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Marathon man at 86: Heart attack spurs retiree to take up running

86-year-old, who took up running after heart attack 16 years ago, has not looked back since

Mr Kor and his youngest grandson Aston Kor, 18, cooling down after a run. The teenager thinks his "Dada", as Mr Kor is affectionately known by his grandchildren, is "determined and self-driven" and his best role model. Mr Kor, who believes Aston has
Mr Kor on his regular running route in East Coast Park. After he suffered a few injuries in marathons, his doctor advised him to take part in just one marathon a year. This year, he has set his sights on running the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon in December. ST PHOTOS: SEAH KWANG PENG
Mr Kor and his youngest grandson Aston Kor, 18, cooling down after a run. The teenager thinks his "Dada", as Mr Kor is affectionately known by his grandchildren, is "determined and self-driven" and his best role model. Mr Kor, who believes Aston has
After a bicycle accident more than a year ago in which he injured his spine, Mr Kor has been very careful whenever he takes the stairs. He makes it a point to hold on to the railing, as his doctor has told him that he cannot afford another fall. He is still recovering from the spine injury and does 40 minutes of strengthening exercises daily. ST PHOTOS: SEAH KWANG PENG
Mr Kor and his youngest grandson Aston Kor, 18, cooling down after a run. The teenager thinks his "Dada", as Mr Kor is affectionately known by his grandchildren, is "determined and self-driven" and his best role model. Mr Kor, who believes Aston has
When he is not out running, Mr Kor often trades stocks at home on a computer set up in his living room. The sessions can range from 20 minutes when the market is quiet to a whole day when it is hot. “It helps my brain to stay active because of the excitement I feel,” he says. ST PHOTOS: SEAH KWANG PENG
Mr Kor and his youngest grandson Aston Kor, 18, cooling down after a run. The teenager thinks his "Dada", as Mr Kor is affectionately known by his grandchildren, is "determined and self-driven" and his best role model. Mr Kor, who believes Aston has
Mr Kor, who turned 86 on Feb 1, making a wish at his birthday celebration, with elder son Kor Ter Ming (left), 60, younger son Edward Kor and his wife Balsam Yong, both 54, and other family members. He wished to be able to run beyond 90 years old so that he can win his third gold medal in the 10,000m event in the age 90-94 category at the Asia Masters Athletics Championships. ST PHOTOS: SEAH KWANG PENG
Mr Kor and his youngest grandson Aston Kor, 18, cooling down after a run. The teenager thinks his "Dada", as Mr Kor is affectionately known by his grandchildren, is "determined and self-driven" and his best role model. Mr Kor, who believes Aston has
Mr Kor records his training progress and race timings in a notebook, which he keeps together with the medals and memorabilia from running events. ST PHOTOS: SEAH KWANG PENG
Seah Kwang Peng
Updated
Feb 26, 2018, 03:12 PM
Published
Feb 26, 2018, 05:00 AM
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If you were an older person who suffered a heart attack, the odds are you would take things a little easy. When Mr Kor Hong Fatt suffered a heart attack at the age of 70, in 2002, he became a serious runner.

Not only that, but the retired quantity surveyor also was not going to let the health scare stop him from setting the goal of running a marathon.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 26, 2018, with the headline Marathon man at 86: Heart attack spurs retiree to take up running. Subscribe

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