From struggling to run 5km to standing on the podium at UTMB Lake Toba 100K, Lauren Koh’s journey isn’t just about running farther—it’s about discovering courage, finding joy in the process, and the people who keep her moving every step of the way.
When we asked Lauren, “Who keeps you moving?”, her answer wasn’t what we expected.
It wasn’t a coach.
It wasn’t a training partner.
It wasn’t even the finish line.
“It might sound corny,” she says, “but I think a lot about my younger self.”
That perspective says everything about who Lauren is. Not just as a trail runner, but as a person.
Today, the 26-year-old psychologist at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital is one of Singapore’s rising trail runners, recently finishing 3rd at UTMB Lake Toba 100K. But her story began much differently.
Falling in Love with the Trails
Lauren never imagined she’d become a runner.
“I used to hate running.”
In fact, she couldn’t even run five kilometres without stopping.
While living in Australia in late 2023, she slowly built enough confidence to complete her first 5km run. Returning home to Singapore, she realised road running still wasn’t something she enjoyed.
Then one simple decision changed everything.
“I used to hike a lot, so one day I thought, what if I tried running in MacRitchie instead of walking?”
She was hooked almost immediately. Within months, she’d entered her first trail race and she’s never looked back.
Rediscovering Why She Runs
Standing on the podium at UTMB Lake Toba was one of the proudest moments of Lauren’s running journey.
Yet surprisingly, it wasn’t the podium that mattered most.
Before signing up for her first 100km race, Lauren realised she’d developed an unhealthy relationship with racing. She found herself choosing shorter races simply because she believed she’d have a better chance of finishing on the podium. Whenever she didn’t, she was incredibly hard on herself.
“It got to the point where I couldn’t enjoy racing anymore.”
So she decided to do something completely different. Instead of chasing results, she signed up for 100 kilometres.
She wanted to remember what it felt like to overcome something difficult.
Throughout the race, her mind wandered into dark places. There were moments she questioned herself. But she kept moving.
Getting over difficult moments in the race reminded her why she fell in love with trail running in the first place.
“I can’t hate myself into doing well at something.”
Ironically, the race where she focused least on the outcome became the race that delivered her greatest achievement.
“I signed up for 100km because I wanted to experience that feeling of overcoming again, and not to chase a podium.”
More Than Just Running
Trail running hasn’t simply made Lauren fitter. It’s changed who she is.
Growing up, she never considered herself adventurous. Today, she’s comfortable running alone through forests in the dark, something she once thought she’d never be able to do.
She’s also become more confident in herself.
Lauren openly shares that she’s been diagnosed with ADHD and has experienced periods of clinical depression. Running has become one of the ways she regulates her emotions, quietens her mind and reminds herself that difficult moments eventually pass.
One race, in particular, continues to shape how she approaches challenges.
Earlier this year, during a 70km race in Hong Kong, Lauren fractured her hand after a fall nearly 50 kilometres into the course. She heard the crack. She knew it was broken. But with more than 20 kilometres still remaining, she decided to continue.
“It was just my hand—not my ankle.”
She crossed the finish line.
Whenever life becomes overwhelming today, she remembers that race. If she could get through that, she reminds herself, she can get through almost anything.
Who Keeps Lauren Moving?
Although trail running often looks like an individual sport, Lauren doesn’t believe anyone gets through it alone.
When races become difficult, she first thinks about her younger self – the version of herself who experienced difficult seasons growing up.
Showing up for that younger Lauren has become one of her biggest motivations.
Beyond that, she draws strength from the people around her.
Her close-knit group of running friends, especially her training partner Ray, have shared countless weekends, long runs and race experiences together. Those friendships have become just as meaningful as the races themselves. It’s also been incredibly special to share this hobby with her partner, Joseph, whose own running journey has become another source of connection and support.
During ultras, Lauren often sends voice messages to friends when she reaches particularly difficult moments. Their encouragement—and sometimes simply making her laugh—helps her push through.
She also speaks openly about the importance of mental health support. As a psychologist herself, Lauren believes there’s strength in asking for help. Conversations with her own therapist have often helped her process the emotions that come with both racing and life.
It’s a reminder that while running may look like a solo pursuit, the journey is often carried by the people around us.
The Toughest Moment at UTMB Lake Toba
Around the 70-kilometre mark, everything changed.
A steep technical descent shook Lauren’s confidence.
She fell several times. She cried. The next stretch felt endless as darkness settled over the course.
“It felt like mental and physical hell.” Eventually she reached the next aid station. Then something shifted. She spotted the next female runner arriving behind her. Her competitive instinct returned.
“I told myself I wasn’t going to let her catch me.”
Suddenly, she discovered energy she didn’t know she still had. She pictured the finish line. She remembered finishing a previous race with a broken hand.
She chatted with fellow runners.
She listened to encouraging voice messages from friends.
One step became another.
Before she knew it, she was crossing the finish line as the third woman overall.
Lauren’s Gear & Trail Picks
The right gear won’t run the race for you, but having a shoe you trust makes every step feel more confident.
For her podium finish at UTMB Lake Toba 100K, Lauren chose the Brooks Cascadia Elite.
“They’re simply the best race-day trail shoes. They’re propulsive and comfortable without sacrificing stability. I have a history of rolling my ankle, so having a shoe I could trust on technical terrain gave me so much confidence. Even after 100 kilometres, I finished with zero blisters.”
For everyday training and shorter trail races, Lauren reaches for the Brooks Catamount 4.
“They were the first Brooks trail shoes I owned. They’re responsive, stable and incredibly fun to run in. They’re still my go-to pair for shorter trail races.”
Favourite Singapore Trail
Chestnut Nature Park South
“It’s probably the most technical trail you can find in Singapore, and it’s always exciting to run there.”
Climb or Descent?
🏔️ Climbs. Always.
“I really dislike downhills! Climbs reward you with amazing views, while descending well takes a lot of courage and coordination, which I’m still working on.”
Advice for Your First Trail Race
Lauren’s advice is surprisingly simple.
Choose a race that genuinely excites you.
Train the climbs.
Practise the descents.
Incorporate strength training into your routine.
Test your gear before race day.
Find friends who make training enjoyable.
Most importantly, remember why you signed up in the first place.
“Have fun. This is meant to be a hobby. It’s easy to get caught up trying to make everything perfect, but sometimes that takes away from how enjoyable your first trail race can be.”
Lauren’s story reminds us that the biggest victories aren’t always measured by podium finishes.
Sometimes they’re found in choosing to keep going.
Sometimes they’re found in rediscovering why you started.
And sometimes, they’re found in the people and the version of yourself that keep you moving every step of the way.
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