Today we interview Ahmad Nabil. Formerly of Victoria School, now RJC. A ’seasoned’ top junior middle distance runner who has a penchant for running hard. Here’s the interview

Name: Ahmad Nabil Bin Mustafa

Height: 1.81m

Weight: 58kg

Date of Birth: 14th May 88

Coach: Mr Steven Quek

Personal Best: 800m - 1.57.48 Asean Schools 2004, 1500m - 4.12.92 S’pore Open 2005

1. What are future plans and long term goals?

   I currently don’t have any long term goals in mind because I would rather concentrate on my studies.

2. How did you get started in Track?

   When i was in primary 4, that was when i won my first gold in 400m in my school’s inter-house championships. The track coach then asked me to join them for one training to see whether i preferred it to my other CCA badminton.

3. What’s your training daily routine like? … an example perhaps

   Off-season, I train around 3 to 4 times per week at various places around Singapore such as Pandan reservoir, Mac Ritchie reservoir, CCAB and school track. I think this is meant to expose us to the different types of terrain there is and enable us to perform better on the actual day.

4. How do you balance studies and track training?

   I try to squeeze in studies in between my training days. It is especially hectic for me as I’m now in jc and have tons of stuff to do such as project work, training, homework etc. I try to minimize time spent on games and leisure activities and rest as much as possible.

5. Who are your inspiration to train harder and go the distance. Any role models?

   My inspirations are those who manage to balance between their studies and sports excellently especially my seniors in my school such as Du Yang, Jonah Tang, Renuka, Kit Fei and many others. I feel that if they can manage their time so well then I should be able to do so too.

6. Describe the greatest moment in athletics

   My first ASEAN school’s medal in 2004 when i got second in 800m race and also clocked a personal best.

7. In your track career, do you have any bad injuries. How do you cope with it? Any particular injury that hampered you?

   I did have a particular injury last year when i was in sec 4. It happened during one of my interval trainings at vjc. My hip was injured quite badly. The first thing that crossed my mind was that track nationals was in around 3 weeks time and that I could not afford to sustain an injury at that time. My coaches at VS helped me a lot during my recovery period, they emphasized that they would not expect much from me and that they understood. With their help i managed to recover a week before nationals and secured a double gold in the track finals later on.

8. What goes through your mind every time you run

   I always focus my attention on the runner in front of me and try my best to keep up with him and once I am on par with him, I focus my attention on the next runner in front and so on.

9. Any advice for young athletes?

   Don’t take up Track and Field or Cross-Country unless you are mentally prepared to face the challenges that comes with being an athlete

Thank you Nabil for your participation