Bonded by shared love for fitness, friends take on the Valkyrie Race together

SINGAPORE – Seven years ago, Wong Lay Hoon and Elaine Lee were rivals competing in the same age category at the Spartan SEA Series in the Philippines.

But they quickly bonded over their shared passion for fitness and competed at various events together.

Their friendship also carried them through tough times. When Wong was looking to ease back into competition after undergoing knee surgery for a partial tear in her left anterior cruciate ligament two years ago, she asked Lee to partner her in the women’s doubles event at the 2024 Hyrox Singapore.

On May 11, the pair took on another challenge together, emerging top in the 50-59 age group after completing the doubles valour category of the Valkyrie Race, an all-women fitness competition, in 50min 30sec.

Looking back on their friendship, fitness coach Wong, 53, said: “We were each other’s competitors, but ultimately we became friends in the circuit. During Covid, we ran together, we did ultra-marathons together.”

Held at the OCBC Square, the inaugural Valkyrie Race, which took place on May 10 and 11, featured two divisions: Valour and Storm.

The course in the Valour division consisted of six runs and five zones.

Participants complete an 800m run before each zone: air bike (40kcals) and 10m balance beam (with 15kg weight plate); row (500m) and ball toss (8kg); stationary bike (1km) and dumbbell lunges (60m, 10kg on each side); ski (500m) and dead-ball carry (25kg); and lateral burpees (30 repetitions) and torque tank push (100kg).

The Storm division also had five zones, but did not have a running segment.

On the appeal of competing together, Lee, a 49-year-old teacher, said: “One great thing about racing together is you have somebody to talk to, to share the load of pain and injury.

“It’s not about glory and pushing ourselves for the sake of it. We also need to understand our own bodies and how much we can take.

“So by doing doubles, we empower each other, talk to each other and push each other along.”

Also connecting over their shared passion for fitness were Jenessa Tay and Olivia Dewi Cinta Higgins, who formed a new friendship after meeting at the Valkyrie Race.

Tay and Higgins topped the Valour singles categories for the 20-29 and 30-39 age groups respectively, completing the course in 52:57 and 56:36.

For Tay, fitness became a lifeline during a difficult time in 2021, when she was dealing with the aftermath of a “toxic relationship” that left her isolated and without friends. She began with hiking and gradually took part in various fitness events.

The 28-year-old personal trainer said: “It was a very emotional journey for me and then coming out of my shell, to making new friends again. I was initially very scared, but eventually I participated in this (and) Hyrox. I signed up for my first half-marathon.

“I’m in a way better space, I’ve met people, and finding like-minded women like her (Higgins), fitness has brought out the best in me.

“You just have to stay consistent and show up, don’t be afraid of what people think or how you perform.”

Fitness has also had a profound impact on Higgins’ life, motivating the 30-year-old to be the best version of herself.

The global fintech and sports television personality said: “The entire race was really amazing, just being among all these strong women pushing through and really doing their best for themselves.

“It’s great to be standing here with my family supporting me and her (Tay), my new friend, it’s such great energy.

“I love how positive the community is and we need more of that.”