BY day, Josh Chin teaches secondary school students, but by evening, the 38-year-old from Lundu chases marathon dreams, transforming a weight-loss journey into a lifestyle built on discipline, balance and perseverance.
The secondary school teacher at SMK Sematan has spent more than a decade balancing lesson plans with marathon training, proving that extraordinary achievements are often built through ordinary routines repeated consistently.
His social media biography says it all: “Non-elite runner. Run more to eat more.”
The phrase may sound light-hearted, but behind it lies a philosophy shaped by years of perseverance, setbacks and self-discovery.
“I know I’m still far from being an elite runner. I follow many elite runners who can finish a full marathon in under four hours or even three hours.
“I don’t compare myself to them. I simply enjoy running,” Chin said with a laugh.
The second half of his tagline reflects another side of his story. Growing up, Josh struggled with obesity. Before graduating from university in 2012, he weighed close to 100kg.
Today, he has maintained a healthy weight of around 63kg for the past few years.
“I still love food, especially cakes and sweet things. So instead of giving up the things I enjoy, I found a balance.
“Running should add joy to your life, not take it away. Life is meant to be enjoyed,” he said.
A journey that started with a graduation photo
Interestingly, Josh never started running with dreams of marathons or medals.
His first motivation was simply to look better in his graduation photograph.
Knowing it would be a once-in-a-lifetime memory, he decided to lose weight by walking before gradually progressing to running. Within about a year, he shed approximately 40kg.
The transformation surprised many of his friends and family, but more importantly, it introduced him to a healthier lifestyle that would stay with him for years.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted those routines. Like many others, Josh spent long periods teaching from home. Physical activity became limited and he gradually regained almost 20kg.
Soon after, he experienced another personal setback when his beloved dog passed away.
“I wasn’t just a little sad. I was quite depressed. I felt like I had lost a part of my life,” he said.
Searching for a way to regain balance, he returned to running with renewed determination. This time, he approached it differently.
He bought his first Garmin watch, began studying training methods and immersed himself in learning how to become a smarter runner.
“I started doing my own research, learning how to run better and faster. From that day onwards, I managed to make it a habit” he said.
Learning through technology
Chin never had a professional coach. Instead, he became his own student.
Instagram, TikTok and YouTube became his classroom, where he saved useful training videos and tips for future reference. Today, technology plays an even bigger role in his development.
After every training session, Josh uploads his running data and asks ChatGPT to analyse his performance.
“I’ll ask ChatGPT how I can improve that run or that training,” he said.
The combination of curiosity and consistency has allowed him to continuously refine his approach without losing sight of the simple joy of running.
Respecting the marathon
Chin’s first official race was the Kuching Marathon 10-kilometre category 11 years ago.
Back then, completing 10 kilometres felt like a significant achievement for him.
“Today, completing full marathons has become part of my annual calendar.
“Last year alone, I completed four full marathons and five to six half marathons. This year, I’m planning to complete six full marathons,” he said.
Yet one of his most memorable races remains a marathon where he did not receive a medal.
In 2018, only three weeks after completing his first marathon, Josh confidently signed up for another Kuching Marathon without proper preparation.
He underestimated the distance. By the 18th kilometre, severe cramps forced him to stop running.
He could either board the sweeper bus or continue on foot. He chose to keep moving.
For more than 24 kilometres, Josh walked towards the finish line, eventually crossing it after seven hours and 32 minutes. Most spectators had already left.
“I missed the official cut-off time and did not receive a finisher’s medal,” he recalled.
Still, he considers that race one of the most valuable experiences of his life.
“I learnt to respect the distance and to train properly,” he said.
Instead of displaying a medal, Josh keeps his race bib pinned to his wall as a reminder of the lesson. The experience also changed how he views other runners.
“Since then, I respect everyone who finishes a marathon regardless of their timing because completing it is already a celebration,” he said.
Finding joy in every race
Among the races closest to his heart is the 2025 Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon.
Initially, Chin had no intention of registering because he knew race entries were highly competitive. On a whim, he decided to try his luck while at school.
To his surprise, he secured a slot. It was his first marathon outside Sarawak.
Running through the streets of Kuala Lumpur in the early hours of the morning, cheered on by energetic crowds despite the 3 am start, became an unforgettable experience.
“It was really fun. You get to run through the city and experience it in a completely different way,” he said.
He has already secured another slot this year and plans to return, despite facing the challenge of completing the Kuching Marathon only a week earlier.
“I’m a little scared but also excited,” he admitted.
