RunSohFast Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Choo Ling Er gives us our most inspiring episode yet! After a near death bike crash in 2010 that resulted in 2 broken legs and a blood clot in her brain, Ling Er has embraced her second chance at life to the fullest - becoming Singapore's greatest ultra-endurance athlete ever. From 2018-2023, her 9hr 38min Ironman performance was the best by any Singaporean - man or woman.

Overcoming an unfortunate race week bug, Romaine raced 2 season's best at the Taiwan Open 800m and 1500m, tentatively earning a place on Singapore's team for the World Road Running Championships (Mile).

After over 10 years with Coach Elangovan and Trackstar Athletics, Romaine embraced a new coaching setup and training philosophy at the start of 2026 when she joined Coach Khai and Oldham Athletics. We explore a typical week of training with Oldham middle distance, and more.

Kicking off the podcast with the 2025 Singapore National Marathon bronze medalist, Darren Chong! A PE teacher by day and athlete by night, Darren has been within the top ranks in Singapore's competitive running scene for many years. His preference to maintain a low profile earns him the underdog label at best, but more often means he does not make most people's radars in podium predictions or product seeding opportunities. Introducing one of Singapore's fastest teachers!

Follow Rui Yong and Romaine for more sibling squabbles: @runsohfast @vroomaine

Remember Darren by following him: @darrenchongsh

0:00 Introducing the world's first brother-sister runners podcast

5:58 Introducing Darren

7:57 When did Darren pick up running

9:13 When did Darren meet Romaine/RY

14:59 The lore behind The Forgotten Man

19:40 How Romaine won the Run Singapore Rankings National Marathon Championship prediction contest

24:02 Darren recounts walking at 2024 Singapore Marathon

31:00 "I'm done with the marathon" > Signs up for Gold Coast Marathon the next day

33:23 Why do the marathon?

35:45 Buildup to 2025 Singapore Marathon

37:37 What Darren's recovery runs look like (and what not to do)

39:47 2025 Gold Coast Marathon race + buildup recap

51:27 Darren's first time representing Singapore

53:47 Why do you aspire to qualify for the SEA Games?

58:00 The Redemption Arc: 2025 Singapore Marathon

59:12 What was different about your buildup?

1:01:38 Why Romaine and Darren picked RY to win the half and full marathon double

1:02:20 Would Romaine and Darren's picks have changed if Shaun and Richard ran?

1:04:55 2025 Singapore Marathon recap: Darren's POV

1:12:28 Who has the most accurate data points for Singapore marathoners?

1:14:30 Darren's rituals to get into the zone

1:15:09 Darren's emotions after podiuming at the Singapore Marathon

1:16:44 What did Aaron say to RY while passing him at the Singapore Marathon?

1:20:40 Did Darren and Aaron speak during the race?

1:21:10 Would you rather: Marathon or HYROX?

1:22:00 HYROX: Fad or here to stay?

1:26:53 2026 Singapore Marathon: Who's your Wild Card?

We host our first non-distance running guest! National Record Holder Kerstin Ong joins the pod and recounts her journey as a full-time influencer funding her athletics career and setting national records on the side.

This episode provides a deep dive into every training session of a record breaking season that rewrote Singapore running history. In 2021, Soh Rui Yong achieved the supposedly impossible - breaking a long distance Singapore national record in sweaty Singapore, at a run-down Kallang Practice Track where potholes added a cross country element to any track race.

Guest host Amir takes the mic and puts Rui Yong in the hot seat for this one!

3 years ago, Amir secretly applied to study at the University of Western Australia without the knowledge of his parents. That was a big step in breaking his first national record, and making the 2025 SEA Games athletics team.

Follow the journey Down Under with Amir: @b4rkawi

Hosts: @runsohfast and @vroomaine

Follow the GOAT for more Singapore distance running insights and training advice: @runsohfast

Featuring Dr Dan Bulbrook as guest host: @what.dan.runs

Co-Host Romaine is on competition leave, follow along and wish her good luck at the Taiwan Open 800m and 1500m: @vroomaine

Apologies for Aaron's video and audio cutting out in the previous episode. Thankfully, Soh Rui Yong is a genius. You can now watch the whole thing here, thanks to the backup file being found in the Studio cloud. Enjoy.

Follow Rui Yong and Romaine for more sibling squabbles: @runsohfast @vroomaine

Keep up with Aaron and remind him to use a computer, not an iPad for his next podcast: @aaronjustintwj

Follow Rui Yong and Romaine for more sibling squabbles: @runsohfast @vroomaine

Keep up with Aaron and remind him not to anyhow grab people: @aaronjustintwj

Follow Rui Yong and Romaine for more sibling squabbles: @runsohfast @vroomaine

Keep up with Shing Ling and remind her to take her gels: @sh1ngl1ng_