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Actor-host Paul Foster finds joy in training for half-marathon

SINGAPORE - By his own admission, actor-host Paul Foster is almost a nocturnal creature. With most of his work commitments taking place later in the day, it also means the 35-year-old tends to exercise in the evening or at night.

Paul Foster has never run more than 16lm previously but decided to take the half-marathon plunge when Standard Chartered approached him to represent them as a runner. Photo: Stanley Ho

Paul Foster has never run more than 16lm previously but decided to take the half-marathon plunge when Standard Chartered approached him to represent them as a runner. Photo: Stanley Ho

SINGAPORE - By his own admission, actor-host Paul Foster is a nocturnal creature. With most of his work commitments taking place later in the day, it also means the 35-year-old tends to exercise in the evening or at night.

But he will have to adjust to waking up in the wee hours of dawn this Sunday morning (Dec 4), where he will take on the challenge of running his first-ever half-marathon at the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS) 2016.

“It’s been on my radar (to do 21km) for a while, to be honest,” the former Singapore rugby player told TODAY in a recent interview. “I’ve always been into fitness, always enjoyed playing sports growing up and going outdoors.

“I can run but I never really had, not necessarily the motivation, but the kind of opportunity, to really prepare. It’s not so much doing the run; it’s all the training and preparation you have to do before it and that’s dedication, a commitment.”

Foster, who does CrossFit two to three times a week and also plays social netball, decided to take the plunge when Standard Chartered approached him to represent them as a runner. His longest-ever run prior to that was 16km, though he has done a fair number of 10km runs for charity.

“For me, I’ve found around anywhere between 10 to 14km, my body gets a bit like ‘whoa, you’ve gone past your limit’,” he said. “It’s (about) finding the right pace again and mentally pushing through to override that kind of physical alarm bells… once you get past that, it’s okay.”

To get himself in shape, Foster has been undergoing a customised training programme since August under the watchful eye of former triathlete Ben Pullman at Coached Singapore. This includes incorporating a variety of runs four to five times weekly in his schedule.

He is currently shooting two programmes, but Foster admits his main challenge is adjusting to a morning routine, with race flag-off at 4.30am.

“It’s been a fun journey so far and I do look forward to the actual race day (but) not so much the time because I am not a morning person,” he chuckled. “I am almost a nocturnal being in that sense; it’s easier to run at night, energy and time-wise.

“I need to start switching it (training) back to the morning, to that feeling - that might be the hardest thing.”

Foster tries to vary his running routes as well by running “anywhere”, which has reaped an unexpected bonus.

“I’ve learnt more about my neighbourhood, Boon Keng,” he laughed. “I run up to Balestier, I did all the way from Boon Keng along the river, I can hit the Marina Barrage… I know I can get home at some point!”

There are “not so good” days, but Foster reminds himself that he is “accountable” to those who have backed him, like Standard Chartered, his coach, Under Armour, LiveFit Asia and Fitbit.

“There are a lot of people who have vouched for and supported me and I want to return the favour of commitment and being authentic and actually putting it to the line,” he asserted.

“I don’t want to be half-arsed about it, one thing I really hate is people who give excuses… I believe if you dedicate enough and try your best, you might not hit your goal (but you won’t let yourself down).”

Foster’s aim is to finish in 2h30min, although he won’t “kill” himself over it.

“I think the main thing is to enjoy the process, get out there and have fun,” he said. “I want to be still able to smile and talk to people (after the race).”

A full marathon is on the cards for Foster, possibly next year. Meanwhile, he is urging those who do not run to seriously consider doing so.

“Everyone can run,” he said. “You just need a pair of shoes, they don’t even have to be expensive. It’s great for fitness, health and well-being, and relatively easy to do.

“You’d never know where it takes you - literally and figuratively!”

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