JustRunLah! is proud to be the Official Online Media of Real Run 2015 and bring you another exclusive discount!
| 10km | 5km | |
| Early Bird period | $ 50 | $ 40 |
| Normal Period | $ 55 | $ 45 |
Register now at realrun.sg!
Your breathing is laboured. You are drenched in sweat. You have lost all sense of time, but it feels as if you’ve been running for an eternity. The hard asphalt that jarred your joints, the inclines of the winding trail sucked your energy, and as you dig your heels into the shifting sands, your muscles start to cramp, and you wonder whose great idea it was to design such a punishing race route. You grit your teeth and repeat the mantra “one last km… one last km…”
But as you cross the finish line and embrace the sweet relief of taking a much-needed rest, consider this: there are those among you right now, whose responsibility require them to be ready at any moment to run as you just have with one big difference – there is no known finish line.
Singapore’s toughest 10KM race route was specially designed to evoke certain life values to recognise Home Team NSmen’s contributions to make Singapore safe and secure. Our NSmen work tirelessly to serve our community, day in, day out.
Each day may present an opportunity to run yet another “race” to safeguard the lives around them. A race against time to prevent a crime, or even saving a person’s life. The race has no pre-determined distance – it might simply be a 200m sprint, or a much longer chase. The race has no pre-planned route – they may have to run up flights of stairs, in the mud, and of course, the road, the trails, and even on the sand. The race has no “hydration points”, nor “fuel stations”, no supporters cheering them on, and no finish line in sight until the job is done and dusted.
So, as you revel in your performance at the 10th edition of the HomeTeamNS REAL Run, take a moment to look around you, into the faces of the people who run a “daily race” in the name of serving our country and protecting us, as well as our loved ones. To the SPF & SCDF NSmen, we salute you!
Happy 20th anniversary HomeTeamNS REAL Run!…
Use promo code JRLRR2015 during registration and get a $5.00 discount from the public fee.
Special price after discount:
| 10km | 5km | |
| Early Bird period | $ 50 | $ 40 |
| Normal Period | $ 55 | $ 45 |
Find out more information about the race and register now at realrun.sg!
JustRunLah! presents a collection of images contributed by various running groups and individuals around Singapore, paying tribute and choosing to remember our Founding Father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, in various ways. While we may be affiliated with different running clubs and societies, we stand united as one single running community – the Singapore running community.
23 Mar 2015 SGRunners: Our condolences. May he Rest in Peace.
23 Mar 2015 Queenstown Backyard: Farewell run to Our Country’s Founding Father.
27 Mar 2015 Dr Mok Ying Ren paying his respects and writing his tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew, founder of modern Singapore.
28 Mar 2015: Gei Gei Running Club’s Run for LKY, 7:15-8:15am @ Esplanade
28 Mar 2015 Pierce Reservoir Runners: Special Tribute Run In Honour Of Our Founding Nation Mr Lee Kuan Yew
Mar 28-29 91km @ Twilight Ultra: In honor of Mr Lee Kuan Yew 91km, 31.8km, 9.1km, 7:20 pm @ F2 East Coast
29 Mar 2015 The Morning Greeters: A tribute run for a special someone, 7:15am @ Raffles Statue
Mr Lee Kuan Yew has run the marathon of his life. He had run it strong, he had run it well, and he has earned a much-deserved podium finish. Fellow runners, the race is not over. The baton is being passed over to us – we, the fortunate ones, who continue to reap what he has sown. We have inherited the legacy, and it is our privilege and our responsibility to continue marching forward, as one united people.
Thank you, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
– Singapore’s united running community
It has been close to a week of massive outpourings of appreciation and gratitude for our beloved founding father Mr Lee Kuan Yew. The extensive love and respect for him vividly displayed by Singaporeans is evident.
Love. What is that?
Buddies, look, hear and feel all that had happened over the past few days. That is LOVE. A genuine one. Others say we like to complain, but, we certainly know how to LOVE.
