Meet Liv Graham – Jamie Walliker

Introducing liv graham

Meet Liv Graham – a relentless runner, fearless rugby player, dedicated coach, and a passionate advocate for women’s involvement in sports. From clocking miles on the harbourfront to sprinting down the rugby pitch, Liv’s life thrives in sport and the community around it. Since a young age, sports have played a pivotal part in her life beyond the game itself. For her, it’s about having an outlet for stress, building her community, creating structure and discipline in her day-to-day, and so much more.

Since swapping the Lake District in Northern England for the city life of Hong Kong, she’s embracing new challenges head-on. Not only is she stepping into her latest role as a coach and taking on her biggest physical challenge yet as a runner, she’s also establishing her community through rugby and setting her sights on breaking down barriers for women in sport. As she hits her stride in the bustling city, let’s peel back the layers of sport in Liv’s life from where her journey began to what she’s tackling next.

In a sit-down conversation with Liv, we start by diving into her early beginnings with running and rugby and see how these have played such pivotal roles in her life.

Before we discuss your sporting journey, let’s start with the basics—who you are, what you do, and what keeps you moving?
Hi, I’m Liv. I’m from Carlisle, which sits right on the border with Scotland. I graduated with a degree in Law from the University of Manchester last spring and then moved back to Hong Kong last summer after doing an exchange year here. I’m a sports coach, introducing and teaching various sports to young children, and growing their general interest in sports. Outside of my new role, I’ve dedicated most of my time to my marathon training block in preparation for the Standard Chartered Marathon and playing rugby for the incredible University Unicorns.

Every athlete has an origin story – what’s yours? Were there any specific people and draws to how you got into both running and rugby?
My journey with sport began with hockey, which is what most girls at my school got steered into. Then in came a new PE teacher – Miss King. She was the first person to introduce the idea of running to me. I used to see running as this boring thing, but somehow, she convinced me to give it a go for the cross-country season. I felt something click in my head on those first few runs – the quick improvements, delayed gratification, and stress relief afterwards – it gave me the bug. It helped me massively in learning to be compassionate toward myself, which is a huge reason why I’ve stuck with it over the years.

With rugby, I was new to Hong Kong on exchange in 2022 and wanted to push myself into more activities and build a community here. My flatmate started playing for the University Rugby FC, and I quickly realised all these amazing and inspirational people they were meeting. Although I was completely new to the sport, I quickly fell in love with it. I’ve found that rugby has given me the community that running didn’t, but running has helped me massively in learning to be compassionate towards myself whilst having strong self-discipline.

Why are sports important to you, how have they impacted you?
I see sports and the commitment to it as a form of self-love. I think especially in a city like Hong Kong, it’s important to make time for yourself and show that you have the discipline and motivation to better yourself, while also allowing yourself the time to rest. Sports can support your growth as a person massively in terms of confidence and putting yourself out there. Through this process, I’ve realised it’s not just a solo adventure. It’s one that can help you cross paths with truly remarkable people, and help you build such an incredible community.

Moving halfway around the world to start a career and build a new life is no easy feat, and for Liv, it was no surprise she chose to stay active to ground herself in the busy lifestyle of Hong Kong. Along the way, three key aspects have come to define her journey so far – pushing her limitations with marathon training, finding her community in her rugby team, and growing in her role as a sports coach.

The Standard Chartered Marathon is the biggest race of Liv’s running career to date. Running challenges one’s endurance, self-discipline, and mental grit to keep pushing. This undertaking has become a defining part of her journey from the commitment of signing up and seeing it through to the finish line and beyond.

After all these years of running under your belt, what made you finally sign up for your first official marathon?
When I first moved here last summer, I had just started a new job and didn’t have a solid community outside of it. I felt like I was almost floating, and I wanted to find something that was grounding, so I started brainstorming ideas related to getting active and sorting myself into a schedule. A marathon is a huge commitment, but it gave me the routine I was searching for and the headspace to manage the life transitions I was facing.

