At 72, most people would be slowing down. Not Syed Moheeb.
The retired Malaysian CEO with a background in finance is on a mission – to complete “100 half marathons before he turns 80”. A veteran of both the corporate world and the running track, he has already logged 9 full marathons and 69 half marathons, with the upcoming Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon marking his 72nd.
Finding Purpose After Heart Surgery
Syed’s journey hasn’t been a smooth one. He has undergone two triple bypass surgeries – the first in 2009 and the second in 2018. Yet, instead of holding him back, both became turning points.
After his first bypass, he fulfilled a lifelong dream of travelling overland to Makkah by motorbike, crossing Thailand, Laos, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Lebanon. Following the second surgery, he set a different kind of pilgrimage – an inward one – and vowed to complete 100 half marathons before 80.
“Going through surgery forced me to pause and reflect on what truly matters,” he says. “It didn’t hold me back – it gave me a stronger sense of purpose.”
From 200 Metres to 21.1 Kilometres
His comeback started small – with 200-metre walks. “I didn’t allow myself to be overwhelmed,” he recalls. “Progress doesn’t happen overnight; it builds quietly through consistency.”
With patience, he extended those walks into runs, guided by a single goal: 100 halves by 80. That mission became his North Star, keeping him focused through every recovery milestone.
Training Smarter, Living Stronger
Having pushed too fast after his first surgery, Syed approached his second comeback differently – with discipline and meticulous tracking. He journalled his daily distances, monitored how he felt, and respected his limits.
Today, he runs about 50 km a week, down from 100 km in his 40s. His schedule includes a 16 km long run, a 10 km walk, a tempo run, and two easy runs – plus regular gym sessions to maintain leg strength. “At this age, muscular strength keeps you stable and injury-free,” he explains.
He trains mostly solo – not out of preference for solitude, but for focus. “Running alone helps me listen to my body and my thoughts. Every session becomes reflection time.”
A Mindset Built on Consistency
Syed sees strong parallels between running and leadership. “In business or on the track, you plan your work and work your plan,” he says. “Progress comes from showing up day after day.”
That consistency has paid off – his heart’s ejection fraction improved from 30 to 40 percent through sustained training. “Age or illness doesn’t define limits,” he insists. “They’re just part of your story.”
Looking Ahead
Next stop: his 72nd half marathon at Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2025. Beyond that, he hopes to tick off dream races in Gold Coast, Tokyo, London and Boston – maybe even one full marathon before 80.
“Running keeps me mentally sharp and connected,” he says. “If there’s one lesson it’s taught me, it’s that resilience isn’t about speed – it’s about the will to keep going, step by step.”
