Sponsor a Ho, Noel Ho!

Chilling at Cornwall Park

My first time running 10km!

My first 21km race! Penang Bridge Marathon 2009 =)

I have never been an athletic person. Running around like a headless chicken in my pre-teen years does not count as sporty or athletic ;P Anyone who knows me, will know that i'd given up the active sports lifestyle for computer games, tv and movies. So taking up running has actually been a big challenge for me.

My first run was a mere 10km in June 2009, during the Standard Chartered KL Marathon. I semi-trained for that over a month and managed to complete it in 1hour 44minutes. Needless to say, my legs and knees were killing me after the run. I did a few more 10-12km runs after that, and finally took the half marathon leap in November 2009 when I ran the Penang Bridge Marathon. I managed to make it under my goal of 3 hours 30min with 14 minutes to spare =D

In 2010, I started the year with a 30KM bang by doing the New Balance 30KM run, organized by PaceSetter's Malaysia. Unfortunately lack of training meant that I finished at a pathetic 5+hours! I was the second last person to finish! =( sob sob!

Anyway, I've started training seriously for the Auckland marathon and am on track to making it under my 6 hour target! I am hopeful of completing it under 5 hours =D

So, no excuses for all you people out there! If I can get off my ass and do something like this, so can you! Eat healthy and exercise often for a long and happy life! =D

And as an added incentive for me to run faster, I am trying to raise awareness of heart disease and get people to sponsor me as I run my first full 42km marathon. This issue is very close to home for me, because my dad passed away due to heart failure. He was taken way before his time because he did not take care of his health. I hope my effort to complete the Adidads Auckland Marathon encourages people to make a change in their lives.

My goal for the fund raising is a mere NZD1000. That is roughly NZD24 per kilometre that I will be running =) All the money will be donated to the NZ Heart Foundation. So grab those credit cards and spare a few dollars and get that warm fuzzy feel good feeling.

A great big heartful thanks to all those who donated, especially those generous folks who donated extra dosh and sponsored a full km or two!! =D

http://www.heartracer.org.nz/NoelHo/

Spread the word far and wide! Sponsor a Ho, Noel Ho! =D

And now, the default message that was created by the Heart Racer website =D

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Each day 16 New Zealanders die as a result of coronary heart disease. That's one person every 90 minutes. And many of these deaths are premature and preventable.

Cardiovascular disease (heart, stroke & blood vessel disease) is the single leading cause of death in New Zealand. It causes 40 percent of all deaths annually in our country - making it more deadly than all forms of cancer.

The nature of who is affected by it is changing. New research shows that young adults in their 20s and 30s are being admitted to hospital for heart attacks more than ever before, and that this age group is dying at a faster rate than people of the same age in previous generations. Much of this change is due to unhealthy lifestyles - poor eating habits, lack of physical activity and being a smoker.

But the good news is that many risk factors for heart disease are preventable, if people make healthy lifestyle choices.

So, help me as I join the race to beat heart disease.

I've signed up as a Heart Racer to raise money to support the Heart Foundation. By donating through my webpage you will be helping the Heart Foundation continue its vital work in research, cardiac rehabilitation, education programmes and resources.

I'll do all the hard work (train for and complete the event), but I really need you to make a difference to the hearts of New Zealanders.

So, please could you sponsor me?

Select the "Make a donation" button below. It's simple, fast and totally secure and the money goes directly to the Heart Foundation's bank account.

If you live in New Zealand your donation is tax deductible and a receipt will be issued.

So please help me today! And pass it on to your family and friends!

Many thanks for your support