Member: Vivian Lee
Before: could not even do a 15min slow jog
After: 10km at 56mins (within 6 months), Half Marathon at 2h 16mins.
Personal Trainer: Sean Tan (Fitness First Platinum - Millenia Walk)

Sean changed my life…..

I started training with Sean in Aug 2008 with simple goals- get fit and look nice aesthetically. Shortly after, I brought a magazine and asked Sean “can you make my abs look like that?” Sean gave me an honest answer and said it is possible, only if I eat clean and leave the rest to him. This started our training partnership. Over time, I became more sculpted and my fitness level improved.

My life changing experience however, only began when I had a string of questions for Sean on his sport-Triathlon - and subsequent questions on endurance training. My response was “Wow! Can I attain endurance too?” With that I told Sean my two new but small goals – strength and endurance. Little did I know that those two seemingly non ambitious words would change my life!

Endurance included running, which I had conveniently forgotten. You are looking at a 40 year old mom who had never run in her entire life. When Sean first got me to run a mere short 15 minutes on the treadmill at a snail crawling speed, I thought I was going to die!!!!

Miraculously I survived it and guess what, I ran again and yet again… Just when I got comfortable thinking to myself “…sure I can run 15-20 minutes, no sweat”, Sean comes up with “so since you can run 5km, it means you can run 10km and if you can run 10km, it means you can run 21km”. At that time, it was a ludicrous idea to me and I just simply asked him, “Are you crazy”? Sean’s reply was “trust me” and I did. On top of that, Sean said I could clock sub 60mins for the 10km and sub 2h20mins for the half marathon, by end of the year. Knowing and trusting Sean to be in this partnership, I embarked on this exciting and challenging training journey.

Sean gave me a run plan for the half marathon and told me to “trust the plan and train the plan”. As Sean had predicted, within 6 months of training I managed to run and complete the 10km race clocking 56mins. 2 months later, I ran and completed my first half marathon at 2h16mins.

I have now trained with Sean for over a year and many have asked me, “why do you continue to train with Sean?” Simple, it is a partnership. Sean can and will equip me with the training and conditioning to attain my ever growing list of fitness goals. So will I stop training with Sean? Only when he ceases to be a trainer.

You (Sean) have been and still are a great trainer and I have thoroughly enjoyed working out with you. I’ve learned so much from you, especially about discipline and commitment as you are a living example. Thank you for everything!

Today, running and training has become a lifestyle for me and the best part is that I am having fun. On a vanity note, the additional perks are getting a shaped and sculpted physique.

Guess what Sean has lined up for me next? Yes, a full marathon, swim, bike (another interesting story) and a triathlon perhaps!!! This time I no longer think he is crazy; I simply trust Sean and just train with Sean. - Vivian Lee, Fitness First member