J.P. Morgan’s Steffen Pfeifer

Steffen Pfeifer, 40, is a high-flier, in more ways than one.

Holding down a busy job with J.P. Morgan’s CCP Clearinghouse Risk Quantitative Research Team in Asia, Steffen is married with two young daughters aged three years and 18 months respectively. He is also expecting a third child, a son, in a couple of months.

In spite of his busy work schedule and family life, Steffen still manages to find the time to run, and pushes himself hard to do well at running events.

Third At J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Last Year

In fact, at last year’s J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge in Singapore which attracted more than 14,000 participants, Steffen was placed third overall and first among colleagues, with a timing of 19 minutes 24 seconds for the 5.6km race.

“It’s all in the training,” said Steffen. “Intervals and tempos to improve speed endurance. Add some strength work and stay injury free.”

Aside from the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge, Steffen is also a regular face at races ranging from 10k’s to half marathons, full marathons, and even aquathlons and triathlons.

Juggling Running With Career and Family Life

So how does he find the time to juggle his running and sports pursuits so effectively with his career and family life?

Said Steffen, “The secret is ensuring that every minute I run is important, and making sure that I do not waste that limited free time that I have. I follow a training plan and ensure that when I leave the house, that run means something to me and my goals.”

His Training Regime

As a result, his training regime consists of a mixture of runs.

“My running curriculum entails interval training, long runs, recovery runs or running barefoot on the beach,” Steffen explained.

“Long runs improve your endurance but shorter intervals improve your speed. They are mutually beneficial for a distance runner. If you do 5K runs, it will help your marathon, which is my ultimate goal,” he added.

Some Challenges

He admits that there are some challenges. “It’s important to make sure that training does not take over family life nor impact weekend activities. Running is a hobby and it should fit into our lives rather than our lives fitting in around our training,” said Steffen, adding that it’s about prioritization.

“It is important to create a routine which is consistent and if your spouse plans something ahead of time, be flexible. There were plenty of times I didn’t get my run in because my family needs me. Now I wake up extra early to fit in running or when commuting to work.”

Supportive Wife And Family

Steffen is thankful that his wife and family are very supportive of his running exploits.

“My wife never gives me grief as I train. In turn, I made a pact with myself that if family duties conflict with a race or a run, I would bail on the run,” he said.

How He Started Running

Steffen’s foray into running began organically, if ironically, after a bike race.

“As a student, I was big into road cycling,” he said. “Once after a 230km and five Alpine Passes of hard racing through the beautiful Swiss Mountains, I was beaten by all the female riders. After the race, I was so traumatised that I left my bike untouched for weeks and started running. I have not stopped running ever since.”

And these days, his love for running is as strong as ever.

“Running brings us joy,” he said. “Watch small children when they are excited, at play – at most times they would be running.”

Running for humans hark back to a time when it was about survival, Steffen added. “Humans were the Olympic champions for long distance in the animal kingdom; our ancestors were chasing swift runners such as antelopes down till they dropped dead,” he said.

“When Mike Boit, a great Kenyan runner in the 70s, returned from the Munich Olympics, he was showing off his medal when his old childhood friend came up to him and said: That’s all very good, but can you still catch an antelope?”

Wakes Up Early To Run

Steffen’s daily training schedule begins early in the morning before his kids wake up.

“I get up at inhuman hours, do 15 minutes of stretching followed by 60-80min of running and cool down with a 10 minute walk or plunge into the pool. I am back home around 7am to help get the kids ready for the day. Then I ride my bicycle to work,” he said. “On weekends, I often take my youngest one in the running stroller along East Coast Park.”

On a good week, his mileage is about 100km but Steffen admits that most of the time, it is probably closer to 60km.

Running And Work Are Complementary

Steffan firmly believes that the endorphins and feel-good sensation that he gets from running definitely helps improve his productivity at work.

Explained the runner, “Without the regular dose of workout, I will not perform as well in my job. Running gives my brain a chance to refresh and recuperate.”

“When running, my mind re-orders and work-related or stressful things end up going down the pecking order. I find that running perfectly complements my work, and that they support each other.”

Hopes to Beat His 5.6km Timing This Year

Steffen will be taking part in the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge again this year. In its 16^th edition in Singapore, the race is scheduled for the evening of Thursday, March 28^th, and Steffen is quietly hoping to beat his own timing.

“I would be very happy to beat my time from last year, though more importantly, I am really looking forward to the incredible spirit and camaraderie you feel at the race,” he said.

The J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge is part of a global series that began on July 13, 1977 in New York’s Central Park and is the longest-running corporate sporting event in the world, taking place in 13 cities across 7 countries and 5 continents. Singapore is the first stop of the 2019 series.

“The finish festival at the F1 Pit Building is epic, with team tents set up along the finish cheering each other on and kicking off the series in a big way.”