1. 《LIFE+》Magazine
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  3. Summer 2023 Issue
  4. A runner's mental game
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    11 July 2023
    In Chinese culture, girls from wealthy families are often nicknamed “Ms Thousand”, a term that emphasises their parents’ fortune rather than their own qualities. However, here in Hong Kong, some ladies are redefining the label as superwomen who strive for their goals with their remarkable resilience.
    "When I run alone, I find myself detached from the external world and immersed in solitude. I can only hear my own breathing and the pitter-patter of my footsteps. It is like a healing experience."

    Carman Tam, a frequent marathon runner, works as a manager in the Finance Department of Chinachem Group during the day, with hectic duties including budgeting, analysing data, and producing financial reports on a regular basis. Yet, she chooses to engage in painstaking training to build her perseverance every night. “While most people would relax after work, I would practise running and treat it as a faith journey,” says Carman.

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    Nonetheless, in the early days, her health was affected by GERD due to her failure to balance work, training, and life. “When the goal is set, I have to think about how to attain it. One minute on stage takes ten years of practice. I spent almost a decade to understand how to strike a balance.”

    Photo courtesy of Carman Tam

    Having the build of an athlete, Carman has been active in various sports since she was young – she was a strong swimmer at secondary school, and became a hockey player after entering the workforce. About ten years ago, she suffered severe injuries and was advised by her therapist to do more exercises to aid her recovery. Jogging was what she turned to and, unexpectedly, a new chapter of her life began. “I enjoy running a lot. I could run 10 km with ease not long after I started my rehabilitation regimen, sparking my interest in participating in a half marathon race. It is meaningful to set a target that is beyond your reach,” says Carman. With a will to fight, she finished her debut race within two hours.

    Photo: Carman won the 2nd runner up of her division in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2018

    Photo courtesy of Carman Tam

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    Since then, Carman has participated in numerous local and overseas races across regions such as Korea, the US and Australia. This year, for the third time, she completed the full marathon race of Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon (SCHKM) under 3 hours 30 minutes. According to the tradition of SCHKM, local female runners who cross the finish line under 3 hours 30 minutes will each be presented an incentive prize money of $1,000 and thus are commonly known as “Ms Thousand” (the threshold for men runners is 3 hours).

    As SCHKM celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, the prize money was raised to $10,000. However, Carman’s aim was not to win the “Ms Super Thousand” title, but to use the local race as a warm-up for the Tokyo Marathon held three weeks later. In the end, her strategy worked, and she successfully finished the run in Japan with a personal best time of 2 hours 59 minutes.

    Photo courtesy of Carman Tam

    The attitude Carman displays on running tracks is no different from that in the workplace. “I think it is necessary to approach things with earnestness, whether it be with people or at work. Don’t give up too easily. Be self-demanding.”

    Training for runners does not merely push them beyond their physical limit, but it also enhances their spiritual force. Carman often encourages herself with the slogan of a sports brand – It’s what you do in the dark that puts you in the light. When she can hardly withstand the training load, she talks to and encourages herself to keep going. “Running is a lifelong matter.”

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