An interview with Emelyne Teo

What is it about running that appeals to you?

Many people might find running a boring sport to partake in, I don't disagree. But finishing a long run requires great discipline and perseverance, and at the end of it all, there's a really great sense of satisfaction too. That's what makes it all worthwhile for me.

What inspired you to first go running?

I can't exactly remember what got me first started running; perhaps it's my passion for endurance sports that encouraged me to try out running as a leisure activity.

Being as young as you are (21?), how do you balance between having a social life, studying, working and training for marathons?

I think I am very fortunate to have a group of supportive teammates who make up a huge part of my social circle. We train and have fun together, allowing me to balance my social life and training. Study-wise, I would say that running is a good form of de-stress. It allows me to take a mental break and refreshes my mind. Having said that, training for marathons requires lots of mileage, which can be time-consuming. It's very important to prioritize my time accordingly and make sure that my work is done before going for training.

If you had just one hour of freedom a day, which would you choose: Boyfriend, homework or training?

While I am truly passionate about running and training, I believe that there is something more than living with passion in life. Personally, I cherish the time I spend with my loved ones the most, and therefore given the options, I would choose to spend my one hour of freedom with my boyfriend; but not specifically. Expanding on the options, I love spending time with my family and friends too. They're a huge part of my success and happiness in life.