Nicole Low divulges her secrets to staying on top of her game
by Chrystal Chan
Nicole Low can run 2.4km in 8 minutes and 40 seconds, which is almost two minutes faster than the time required to achieve an Outstanding grade for male runners her age in the national physical fitness performance assessment.
It’s a far cry from when she was in primary school and hated running with a passion. It didn’t help that she was a chubby kid. Life fortunately took a healthy turn when she entered secondary school.
The final-year NTU sport science and management student was determined to join her school’s netball team, which required a certain level of aerobic fitness.
After many laps around Bedok Reservoir, she made it into the netball team but it was her aptitude for distance running that caught the eye of the school’s track and field coach.
“At the annual sports day, I came in first, ahead of the rest of the school runners. Perhaps it was off-season for the team, so they weren’t at their peak. But the coach came up to me after that to ask if I wanted to join the team,” she says.
Even though Nicole declined then, she eventually joined the running team in Victoria Junior College, where she received proper training for the first time. It all paid off in 2019, when she broke the national under-23 10km women’s track record with a time of 38 minutes and 18 seconds.
Run on, Nicole!
1) Lemon candy
I take one to keep myself awake during classes. It’s more useful than you think!
2) Banana
I keep one handy for a pre-workout boost. It’s the perfect fuel for running because it gets digested very quickly instead of just sitting in your stomach.
3) Running shoes
I am a New Balance ambassador, so most of my training gear is from New Balance. I swear by the 1080s for helping me go the extra mile when I run. Not only are the shoes durable, their midsoles are soft and cushy, and provide great energy return.
4) Earbuds
Music keeps me going, literally. I rely on it to occupy my mind on my runs. Without it, I probably wouldn’t be able to cover such long distances.
5) Portable charger
As I run five to six times a week and work out in the gym four times a week, I usually return to my hall room only late at night. This powerbank is a life saver.
6) Shower foam
A must-have when I work out in between lessons.
7) Water bottle
Sometimes I’ll take a type of drink containing BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) in between training sessions to help with recovery.
8) Recovery spray
I use this mostly on my calves and thighs, the areas that I focus on during my workouts. It helps my muscles recover faster and I ache less the next day.
This story was published in the Jan-Mar 2021 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
