Singapore #Fitspo of the Week: Ian Ang

Life goes beyond the digits on the scale and your body is capable of so much more! Yahoo’s #Fitspo of the Week series is dedicated to inspirational men and women in Singapore leading healthy and active lifestyles. Have someone to recommend? Hit Cheryl up on Instagram or Facebook!

Name: Ian Ang (@ian_acy)
Age: 37
Height: 1.65m
Weight: 54kg
Occupation: Airline pilot
Status: Married
Diet: No strict diet; generally eats everything in moderation; has a weak spot for fried chicken wings and chocolates
Training: Typically 1-2 hours a day of either swimming, cycling, running or going to the gym

Q: What kind of sports did you do as a kid?

A: I was relatively active as a kid but never really committed to any sport until I was 17 when I took up rock climbing in polytechnic. I used to take part in small sports climbing competitions but I was never really good at it. The sport has boomed over the past few years and it’s great to see so many people enjoying it now.

When did you first hear about triathlon?

I first knew about triathlon when I was a kid and my brother told me about this Ironman race in Hawaii. He was referring to the Ironman World Championship that takes place in Kona, Hawaii every year. I was pretty impressed that people could actually complete stuff like this in a day.

When did you actually get into it?

I picked up triathlon only about six years ago, but got hooked on it ever since. My first triathlon was the Cold Storage Singapore Triathlon 2012 (Olympic distance) and I swam breaststroke the whole way, completed the ride on a borrowed bike, and managed to finish the race in quite a decent time. That evening, I binged-watched hours of Ironman races on YouTube and decided that I wanted to do an Ironman. It was crazy!

What do you think is your best achievement in triathlon?

My best achievement was probably completing my first Ironman in Zurich (2013) after doing my first triathlon only 10 months earlier. I went into it only hoping to survive and complete the race in one piece.

The whole experience was beautiful and inspiring. After about 13 hours of racing, I crossed the finish line with the biggest smile on my face and into the arms of my beautiful wife who was waiting the whole day for me to “become an Ironman”. (laughs)

What do you like about triathlons?

I love the challenge and the process in preparing for a race. I love the atmosphere, the goosebumps you feel just before the race starts, the discipline required to race strategically and not blow out within the first 30 minutes of the race, and the mental fight you have with yourself throughout this long, long day.

Has becoming a dad changed anything about your approach towards triathlons?

I still enjoy racing and have brought my son Oliver along for a couple of events since he was born. There are definitely changes you have to make when you have kids, but I think it has just made me more aware and careful with my time management. I generally sleep earlier and get up earlier for my workouts now. I’ve also tried to do my longer workouts while I’m away for work.

What are some of the misconceptions that society has about fitness now?

I think there are still a lot of people who are afraid to take the first step to try a sport or activity. It could be a cultural thing where most people are very conscious on what others might think; whether it is age, weight or gender.

Why is it important to lead an active lifestyle?

Other than better health and mobility, I think sport has a positive impact on a person’s mental health. Just being outside and taking in heaps of fresh air gives you a good break from the stress at work or at home.

Are you satisfied/contented with your body now and why?

I am usually happy with how I look; although a bit more hair on my head would be a bonus.

Do you get any comments about your body?

Since I’ve gone into triathlons, people usually just say I’m really small sized.

Did you ever feel not confident about your body before?

I’ve been blessed to have been pretty active all this time. I may have been underweight as a kid but I’ve never really dwelled on that “label” or let it affect me. I’ve always been small though, and I think that shaped certain aspects of my character while growing up; such as being more confident when interacting with people.