Skip to main content

iTAB Star, Aug 2022

Ivan Jia from Melbourne, Australia.

“Make it part of your life, that’s the most important part.”

iTAB Star Ivan Jia took up running to help lose weight and kick start a new chapter in his life after moving from China to Melbourne, Australia as part of his studies.

‘It was incredible, you could see the Sydney Opera House and the bridge, and the kids all volunteering along the road. It makes you feel they are actually running with you. That was incredible.’

Ivan, on running the Sydney Half Marathon.

Hey Ivan!

Hey iTAB!


So, why do you run?

I started running in 2018 when I was first came to Australia for study. I was just trying to have a new start and using running to be part of my life, and I also wanted to lose some weight, that’s important. So yeah, that’s why I started running in the beginning and then I decided to just keep running. I don’t know I what I can achieve, but I’m pretty happy with myself right now.


Best thing about running?

Well, it’s not only for the practice, or running with your buddy or something. It also gives you a way that you can actually talk to yourself or reflect on something, like sometimes I will just think about some of my work. I can just focus on things. So yeah, it’s actually good way to spend time with yourself, it just helps to free your mind and is very relaxing.


What’s your greatest running achievement?

Probably running 32k which is the furthest I’ve ever run right now. It was in Beijing where I ran round the city link road. So that was very impressive for me, I never thought I could do that. So yeah, that’s the biggest achievement for me.


When you get tired what stops you from quitting?

Normally I just listen to music, and don’t think about how long is left till home.


How many events have you run?

Four or five, including one in China. So yeah, I would love to go to different kinds of events, especially to see different cities to see new places so it’s very interesting for me.


How was your Sydney Half Marathon experience?

It was incredible. It’s not only the people around you, it’s also the views   because you can see the Sydney Opera House and the bridge and very famous landmarks. And the kids all volunteering along the road, giving you water, that was very motivational as well. It makes you feel they are actually running with you. That was incredible.


What’s that feeling like when you cross the finish line?

I was so tired, but I’ll also say a sense of achievement because you just finish the race and 21k is not easy. So, it’s definitely an achievement, and you can feel that you are the best.


How important is the medal?

That’s the record that you’ve finished the race so it definitely means a lot to me. In that moment it feels like the Olympic Games, you know, when you get the actual medal. Yeah, so it’s pretty cool, I think.


What advice do you have for first-time runners?

Don’t focus too much on the pace or the speed, just run as far as you feel comfortable with and don’t push yourself. And make it part of your life, that’s the most important part. If you want to give up, just remember why you started, that’s how I motivated myself at the beginning.

 

Do you belong to a running club?

Not in Melbourne, but back in China I was in a small running group. I also helped to coach them to help tell the people how to build up their experience and to have some fun.

 

What are the benefits of joining a running club?

Not in Melbourne, but back in China I was in a small running group. I also helped to coach them to help tell the people how to build up their experience and to have some fun.

 

What made you get an iTAB?

The event website mentioned you can add an iTAB, to record your run with your name and time and put it on the back of the medal. I thought that was pretty cool, so I just got it. It’s very cool actually.

‘It gives you a way that you can actually talk to yourself or reflect on something, it just helps to free your mind and is very relaxing.’

Ivan, on the benefits of running.

How was your Sydney Half Marathon experience?

It was incredible. It’s not only the people around you, it’s also the views   because you can see the Sydney Opera House and the bridge and very famous landmarks. And the kids all volunteering along the road, giving you water, that was very motivational as well. It makes you feel they are actually running with you. That was incredible.


What’s that feeling like when you cross the finish line?

I was so tired, but I’ll also say a sense of achievement because you just finish the race and 21k is not easy. So, it’s definitely an achievement, and you can feel that you are the best.


How important is the medal?

That’s the record that you’ve finished the race so it definitely means a lot to me. In that moment it feels like the Olympic Games, you know, when you get the actual medal. Yeah, so it’s pretty cool, I think.


What advice do you have for first-time runners?

Don’t focus too much on the pace or the speed, just run as far as you feel comfortable with and don’t push yourself. And make it part of your life, that’s the most important part. If you want to give up, just remember why you started, that’s how I motivated myself at the beginning.

 

Do you belong to a running club?

Not in Melbourne, but back in China I was in a small running group. I also helped to coach them to help tell the people how to build up their experience and to have some fun.

 

What are the benefits of joining a running club?

Not in Melbourne, but back in China I was in a small running group. I also helped to coach them to help tell the people how to build up their experience and to have some fun.

 

What made you get an iTAB?

The event website mentioned you can add an iTAB, to record your run with your name and time and put it on the back of the medal. I thought that was pretty cool, so I just got it. It’s very cool actually.

 

Thanks Ivan, you’re a star!

If you want to join Ivan and run the Sydney Half Marathon enter below:

Sydney Half Marathon