Fit And Fab

Beauty of triathlons is the variety

Training is never boring as the sessions include cycling, swimming and running, Luo Yi Wei tells Joyce Teo

Ms Luo will be taking part in the 42km Sportive Ride event at OCBC Cycle on Oct 2.
Ms Luo will be taking part in the 42km Sportive Ride event at OCBC Cycle on Oct 2. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Q What is your secret to looking fabulous?

A Making time for exercise.

Q What motivated you to join the competition scene this year?

A It was the growing cycling scene in Singapore and the big number of cycling races here.

Q What do you like best about your fitness routine?

A Before I started doing triathlons, I used to run every other day. It was pretty boring.

Although triathlon training takes up a lot of time, the beauty of it is the variety. Doing different training sessions - swimming, cycling or running - every day helps to reduce the risk of injury as well.

I also like that each training session is compact, as I don't have the luxury of time to train and rest as much as I would like to.

Q Has there ever been a time when you were not fit and fab?

A After college, I decided to take a hiatus from competitive sport.

I still ran but at a relatively slower pace, covering shorter distances.

I also played tennis with my dad and sister once a week. That lasted for about two years before I decided I had enough of the slow routine. I felt unfit then and so I decided to start training for a marathon.

Q What is your diet like?

A I like to have a hearty breakfast and a light and nutritious lunch. For dinner, I prefer to have healthy home-cooked food. I also like snacks like fruit and peanut butter toast.

Q What are your indulgences?

A I have a sweet tooth and like to have a dessert after meals. I also like to chomp on chips or popcorn whenever I am at the movies.

  • Bio Box

  • LUO YI WEI

    AGE: 26

    HEIGHT: 1.69m

    WEIGHT: 58kg

    Ms Luo's idea of fitness is to swim for an hour or do a three-hour brick training session, comprising cycling and running.

    The credit analyst in a bank, who is single, played netball in primary school and up to junior college. She then switched to running marathons. She has since moved on to triathlons and participated in various events, including the Singapore International Triathlon, Bintan Triathlon and the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Queensland, Australia.

    She is taking part in the 42km Sportive Ride event at OCBC Cycle on Oct 2.

Q How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?

A I try to work hard but I do not want to become a workaholic. I train on weekdays and spend time with my family during the weekends. This helps me to be more productive and focused at work.

Q What are the three most important things in your life?

A My family and friends; staying healthy and injury-free; and working hard to achieve what I set out to do.

Q What is your favourite part of your body?

A My eyes, as they let me see the world around me.

Q How important is it for you to keep up with your fitness routine?

A I feel a little uneasy if I don't exercise, it is part of my lifestyle. I train six days a week and have a rest day to recuperate from the workouts. The rest day allows me to switch off mentally to avoid burnout.

Q What is the most extreme thing you have done in the name of fitness?

A Running three marathons in the span of 11/2 years just to achieve a timing of below four hours.

Q How has your active lifestyle influenced your family and friends?

A I think I've made the people around me think that I'm mad.

My mum, a housewife, and my dad, a managing director in a Swiss firm, often worry about me. They think my training regimen is a tad excessive.

Q Would you go for plastic surgery?

A I don't see any value in doing cosmetic surgery just to fit some sort of societal ideal. I think everyone is unique and I embrace that.

Q Do you think you're sexy?

A Haha, I think I'm decent looking.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 06, 2016, with the headline Beauty of triathlons is the variety. Subscribe