The 2024 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) will take runners on a journey past the best sights of Singapore with new race routes being launched. This year’s event will take place from 29 November to 1 December with runners from around the world joining thousands of Singaporeans for the popular run, showcasing the best of the city.
This year’s course will provide runners, new and returning, with a fresh and invigorating experience, passing some of the most scenic and iconic landmarks of Singapore, including beautiful beaches, historic buildings, and the bustling Central Business District (CBD), before taking runners across the 2024 finish line at the renowned Anderson Bridge.
SCSM 2024’s three-day event will kick off with the Kids Dash on Friday 29 November, followed by the 5km and 10km runs on Saturday 30 November, and the Half Marathon and Marathon categories to be held on Sunday 1 December, with the newly re-introduced Ekiden category teams running alongside the marathoners.
Each race category offers its own distinct course. Participants will traverse renowned landmarks such as the Esplanade, Merlion, Fullerton Hotel, National Stadium, Marina Bay Sands, and Gardens by the Bay, before crossing the finish line at the historic Anderson Bridge. Popular landmarks encircling the race festival venue include the Asian Civilisations Museum, Victoria Concert Hall, the Padang, National Gallery, and St. Andrew’s Cathedral. Marathon runners will enjoy a picturesque run along East Coast Park earlier in the race compared to 2023, and will experience the CBD in daylight for the first time. Half Marathon participants will have the exciting opportunity to run through Gardens by the Bay for the first time since 2016.
Race Route Highlights
The Kids Dash race will kick off at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, 29 November and will start and end at the F1 Pit Building.
| Categories | Race kick-off time |
|---|---|
| Pen A (0-3 years) | 7:00 p.m. |
| Pen B (4-6 years) | 7:30 p.m. |
| Pen C (7-9 years) | 8:00 p.m. |
| Pen D (10-12 years) | 8:30 p.m. |
In the 10km and 5km categories, participants will begin their races on Saturday, 30 November at 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. respectively. Both the 5km and 10km races kick off from the F1 Pit Building, with participants initially heading towards Republic Avenue. After making a U-turn at Beach Road Junction and returning on Republic Avenue, runners turn right onto Nicoll Highway.
For the 5km route, runners make another U-turn just before Merdeka Bridge and proceed towards Suntec City, passing by War Memorial Park and Esplanade. Near the end of the Esplanade Bridge, 5km runners split from the 10km path, and make a right turn towards the Finish Line at Anderson Bridge. In contrast, the 10km runners take the Esplanade Bridge, head towards Marina Boulevard, and make a U-turn near One Marina Boulevard. After the U-turn, they head back on Esplanade Drive and make a final left turn towards the Finish Line at Anderson Bridge.
Runners in the Marathon, Ekiden and Half Marathon will begin their races in waves from 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, 1 December.
The Half Marathon race starts at the F1 Pit Building and heads to Republic Avenue, passing Golden Mile Plaza and Nicoll Highway. Runners cross Merdeka Bridge to National Stadium, circle it, and return along Nicoll Highway. They then turn onto Middle Road, Rochor Road, and Temasek Boulevard, before heading back to the F1 Pit Building.
From there, runners turn left onto Ophir Road, ascend the East Coast Parkway (ECP), and exit at the Fort Road Junction. They diverge into Fort Road carpark and the East Coast Park connector, continuing past Marina East Desalination Plant, Bay East Garden, Marina Barrage, and Gardens by the Bay, and finish at Anderson Bridge.
The Half Marathon at the SCSM 2024 will see the return of champions from last year: Vanessa Lee and Shaun Goh, winners in the female and male categories respectively.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to compete again this year at SCSM and defend my title as the Half Marathon champion. I also look forward to running with the community and hopefully inspire them as well.”, said Lee.
Goh, who is raring to defend his title as well, said, “I’m excited to be back this year competing at the National Championship. SCSM is our biggest local race, and it’s always a good test to see where you stand amongst the local competition. In last year’s edition, I had a really tough battle with Jon Lim who came in second, and just barely scraped out the win. It’s always fun battling with Jon and he’s only gotten stronger over the past year, so I’m very excited for our rematch. Training has been going well this year, and I hope to improve on my personal best Half Marathon timing from last year.”
