Lazada Singapore's Chief Marketing Officer Marcus Chew on why life is like a marathon
We also asked him about his marathon preparations and the advice he has for eager runners.
Striking a balance in life may be as simple as carving out time regularly to indulge in an activity of your choice. Yahoo Shopping chats with personalities who share their passion for a sport or wellness activity they enjoy, which helps them take on the world with zeal. This monthly series will inspire you to find an interest that will add that sparkle to your life.
Lazada Singapore's Chief Marketing Officer Marcus Chew started out as a competitive basketballer during his younger days, and segued into marathons upon a first honest mistake he made: he signed up for a 42 km full marathon instead of 21 km in 2009. Still, that's not an easy feat to achieve, and Chew was bitten by the race bug ever since...
In his current role for the e-commerce platform, Chew explains why Lazada is embarking on a region-wide race across six countries, with Singapore being the final league. We also asked him about his marathon preparations and the advice he has for eager runners. Chew will be participating in the Lazada Run on 23 July at Marina Barrage, so if you see him there, do say hello!
'Life is like a marathon'. I think nothing embodies this better than running itself, and running a marathon.Marcus Chew
What is the one sport, fitness or wellness trend you love, and how did you get started?
I was a competitive basketballer in my youth days and chanced upon running when I ‘accidentally’ signed up for a 42km full marathon instead of 21km in 2009. Now, running has become my go-to exercise. This was during my time in Adidas, when I wanted to sign up for the 21km Standard Chartered marathon. All the 21km slots were taken up, so I hesitantly signed up for the 42km one. But I’m glad I went for it – I clocked my first marathon at 5h 27 mins and it has changed me for the better.
What are its benefits, and what do you love about it?
There are two things I love about running. First, it is the best time for me to work and second, it is a great way to travel the world. Running helps clear my head and allows me to focus. From my experience, running – or exercising in general – makes the creative juices flow. I often create plans and develop my marketing strategies during my run, and I find that the best ideas come to me during my runs.
To be honest, the idea to host Lazada Run came from the very activity! Running has also taken me to many countries around the world, from Berlin to Tokyo to Cape Town and Croatia, to name a few. I like to go on what I call “run holidays”, where I make it a point to take a run in the city on day 1 of the itinerary as this allows me to suss out museums, restaurants and nice areas to check out. That’s how I came to discover a wonderful local restaurant hidden inside Hyde Park, London and a nice Argentinian restaurant in St. Petersburg, during the time I was earning my medals for the six major marathons around the world.
READ:
On Shoes are not just made for running – The best walking shoes for travel: Review
How Singapore's Ironman triathlon Ewin Teo conquers the blues and failed runs
Yoga instructor Roxanne Gan shares how yoga grounds her & what it can do for you
Men’s health and wellness: Top 5 tips to raise awareness of men issues
How often do you indulge in it, and with whom?
I organise my “run holiday” at least once a year, and they don’t necessarily have to include marathons. Else, I go on regular runs in Singapore at least three times a week.
Was there any point you wanted to give up? Why? How did you bounce back?
There is a running term known as ‘hit the wall’ where your body runs out of fuel and to conserve energy, it forces you to run slower. Your legs feel like bricks and it takes more effort than ever to complete the race. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from completing all the marathons I have, it’s to never stop. Just slow down and keep running, and things might work out even better. Oftentimes I just keep going and there are unexpected “second wins” when my timing ends up faster than a smooth run. Of course, this doesn’t always happen, but the sense of accomplishment is multiplied knowing I persevered and did it.
What gear/tools/attire do you need or wear when engaging in the sport or wellness activity?
I get all my running gear from Lazada – there’s so much to choose from and a wide range of brands too. We are the virtual home to many established brands on LazMall and have an ever-growing cross-border network that constantly expands on Lazada’s diverse assortment. My must-haves for marathons include my trusty Puma shoes, energy gels and my activity tracker. When gearing up for race day, I often train with extra load. My hydration belt comes in handy where I usually have 100Plus loaded up and I’ll pair it with my Puma dri-fit running top which helps me stay cool with the recent heat wave happening here in Southeast Asia.
Shop these items now:
Puma running shoes
Running Hydration Belt
Fitbit Inspire 3
Under Armour attire
Adidas attire
I go back to the basics because a good foundation sets the tone for success. Eat well before every race, and I ensure I am sufficiently hydrated all the time.Marcus Chew
Please share one thing you learned from this sports activity or what you wish others to discover.
I am a firm believer of the phrase “An active mind cannot exist with an inactive body”. This is why I said earlier that I work best when I am running. This is also why I hope everyone will discover this with the Lazada Run. We at Lazada want to ‘Add to Life’ to our customers, starting with fitness. Lazada Run has race categories for all fitness levels so anyone can sign up, no matter their age or level of fitness.
Could you share with us your life philosophy/insight that you have gained thanks to the said sports activity?
“Life is like a marathon”. I think nothing embodies this better than running itself, and running a marathon. You will experience different challenges in each marathon, and giving up is the easy way. But like I said earlier – never stop, just slow down, and you will eventually reach the finishing line. I live by this philosophy in my personal life and work, to always achieve what I set out to do. Trust me on this – persevere and you will always go far.
What do you love most about yourself?
When I start something, I always finish it. It’s all-in or nothing, and you need discipline to see it through. Lazada Run has never been done before – it is the first time an eCommerce platform is organizing a regional running event, and we are determined to make it a success. Beyond that, I look forward to a good challenge with the regional winners at the finale on 23 July!
What does your self-care routine look like?
I go back to the basics because a good foundation sets the tone for success. Eat well before every race, and I ensure I am sufficiently hydrated all the time. This is the baseline for ensuring a long-lasting active lifestyle.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
I currently have a Six Star Medal for completing all six Major marathons around the world. Running has been an important part of my life, helping me stay fit and challenge myself. I encourage everyone to try it out and there’s no better place to start than with Lazada Run Singapore. Sign-ups close on 30 June but more than a run, we have exciting activations for all participants to enjoy such as Voucher grabs, Add to Life arches, and Cart Dashes amongst many others. I’ll see you at the starting line!