Building habits instead of motivation
For many people, balancing work, fitness and personal commitments can be overwhelming. Chin believes the answer lies not in motivation but in habit.
Now in his 13th year as a teacher, he spends most weekdays teaching before returning home for a short rest.
By around 5 pm, he heads out for his daily run, which usually lasts just over an hour. He said that weekends are reserved for long-distance training.
“Running has become a non-negotiable part of my life. Whether I feel like it or not, I still have to show up,” he said.
His thinking has been heavily influenced by the book Atomic Habits, which taught him the value of small, consistent actions over fleeting motivation.
When rain prevents outdoor training, Josh simply switches to the treadmill he bought for his home.
“I have no excuse not to run. Motivation comes and goes, but discipline is the key,” he said.
Understanding every type of run
To casual observers, running may appear repetitive. However, Chin sees every training session as serving a different purpose.
Most of his weekly mileage consists of easy runs, completed at a comfortable pace that allows him to hold conversations while gradually building endurance.
“Although they may feel slow and uneventful, I believe these sessions form the foundation of marathon fitness.
“Long runs, usually completed every Saturday morning, prepared me physically and mentally for spending hours on his feet,” he said.
Trail races, on the other hand, present an entirely different challenge. Running on uneven terrain demands strength, balance and concentration.
“I’ve fallen many times during trail races,” he said.
Preparation extends beyond physical fitness. Before every race, Chin studies the course map carefully.
He even places route maps in front of his office desk so he can familiarise himself with every turn long before race day.
More than medals
Over the years, Chin has accumulated so many medals that he has stopped counting.
Some hang in his bedroom, others decorate his living room, while the remainder is packed away because he has simply run out of space.
Among his favourites are the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon medal, the strikingly heavy Miri Marathon medal and a unique wooden medal from the Xterra Borneo Trail Run in Sematan, crafted from belian wood.
Each medal represents not just another race, but another chapter of his journey. Sometimes those memories come with a touch of humour.
“During the Kuching Sihat Run this year, I completed the race dressed as Monkey D. Luffy from the popular anime and manga series One Piece,” he said.
Originally purchased for a Teachers’ Day celebration at school, the costume found a second life on the race course, delighting fellow runners and spectators alike.
Celebrating the journey
Chin’s social media pages are filled not only with race-day photos but also ordinary training sessions.
He began posting to hold himself accountable.
“If I didn’t train, I didn’t get to post,” he said.
Over time, those posts began encouraging others to embrace healthier lifestyles.
For Chin, race day itself is only the celebration. The true achievement lies in the months of preparation beforehand.
“Race day is actually the victory lap. It celebrates all the training you’ve already completed,” he said.
Witnessing Sarawak’s running boom
Having been involved in running for over a decade, Chin has watched Sarawak’s running community flourish.
“Before COVID-19, organised races were relatively infrequent.
“Today, almost every weekend offers another opportunity to participate in a fun run, trail race, half marathon or full marathon somewhere in the state,” he said.
He is particularly encouraged by the increasing number of families participating together.
“It is exciting to see parents bringing their children to run,” he said.
Beyond promoting healthier lifestyles, Chin believes running events also showcase Sarawak’s natural beauty.
“Running allows you to explore different places by foot instead of simply driving through them.
“It lets people experience the uniqueness of Sarawak,” he said.
Chasing the next finish line
This year, Chin hopes to complete the Miri, Bintulu and Kuching marathons to earn the Premier Elite Marathoner title awarded to runners who finish all three races.
Looking further ahead, he dreams of competing in one of the six World Marathon Majors, such as Tokyo, London or New York.
“Qualifying will not be easy. The required finishing times are significantly faster than my current performances,” he said.
Nevertheless, Chin sees the challenge as another opportunity to grow.
One step at a time
For those who feel intimidated about starting their running journey, Chin offers simple advice.
“Don’t be afraid. Just start. And I believe every experienced runner once struggled through their first run
“Speed is never the most important measure. Consistency is,” he said.
From weighing nearly 100kg to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, from walking the final 24 kilometres of a marathon to planning six full marathons in a single year, Chin’s story demonstrates that meaningful change rarely happens overnight. Instead, it comes from showing up, day after day.
On the wall in front of his office desk hangs a simple reminder that guides both his teaching career and his running life.
“Focus on what you can do. You can’t control everything, but you can always control your effort, your attitude and whether you show up,” he said.
For Chin, those words have carried him far beyond the finish line, and they continue to shape every step of the journey ahead.
