Azaria Heng,
Founder & Captain
Azaria came from short distance triathlon and competitive cycling background where running was always his weakness. Things got better in national service but nothing blossomed from there. It was not until his graduating year in Nottingham where he started to find the motivation to run again, especially with the covid situation, running offered a special escape from the otherwise cagey feeling and it was also the best way to explore unknown parts of the city. Knowing the struggles of training for short distances, Azaria targeted the Gold Coast Half Marathon in the following year instead where it would have afforded him 6 months to properly train up the system to run properly again.
Azaria was a minute shy off his 1:40 target but that first overseas half marathon race experience left him humbled and wanting more. One thing led to another, he made friends through Barry's who wanted to attempt the SCSM Half Marathon together that year and he offered to train them. They would meet and drag friends for longer runs every Saturday which over time, has led to what FFRC is today. The club is founded by friends, for friends of all paces. #nevertooslow we call it!
Cycling is and will always be his lifelong passion but running has certainly opened a special door for him and he hopes he can be there to welcome anyone on this journey.
Your day one at FFRC?
“A small group of us who were regulars at Barry’s gathered on a saturday morning with plans to complete a short run to ‘that colourful clarke quay bridge’ and back before attending our regular class with our other co-founder, Queenie.
We kept this Saturday tradition and invited friends who were keen to join. We soon decided that having an instagram page to track our progress and to share pictures from the run would be a great way to remember it, fortunately, we’ve managed to work our magic on the account that you see today @fastandfree.rc!
Since then, the dynamics has certainly changed and our Saturday runs remain the same starting point but always ending at a different breakfast spot and with more training intention.”
Nutrition Facts
Half Marathon PB (Gold Coast Half Marathon 2022) - 1:41
Guilty Pleasure - Skittles Original + Coke light
Must have - Running cap, watch, whoopOne shoe to rule it all - New Balance SC Trainer
Kaya hotspot - Heng Heng Coffee Stall @ Bukit Merah View Hawker Centre
Running Idol
Ben Felton
Diane van Es
Grant Fisher
Mirinda Carfrae
Ingredients
Love easy runs to catch up on podcasts
Run to mix it up with cycling mileage and to travel
Road Cycling and Tennis
Dream
London Marathon
Sub 20 mins for 5K
Under 1:40 for Half MarathonSub 3:30 for Full Marathon
UTMB 50 Race
What does running mean to you personally? How has it shaped your life? What has running taught you about yourself and life in general?
For some, life is about gambling and taking chances, but for me, running is a game of patience. It has taught me to approach challenges with a long-term mindset, showing me that steady, incremental efforts often lead to the best results. Running has become a way for me to find solutions, not through quick fixes, but through consistent dedication and patience.
What do you envision FFRC to be in 5 Years? what do you want it to be and where do you see yourself in that?
In five years, I see FFRC as a more mature yet still vibrant community, welcoming runners of all paces just as we do now. I’d love for the club to become a hub that champions destination racing—whether it's a 10K, half marathon, or full marathon—where we’re not just running together, but also exploring the world through races. Ultimately, I envision FFRC as a place where people can find friends, run together, and always feel safe and supported.
On a personal note, I really hope FFRC can play a role in supporting a sustainable running retail ecosystem, where we back brands that align with our values. And honestly, I’d love to see indoor tracks become more common here for better training and racing at a higher level.