Runners in the Marathon start at the F1 Pit Building, heading towards Republic Avenue, passing Golden Mile Plaza, and continuing along Nicoll Highway. They cross Merdeka Bridge to National Stadium, circle back, and return via Nicoll Highway. Participants then navigate through Suntec City and Temasek Boulevard, passing the Fountain of Wealth before heading back to the F1 Pit Building. From there, they turn onto Ophir Road, ascend the East Coast Parkway (ECP), and head east. After a U-turn at Cyclist Park, runners traverse Marina East Drive, Gardens by the Bay, and Marina Boulevard, moving westward past Vivo City via the West Coast Highway and returning to the Finish Line at Anderson Bridge.
SCSM 2024 will see the re-introduction of the Ekiden race, which largely follows the same route except for the inclusion of multiple changeover zones where teams can swap runners. The first changeover is at Raffles Boulevard, the second at Cyclist Park near East Coast Park service road, the third at Marina Gardens Drive, and the fourth next to the Former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.
Teams of five runners will take turns to complete sections of the course, as follows:
| Runner | Changeover Zone | Distance to run* |
|---|---|---|
| Runner #1 | – | 9.3km |
| Runner #2 | Raffles Boulevard | 8.3km |
| Runner #3 | Cyclist Park near East Coast Park service road | 8km |
| Runner #4 | Marina Gardens Drive | 14km |
| Runner #5 | Former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station | 2.6km |
| Total | 42.2km |
In support of the community, Standard Chartered will provide 100 complimentary Ekiden slots on a first-come-first-served basis to corporate teams who commit to fundraise for Futuremakers by StandardChartered, a global youth economic empowerment initiative, supporting young people in our communities to learn, earn and grow.
Patrick Lee, CEO, Singapore and ASEAN, Standard Chartered, said, “With the Ekiden race back this year, we are excited to add a philanthropic element for corporates to raise funds for Futuremakers, our global community initiative aimed at tackling inequality and promoting greater economic inclusion for youths. We are glad to play our part to add value to our diverse community as we bring them together through the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon.”
Corporate teams are required to create a Giving.sg campaign page with the company’s name and set a fundraising goal for supporters to donate. The funds raised from Giving.sg will go towards Community Chest – the philanthropy and engagement arm of the National Council of Social Service – to support Futuremakers-themed programmes and projects. For more details, please visit https://www.giving.sg/donate/campaign/standard-chartered-singapore-marathon-2024-x-futuremakers-ekiden-challenge
Jeff Edwards, Managing Director of Asia for The IRONMAN Group said, “With the historic Anderson Bridge as our new finish line and updated race routes, this year’s Marathon will showcase the vibrant beauty of Singapore in a new way. We look forward to welcoming participants to a memorable race that celebrates both the challenge of running and the allure of Singapore. With almost 35,000 already registered from across the globe this year’s event will show off Singapore to a global audience like never before.”
Ms Ong Ling Lee, Executive Director, Sports & Wellness of the Singapore Tourism Board said, “The introduction of the new routes and the historic Anderson Bridge as the finish line marks an exciting chapter for the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon. We are proud to support the race, a true embodiment of the sporting spirit, and a showcase of our iconic landmarks, from the Esplanade to Gardens by the Bay. Welook forward to welcoming the international and local participants, and the passionate fans who will come together at this marquee and highly-anticipated sporting event in Singapore.”
Mr Roy Teo, Chief of Industry Development, Technology and Innovation of Sport Singapore, said, “Each year, the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon draws record numbers, underscoring its status as Singapore’s premier running event. As the region’s sole Gold Label race, it consistently highlights elite talent from near and far. With the return of the Ekiden Challenge for 2024, we’re set to see even greater participation. Witnessing thousands of runners on the streets is truly inspiring and encourages more to embrace the sport. We look forward to creating an unforgettable experience, featuring a route that celebrates our city’s rich heritage and concluding against the majestic backdrop of the Old Supreme Court building.”
Traffic Management Measures
Further information regarding road traffic arrangements and shuttle services for participants will be provided closer to the 2024 event.