Was there anything in the lead-up to the marathon that you were really looking forward to, and how did you feel once it was finished?
I was excited to experience the camaraderie on the start line and see this unique version of Hong Kong that not many people get the opportunity to see. Running over the Tsing Yi bridge and seeing sunrise peak through the buildings along the harbour was nothing short of magical. As excited as I was to reach the finish line after putting in all these hours, a part of me was already feeling nostalgic that the experience was nearly over, kind of like the last day on holiday. Afterwards though, I felt a wave of gratitude, and I slept – a lot. I put my whole heart into it, and I can’t describe in words how it felt to not just hit my target of 4 hours, but smash it and get that 3:27.

So what’s next on your horizons now that you’ve passed this huge milestone?
Now that I’ve had some time to fully process the day and have taken some time to recover, I’m ready to re-focus on my next goal. My next project isn’t going to be as focused on me and personal sporting achievements, but rather something bigger. I’ve valued the impact sport has had on my life both for the physical aspect itself, as well as the soft skills, coping mechanisms, and opportunities that come from it. Over the years, I’ve seen first-hand some of the imbalances of opportunities for men and women getting into sports, and I want to do something to change this. I’ve been so lucky to experience these benefits sports can bring, and I want more women and girls to have these opportunities and experience the journey they can take you on.

On the flip side of the independent challenges of training for a marathon, Liv has also immersed herself in Hong Kong’s rugby community. Rugby offers a different experience with teamwork, connection, and fast-paced intensity on the pitch. This part of her life has become integral to her time, shaping her experiences here way beyond the pitch.

How has it been developing your skills in a completely new sport?
It has been an amazing experience to start playing a completely new sport, setting myself new challenges, and working on developing new skills. I have had the support and patience from the Unicorns every step of the way, and they made coming to Hong Kong for exchange, whilst the Covid pandemic was still causing huge disruption, so much easier. It felt like having a big group of big sisters.

Being a part of such an amazing group has made me understand how sport can be such a great conveyor of confidence, self-empowerment, and self-love, and it would be fantastic for more women to experience this through grass roots clubs and community projects.

What’s drawn you so much into playing for University alongside a great group of women this season?
Playing for University this season wasn’t just for my interest in the sport, but for my teammates who have become the cornerstone of my community here. I feel so grateful for being welcomed into this group and getting to play alongside a group of extremely inspirational women from counsellors and lawyers, to heads of university faculty programs and fibre artists. Whether it’s on or off the pitch, the support is incredible – from celebrating personal milestones to giving a shoulder to lean on. Being surrounded by such a phenomenal and encouraging group of people who constantly show up for each other, week in and week out, has been fantastic for getting settled into my life here.

Since arriving in Hong Kong, coaching has become the newest chapter in Liv’s sports journey. While not entirely new to her, it’s grown into something more than just a passion and deepened her connections and career within the sports community.

Can you tell us about your first experiences in coaching, and what about it made it so worthwhile to get back into it in Hong Kong?
Well, it all goes back to Miss King who first introduced me to running. Not only did she push me into this new sport, she also encouraged me to take on my first mentor role to help coach younger students at school. This was the first time I found myself on the other side of this relationship, and seeing the sense of joy and accomplishment sport could give others was so rewarding. It was a new perspective for me to see how sports could be so impactful, which has been something I’ve kept with me over the years.

How’s it been taking on coaching as your full-time career, and how does that fit into your future goals?
Whilst I have faced huge adjustments in the last year, I have embraced becoming a coach and love my work. It is great to see children find their love for sports, from the younger age groups enjoying the more imaginative games to the older groups enjoying the competitive aspect of sports and learning how to refine their skills.

I find coaching so rewarding and it would be fantastic to see more people find their love for sports, even later in life. There needs to be a special push on this for women who often don’t have the same opportunities in sports growing up.

