Ann Bang

Ann Bang—as suggested by Ricky Martin’s 2000 hit She Bangs—really has only one thing in her mind and that is to be the best runner she can be.

And at 49, she is well on her way, after completing her second official marathon, the 2023 JTBC Seoul Marathon, in her native South Korea last November.

Before that, the longtime Saipan resident completed her first marathon, successfully tackling the Park Love Marathon last July, also in Seoul, which essentially was her preparation for the bigger JTBC Seoul Marathon.

Bang’s first marathon-distance run—albeit unofficial—was a 26.2-mile run around the Oleai Sports Complex track and field.

TAGA Plus caught up with this former homemakerturned-competitive runner to find out what makes her tick.

How did you get into running? Honestly, I’ve never expected before that I would get into running because I had a traumatic experience with running. I was scared of PE time or a race during my school days because I was one of the slowest students. Everyone laughed at me while running because I ran with a waddle, which looked very funny. So, I decided never to run again and avoided running for decades. But five years ago, I started running on a treadmill for my health and losing weight. Then I ran roads and fell in love with running.

How do you motivate yourself to run? For steady running and maintaining my fitness, I participate in various races, such as marathons or events held in the community. It makes me keep running.

What are your favorite running spots on island? Actually, I love all the places on this island for running. Among the sites, I love running on Suicide Cliff.

How often do you run in a week and how long? Usually, I run 5~6 days a week and more than 70 kilometers.

Do you prefer running in the morning or evening and why? I prefer running in the early morning because morning has fewer distractions and is very quiet.

Do you eat before running or after? I don’t eat before running except for running long distances.

What’s your pre-run meal/snack? What’s your post-run meal/snack? My pre-run meal/snack is a banana or an energy gel. My post-run meal/snack is an egg and protein bar or smoothie.

How long is a short run for you? How long is a long run? For me, 5K is the shortest and over 20K is a long run.

How do you keep yourself hydrated during a run? I wear my hydration vest or hip sack to supply water during my long-distance run, but I don’t drink water for my short run.

Do you stretch before and after a run and why? A detailed stretch is essential for me before and after running to prevent injuries and fast recovery.

What are your preferred running shoes and apparel for running? I’m a big fan of New Balance and don’t have blisters or injuries with these shoes. I love dry-fit singlets and shorts for running because it’s very absorbent and breathable.

Do you run with any gadgets? What are they and why? I put on open-ear wireless headphones to listen to music and a Garmin GPS watch to check my pace and distances.

What’s better—running alone or with a running mate? I run alone for most of my running to make me more focused on my running. But sometimes, I run with my friends to encourage each other.

Why do you like running? What do you get from it? I think running is the most effective way for my physical and mental health. I’m sure all ladies my age know well this period is physically and mentally challenging. However, I can control and overcome various symptoms and changes with running.

Any tips for aspiring runners out there? For people who hesitate to run, anyone can be a runner. You can just walk and run at first until you get used to it. People think they can just run without any information or study. But you need to learn the correct running posture like when you learn swimming or tennis. It will make you a better runner, and you may enjoy running without injuries.