Latest news with #KimberleyYong
CNA
08-05-2025
- Health
- CNA
Her thyroid illness relapsed but instead of giving up, she launched an all-women's fitness race
When the inaugural Valkyrie Race flags off at OCBC Square this weekend, on May 10 and 11, it will be more than just a competition where participants pit their strength and endurance against each other. For its 29-year-old founder Kimberley Yong, the all-women's fitness race is a way to reach out to women struggling with self-doubt or feelings of inadequacy – and show them that they are stronger than they think. Designed to test endurance, strength and resilience, the Valkyrie Race challenges participants across multiple zones, each with structured challenges. In the Storm division, they tackle five zones in any order: Air bike (40kcals) and 10m balancing beam (with 15kg weight plate), row (500m) and ball toss (8kg), stationary bike (1,000m) and dumbbell lunges (60m, 10kg on each side), ski (500m) and dead-ball carry (25kg), and lateral burpees (30 repetitions) and torque tank push (100kg). The Valour course ups the ante with an added running segment. Even so, the race isn't just about physical grit. 'I wanted this race to inspire women who are struggling – maybe they're recovering from something, or just starting out a fitness journey,' said Yong, referencing the race's slogan, The Warrior Within. 'People often think that being a warrior means being physically strong. But to me, the deeper meaning behind it is about finding inner strength and pushing through hardship.' HER STRUGGLES WITH AN OVERACTIVE THYROID Having battled hyperthyroidism since she was 12 years old, Yong speaks from experience. Her mother and grandmother also struggled with thyroid issues. Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid – the butterfly shaped gland in front of the neck – produces too much thyroid hormones. This can accelerate the body's metabolism, triggering symptoms that interfere with daily life. According to the American Thyroid Association (ATA), women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems. Left untreated, hyperthyroidism can increase the risk of serious complications such as atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Yong was diagnosed after blacking out during a sprint on Sports Day in school. She also had other symptoms such as frequent bowel movements and excessive sweating. 'I was going to the toilet four to six times a day and sweating like crazy,' she recalled. 'My school uniform was soaked all the time. At first, my mum thought I was just being a kid, sweaty from running around.' Some people with hyperthyroidism may also experience fast heart rate, heat intolerance, hand tremors, weight loss despite a healthy appetite, anxiety, hair loss, sleep disruptions or changes in energy levels, according to the ATA. For over 10 years after her diagnosis, Yong was on medication to keep her condition in check. In 2021, she was able to go off medication. A year later, she embarked on a fitness journey, initially as a way to beat boredom during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'When everything opened up after Covid, I joined a gym and that community really pushed me,' she said. By 2024, Yong felt the strongest she had ever been, and had signed up to participate in races in Singapore and overseas. A RELAPSE SHOOK HER CONFIDENCE All that changed after a trip to Italy in September that year. She started having hand tremors, fast heart rate even while at rest or sleeping, and sudden weight loss of 5kg within two weeks. A medical check-up confirmed that her hyperthyroidism had returned. 'I cried,' Yong said. 'I know it's not a terminal condition, but I think the shock really hit me because the symptoms just came out of nowhere this time round.' The relapse dealt a heavy blow to the 29-year-old who had spent the previous two years building her strength and fitness. When she returned to the gym for the first time after her relapse, Yong was hit hard by how far her performance had declined. Her sudden drastic weight loss also led to a significant drop in her muscle mass. 'I felt like everything vanished overnight,' she told CNA Women. 'Anyone who is into fitness will know it's not easy. Even to run five seconds faster, it might take three months of training. 'Before I relapsed, I could do maybe 10 to 12 push-ups but after the relapse, I couldn't even do one – I felt incredibly sad.' FINDING STRENGTH AGAIN As she struggled with her thyroid symptoms and decline in fitness levels, Yong was filled with self-doubt. For a while, she questioned if she should continue with her fitness regimen at all. But instead of stepping back, she decided to move forward. With her doctor's approval, she competed in Hyrox Hong Kong and the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon. Note that it is advisable for people with medical conditions, including hyperthyroidism, to get the green light and advice from their healthcare team before starting or resuming an exercise regimen. In Yong's case, she took precautions during intensive exercise, such as not pushing herself beyond a certain heart rate limit to avoid over-taxing the heart. 