From screen roles to long-run routines
Singapore audiences know Edwin Goh and Rachel Wan from their acting work. Today, the couple are putting much of their energy into The Club Made, the Singapore-based crochet brand and design studio they run together.
Running now sits alongside that creative work. It gives them a way to step out of a packed day, train toward difficult goals and support one another without needing to run every kilometre at the same pace.
RePace spoke with Edwin and Rachel during their build-up to the 2026 Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival, which was held on 2 August.
1. For those who do not know you, tell us a little about yourselves and what you do.
Edwin and Rachel
We are Edwin and Rachel. We used to be actors, but these days our main focus is The Club Made, our crochet brand. Running has become a big part of our lives alongside that.
With how busy things get, running is our way of finding balance. It forces us to slow down and gives us some mental clarity in the middle of a packed day.
2. How did each of you get into running? Was one of you the reason the other started?
Rachel
I have been running since I was about eighteen, just leisurely, with a few 5Ks here and there, mostly to stay fit. When Edwin and I started dating, he was not a runner at all, so I dragged him along on a 5K.
He ended up getting into long-distance running, and then he got me into it too. In a way, I got him into running in general, and he got me into long distance.
Edwin
I started running as a way to cope with grief. It gave me this really pleasant feeling afterwards, almost a runner's high, and that kept me coming back. Over time, that feeling faded at the same distance, so I kept pushing farther to chase it again.
3. You also run The Club Made together. How do you balance building a business while training for races as a couple?
Rachel
Honestly, it has been really hard. There are days when we come back from a full day of work and still have to squeeze in a run that lasts until midnight, especially while training for my half marathon and Edwin's full marathon.
If you are not training for a full marathon, balancing it is a lot easier. A 5K before or after work fits in fine. But training for a marathon on top of running a business is genuinely tough. It takes up most of the free time we have outside work.
That said, running has also helped us find balance in a different way. Work has us sitting down most of the day, and running gets us out of the office chair. The best part is doing it together. Having a partner who understands exactly how much the training demands means we are on the same team instead of feeling like we are missing each other.
4. You have run races in both Singapore and Australia. Is there one race that has been your favourite so far, and why?
Rachel
Hands down, the Australian race was more fun for me. The scenery was beautiful, and even though it started pouring, the energy was so positive. Everyone was just having fun despite the weather.
It was a smaller race than the ones in Singapore, with fewer people, but the views made up for it. Singapore races feel bigger and more official, with more performances, crowds and even hired musicians. Sunshine Coast felt more homely, like the performers were neighbours from down the street. Maybe it is because it is fresher in my mind, but I really enjoyed the Australian race.
Edwin
Each race has its own perks. Singapore has this almost gambling spirit to it. Everyone is suffering through the heat together, and there is something really nice about that unity.
Sunshine Coast felt more like it was just me and the race, since I did not know anyone there. What made it special was that our names were printed on our bibs, and somehow the spectators picked up on it, shouting, ‘Go Edwin, you can do it!’ Hearing my name really energised me. It felt personal in a way I had not experienced before.
And of course, training in Singapore's humidity makes running in cooler weather overseas feel so much easier.
5. What made you choose the Sunshine Coast Marathon?
Edwin and Rachel
Our first choice was the Gold Coast Marathon, but it sold out incredibly fast. Then an advertisement for the Sunshine Coast Marathon appeared, and we thought, why not? It was still in Australia and still promised beautiful views, so we signed up.
The funny thing is that every time we finish a race, we immediately start looking at the next one. It is only as the actual race date gets closer that the training reality kicks in and we start questioning our life choices. There is definitely a bit of ‘marathon amnesia’, where the high of finishing one race convinces us to sign up for the next.
6. What is the best part about running together as a couple? And honestly, what is the most challenging part?
Rachel
The best part is that we understand each other's time commitment and are genuinely supportive when it is time to run, even when we do not feel like it. If I am not in the mood but Edwin gets up to go, it kind of guilt-trips me into joining him, and I never regret it once I am out there.
Having a partner who is just as invested in keeping our running routine and health up makes a huge difference.
Edwin
The challenge early on was that we always wanted to run together, and that created friction. I wanted to run faster, and I would worry about leaving Rachel behind in case something happened. Rachel, on the other hand, worried she was holding me back.
We eventually solved it by running at our own pace. I will go ahead, then loop back to find her and pick up my run from there. That way, I get more distance in too. Just heading out together, even at different paces, is already a win.
7. Let us talk shoes. How many pairs do the two of you own, and which pair are you reaching for most these days?
Edwin and Rachel
Between the two of us, we probably have around eight to ten pairs of running shoes combined.
Rachel
Lately, I have been reaching for the ASICS GEL-KAYANO 32 for my easy runs, mostly because I have needed something more forgiving. For speed work, I go for the ASICS MAGIC SPEED, and for marathons it is hands down the ASICS METASPEED.
Edwin
For daily runs, I use the adidas Adizero EVO SL. For longer runs where I want to push the speed, I switch to the adidas Hyperboost Edge. For intervals, it is the adidas Boston. For extremely long runs of 30km and above, I go for the ASICS Superblast.
I have also kept my MAGIC SPEED, since it is the shoe I ran my first half marathon in. It holds a bit of sentimental value.
8. What do you usually do with your old running shoes once you have retired them?
Rachel
I usually donate mine. It is hard to find people who are genuinely interested in old running shoes, and on Carousell you tend to get lowballers who are not serious runners. I have tried handing them down to family too, but I do not have many cousins who actually run, so donating ends up being my best option.
Edwin
I usually just toss mine. After clocking a lot of runs, the shoes get pretty worn out and damaged, so they are not really in a state anyone would want to buy. I do not think people are lining up for a well-used, slightly dirty pair, so once they are done, they are done.
9. If someone is thinking about signing up for a first race but feels intimidated, what advice would you give them?
Rachel
Go at an easy pace and remember that it is a marathon, not a race against anyone but yourself. Even if you are at a zone-two, conversational pace, the goal is simply to finish and enjoy the journey.
When you focus on enjoying it, it becomes a lot less intimidating. It is completely okay to walk too. Plenty of people walk parts of the race. If they can walk it, you can jog it.
Edwin
Do not judge how you feel in the first 10km. That is really just your warm-up. For your first race, the goal is simply to complete it and enjoy the ride.
Take in the atmosphere and the views. You will often be running routes you would never normally get to run on, so soak in the experience.
10. Finally, what does running mean to both of you today?
Rachel
Running means loving myself enough to take care of my cardiac health. Every time I finish a run, the serotonin hit reminds me that I never regret it.
Completing a long-distance run makes me feel accomplished. It is proof to myself that I can do hard things. For the easy, everyday runs, it is simply a promise I keep to take care of myself.
Edwin
Running means choosing to do the hard thing even when I do not feel like it, and keeping myself in check. Racing is about challenging myself in ways I never thought I could.