Jo Chua's Transformation: From First 5km to Running Marathon's

When Jo Chua started running last year, she couldn't manage 5 kilometres. "My 10-year-old son runs faster than me," she laughs. But she quickly fell in love with the sport, calling it therapeutic, and knew she needed a structured plan to keep it up long term. 

A First Marathon, and an Early Warning Sign

Jo came to UFIT Singapore with a clear, simple question: what did she actually need to do to prepare for a marathon, an event she'd never attempted before? During deep dive with Podiatrist Elliot during her Advanced Running Assessment, Jo mentioned an odd niggle in her knee.

The assessment picked up a slight in-toeing on Jo's left side compared to her right, along with signs that she was struggling to stabilise her hips while running. Off the back of that, she was advised to prioritise strength training, to help her strengthen her glutes and adductors, to build the stability she'd need to run safely and well. She then began training with her PT Kieran, and they got to work.

Building Strength With a Coach Who Explains the Why

Jo has been training with Kieran Benson, one of UFIT's personal trainers, for the past eight months. When she's in Singapore, sessions are built around what she can realistically do in the gym alongside her running mileage.

For someone who'd never lifted before, strength training was an unfamiliar world. "When I first started, I didn't know what strength training was about," Jo admits. "I was negotiating with him all the time. Do you know how heavy is this?" What made the difference, she says, was Kieran's patience and his habit of explaining the purpose behind every single move: whether it was there to make her stronger or to protect her from injury.

That approach, built on personal training tailored to her as a runner rather than a generic strength programme, is exactly what turned an ad hoc gym habit into something Jo could sustain.

Sustainable Results

Over the course of her training, Jo has hit milestones most runners work years toward:

• First half marathon: completed
• First full marathon: completed SCSM in December 2025
• London Marathon: completed roughly four months later, with an 11-minute personal best

That kind of improvement in such a short window doesn't happen by accident. It's the product of consistent strength work, a gait issue caught and corrected early, and a coaching relationship that kept her accountable in and out of Singapore.

Beyond the Finish Line

"UFIT has changed me, definitely beyond physical performance," Jo says. "It's easy to find a reason not to do something. The first step is just showing up." That mindset extends to her three kids. After her first marathon, a friend's mum texted to say her sons had been bragging about her time. "That's the biggest compliment," Jo says. "It's about showing them the transformation, the grit, the consistency, and that it pays off."

Jo's story shows that catching small issues early, pairing strength training with running, and staying consistent can take you from a beginner to a marathon PB. Explore personal training or an Advanced Running Consultation at UFIT Singapore to build the same foundation.