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FAST FRIENDS BOND IN RACE
The Straits Times
|May 12, 2025
Duo team up to win 50-59 age group at first Valkyrie Race, a fitness event for women
Seven years ago, Wong Lay Hoon and Elaine Lee were rivals competing in the same age category at the Spartan SEA Series in the Philippines.
But they quickly bonded over their shared passion for fitness and competed at various events together.
Their friendship also carried them through tough times. When Wong was looking to ease back into competition after undergoing knee surgery for a partial tear in her left anterior cruciate ligament two years ago, she asked Lee to partner her in the women's doubles event at the 2024 Hyrox Singapore.
On May 11, the pair took on another challenge together, emerging top in the 50-59 age group after completing the doubles valour category of the Valkyrie Race, an all-women fitness competition, in 50min 30sec.
Looking back on their friendship, fitness coach Wong, 53, said: "We were each other's competitors, but ultimately we became friends in the circuit. During Covid, we ran together, we did ultra-marathons together."
This story is from the May 12, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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