'Physically, I was still able to do the races – it was just how fast or slow I was. So I went back to basics, and did my best in three weeks to rebuild strength I had lost,' Yong said. Upon crossing the finishing lines, she realised, 'Really, there's nothing you cannot do'. It is that same sense of empowerment that Yong hopes every participant in the Valkyrie Race will experience. The approximately 200 women taking part range from those in their twenties to a 56-year-old, all of whom started out at varying fitness levels. 'Before my relapse, I was so caught up with the superficial numbers, chasing the best timing, and so on. What true strength means to me now is staying strong even when you're feeling weak,' said Yong. Race participants can choose to tackle the various zones in any order, based on a flexible format that allows them to customise the experience based on their strengths and challenges. For Yong, who also runs marketing and events agency LoudHailer Media and is a certified personal trainer, Valkyrie Race is just the beginning of a larger vision. She hopes to build a supportive community where women from all walks of life feel empowered to embark on their own fitness journey and reclaim self-belief. There are also plans to bring Valkyrie Race overseas and start a podcast focused on women-related issues. As participants cross the finish line this weekend, Yong hopes they experience the 'feeling of overcoming'. 'Regardless of whether they were dealing with an illness or not, it's about overcoming something – either the challenge of the race itself, or the thought that they couldn't do it. But here they are, at the finish line.'
Associated Press
04-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Valkyrie Race launches first ever all-women race, with inaugural race held in Singapore
Valkyrie Race is proud to announce the first ever all-women's race, with its first destination held in Singapore. Designed to celebrate strength, resilience, and empowerment, the race is set to happen on 10th and 11th May 2025. Singapore, March 4, 2025 -- 4th March 2025 - Valkyrie Race is proud to announce the first ever all-women's race, with its first destination held in Singapore. Designed to celebrate strength, resilience, and empowerment, the race is set to happen on 10th and 11th May, 2025. Valkyrie Race invites women of all ages and backgrounds to take part in this race. Founded by Kimberley Yong, the inspiration for this journey was when she faced a major setback of her thyroid relapse, wiping out all her progress and starting from zero. She tapped onto the warrior within, bringing us to the evolution of Valkyrie Race. This race blends athleticism with empowerment, featuring a total of 5 different stations throughout the race course that will challenge participants to a range of strengths—from endurance, to agility, and even through teamwork. What makes Valkyrie Race unique would be the flexibility in allowing participants to plan and strategise their race based on which zones they would like to start from, tapping on their individuals strengths. Highlights of the Valkyrie Race: A Race Like No Other: The race is designed to test diverse capabilities through engaging challenges at multiple stations. From strength trials to mental resilience tests, each station encourages participants to embrace their full potential and strengths. A Celebration of Sisterhood: Valkyrie Race fosters community and connection among women, not just to compete, but to uplift and inspire one another. The Spirit of the Valkyrie Race: The race symbolizes courage, transformation, and victory—qualities inherent in every woman. More Than a Race, Valkyrie Race is a movement, one that celebrates the limitless potential of women while fostering a culture of support and encouragement. Participants will leave with more than medals— it's a celebration of resilience, sisterhood, and a renewed sense of strength. The Warrior Within, join us in making history here at Valkyrie Race. For more information, visit Race Model: Committed to making this race possible to a wide range of women,. the VAKYRIE RACE format is designed to be accessible, yet at the same time, challenging. This makes it ideal for participants of all fitness levels. The average finishing time is around 1 hour and 45 minutes. Registration is now open for two main categories; Individual and Doubles. How It Works The course consist of 6 runs and 5 zones. Participants must complete an 800m run before starting each zone. Within each zone, there will be one endurance station and one strength station, both of which must be completed in sequence. Racers can choose the order in which they complete the zones. Zones Zone 1: Air Bike and Balancing Beam Zone 2: Row and Ball Toss Zone 3: Stationary Bike and DB Lunges Zone 4: Ski and Deadball Carry Zone 5: Lateral Burpees and Torque Tank Push Contact Info: Name: Stanley Kan Email: Send Email Organization: Seconds Media Release ID: 89154483