Across all parts of Liv’s life, one common thread emerges – sports having the power to challenge, connect, and foster a space for personal growth. As these pieces intersect and weave into her daily life, she’s looking to take it a step further by breaking down barriers and increasing participation for women and girls in sports.

Since the marathon, I have been re-energising and looking towards the rest of 2025. One of the things I would like to focus on is increasing participation for women and girls in sports. There are a lot of different ways to tackle this issue and I think it’s important to start with the basics of where these barriers stem from – namely a lack of resources and societal pressures, and finding the right groups of people to start addressing them. Rugby is a fantastic vessel for solving this, but with most team sports this model would be effective.

Institutional backing – from groups such as the HKCRFU and the HKFA – is vital in getting the support necessary for these groups, as well as encouraging greater sports participation in a more general sense. Establishing programs to help build community, speaking to women to see what can be done to lower these barriers to entry in sports, and providing the resources necessary for this to happen are all imperative for this project. The other aspect of this would be greater grassroots support. Backing grassroots clubs that already exist – the Unicorns being a fantastic example – with resources such as pitch allocation and greater funding, can act as a catalyst in bringing women together. This would help to build branches from already flourishing communities, nurturing both those who are just beginning their journey in sport, as well as the women who are the life of these grassroots clubs.

We can also look towards other countries for inspiration on how to solve this problem. There’s been a huge increase in women’s rugby over the last couple of years in Singapore, for example. With a focus on the domestic development in women’s rugby programs, more media coverage, and the backing of many prominent organisations, as well as Singapore Rugby, it’s showing that success in this field is feasible with the right people and resources.

With the relevant support from key parties, it’s possible to lower these barriers and increase participation to create meaningful and long-term impact through schools, independent clubs, and sports organisations to foster a strong community of women in sports.

Beyond the pitches, tracks, and training sessions, it’s the little things that reveal an athlete’s true personality. To wrap things up, let’s get a glimpse of who Liv is outside the game with some quick-fire questions.

Your favorite post-run snack?
Kowloon Dairy chocolate milk all day, every day. They’re great for getting in some protein, sugar, and fats to help your recovery straight after a run. They’re also really accessible and seem to sit well in my stomach.

What kind of music do you listen to?
No judgement here please, my go-to is a playlist called Hot Girls Like Country.

Best piece of advice you’ve received about sport?
Consistency is key – even when you feel tired or don’t want to, just get out the door.

Describe your perfect day in Hong Kong outside of training
Now that the weather is beginning to get warmer, I can’t wait for some more beach days. So probably a gentle hike across Dragon’s Back, finishing with a swim at Big Wave Bay.

What do you think about on runs?
Oh my God, everything. I’m a massive thinker, so I like to pick through any tabs I’ve got open in my head – which is anything from rugby matches, to the kids I’ve coached that week, to what I’m having for dinner.

Rugby or running—if you could only choose one?
Due to the amazing girls I play with, I would have to say rugby, but it’s very close.

If your running style were a movie title, what would it be?
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days – I go for efficiency over looking my best.

What’s your spirit animal when you run?
The squirrel from Ice Age – will run very far for trinkets.

If you could have dinner with any athlete, who would it be?
Nikki Han – her physical and mental endurance is nothing short of phenomenal.

How many encounters have you had with wild animals on your runs?
So many. I’m like Dr. Doolittle but the animals don’t like me. Or maybe they really like me. I’m not sure. I’ve run from boars about 6 times, but in my head, it’s more like 600. It’s not just the boars though, I’m scared of snakes, dogs, and anything else my imagination can come up with.

Do you have any pre-race rituals or traditions?
I’ll eat gummy worms before any intense exercise – whether it’s a run, rugby, hiking, or something else. It’s almost become a source of comfort. I also like eating a bagel the morning of any big match or event and setting out my outfit the night before.

Describe your perfect run.
So I’d set off at about eight in the morning – I much prefer running earlier than later. I’d go along the harbour for a 10k, finishing in Kennedy town and heading to Mendell’s for a bagel and iced coffee, and then getting the tram home.