic and to get some fresh cool air. For training, she rides from Bukit Jelutong to Rawang, a loop of 48km in total.

Being a popular route for cyclists, it gives her an excellent chance to meet new people.

To ride on a variety of routes, a triathlete such as Hsing Ling sure has a favourite bike she uses. “Right now, I use a Colnago C50. My first bike was a Trek; the second was a Scott Speedster. My dream bike, though, would be the Specialized Venge—I really like it!”

Other than her Ironman feat, Hsing Ling partook in the Desaru Long Distance triathlon and her upcoming race is the Morib triathlon covering the Olympic-distance course. Other records from the year 2009 to 2011 included Ipoh Century rides, King of Mountain in Cameron Highlands, Syfora series, Penang Round Island Ride and the PCC Interstate.

 

BETTER AND STRONGER

Hsing Ling doesn’t only have a successful record in races,but she is also a great motivator. When we asked her what motivates her to do best, she gave us a remarkable and honest answer, “My motivation is simply to strive to be better. Life is a journey, and if you do not have a purpose to get better and stronger, it is quiet meaningless.”

In her own way, Hsing Ling inspires people to find their passion to keep them going. “We get challenges in life, and get depressed by circumstances. If there’s a way to channel those frustrations through healthy activities, I’m all for it. For women who follow a healthy lifestyle, there is a constant motivation to not only look good, but to feel good.I live by GSK’s motto, ‘Do more, feel better, and live stronger.’

Hsing Ling’s future goals are even more inspiring, and you would want to be on the same page. “I do something different every year. Last year, I climbed the Everest base camp! It was the best experience. I had altitude sickness, but I still went on. When I reached the base camp, the view was breathtaking and it was worth every challenge. This year I participated in Ironman, and next year I am planning to climb the Mount Kinabalu.”

She is a strong woman who knows how to enjoy life and its challenges. “I am someone who always has something to do. To not have a goal in life makes me feel like I’m not living my life to the fullest. During my off-season, I’m doing indoor rock climbing at Camp 5 in One Utama. My goal is to do outdoor rock climbing in Krabi, Thailand.

With her goals and future plans, Hsing Ling’s drive to strive is effectively contagious. There is no doubt that she will be climbing the highest peaks in life.

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