Running mums find strength, motivation in training

In over a decade doing triathlons, Michelle Seyffert and Preeti Mohan have met many women who were hesitant to try the sport as they were worried that they would not be able to keep up.

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To make it less daunting, the Singapore permanent residents started the Singapore Women's Triathlon Club in 2019, aimed at creating a safe and encouraging space for beginners and triathletes of all levels.

Since then, the club has grown to more than 500 members on Facebook. It organises training sessions and camps, as well as clinics, while also serving as a platform to talk about issues women face in sport. These can range from optimising training and racing around their menstrual cycles to dealing with "mum guilt".

Preeti, who is an engineer, said: "Having that sort of a community where we encourage each other and tell them, 'Don't worry, you can start slow', that has been a very important part of how we train.

"And as each woman progresses, she realises, 'Oh, actually, I can do this.' Then there's encouragement from the group saying, 'Don't worry, let's do it together'. So there's a lot more community spirit and bonding among the women."

That same spirit has carried over to the Great Eastern Women's Run (GEWR), an annual all-women's race, which has become a regular fixture for the duo.