Sir,
Today, I thank you for my wife and two kids living in a beautiful and secure country. Today, I thank you for a group of running community with the same interest, enjoying their passion. Today, I thank you for showing us what is LOVE.
Appreciate this unique bonding among Singaporeans. Appreciate the chance to show ourselves as one united nation. Appreciate the chance to call ourselves Singaporeans.
Love, so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation.
Peter
Co-Founder, JustRunLah!
“At the end of the day, what I cherish most are the human relationships… It is the friendship I made and the close family ties I nurtured that has provided me with that sense of satisfaction at a life well lived, and have made me what I am.” Lee Kuan Yew
As a runner, an active athlete, I have been thinking for days what should be the appropriate tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew. A lot has been said on other social media platforms on his achievement covering almost every areas on his abilities, foresight and leadership.
In my opinion, in a runner’s context, Mr Lee ran the best ultra marathon ever, never a simple road ultra, but a trail ultra marathon with the steepest of gradients, faced with the most challenging of circumstances.
Today, I wish to share what runners have benefited from all his abilities, foresight and leadership. Therefore, instead of lessons learned, I wish to share my appreciation for what I have been enjoying as a runner.
Peter
Co-Founder JustRunLah!
As we all mourn the passing of the man who built the Singapore that we know and love today, the endless tributes flow in from all around the world, paying homage and sharing memories of our late first prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
But how can we properly thank someone who has dedicated his whole life to creating a country?
How can we express gratitude to someone who has led us from poverty to prosperity, from yet another post-war-torn, post-colonial island with slim chance of survival, to a country of international renown, from its education quality to its cuisine and gastronomy to its high standards of governance?
How can we pay due respects to someone who, when the rest of the world had given up on us, took on the challenge to unite a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural mixed bag and forged a single national identity?
Sometimes, we can’t.
When words can only go so far, runners like ourselves find solace in running. We run to escape our grief, but we run also to express our grief. Sometimes, we run to share our grief, and it is in this spirit of bonding in our nation’s dark hour that a running club in Singapore has organized the Run for LKY.
Best Regards
Gei Gei Running Club.
Let’s come together as ONE running community, regardless of race, language or religion and pay our respect to OUR Mr Lee Kuan Yew. You are invited to join in the tribute run this Saturday – organised by Gei Gei Running Club – with fellow runners who wish to keep Mr Lee Kuan Yew in memoriam. The details are as follows:
Estimated distance: 3.18 km
Meeting Place: Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
Time: 7.15 am
Dress Code: Black
Bib: You can download your bib at this link: http://www.gei-gei-running-club.com/bib/lky/bib-lky.pdf
We will run from Esplanade Outdoor Theatre to Parliament House. We will observe 1 min of silence there and bow 3 times to pay our respect. We will then continue towards Clarke Quay and U-Turn back upon seeing the first bridge. There will not be any refreshments for this run. We are also not sure if the security will allow us to pass through Parliament. If not, we will just play by ear on the actual day. Runners who wish to run longer can continue their run on their own.
Running at this point may seem completely trite. Running will certainly not bring back this great man, but neither will words, nor tears. We run instead, to celebrate the life and the achievements of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and we run to honour the lessons and wisdom he has instilled and imparted to us.
Thank you, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, for all you have given us. You live on in the hearts of Singaporeans, who will strive to continue your life’s work in creating and maintaining the Singapore of your – and our – dreams.
When I was first offered a slot for the Green Corridor Run I was slightly hesitant as I was not really a fan of trail running. Not that I didn’t like it but my previous experiences which included 2 NorthFace 100 25km runs, taught me to never underestimate the challenge of trail running. But since it had been awhile since I did a trail run, I decided to take on the challenge.
Race pack collection was at City Square Mall was a breeze. Collection basically took less than 5 minutes and add in a 15 minutes walk to and from the Mall, I was back in the comfort of my place with my race pack in under 45minutes. The race pack content was quite standard – bib, running top, vouchers and reusable bag as well as a Green Rail Corridor map which gave a glimpse of the route.
One of the few runs in Singapore in which I was able to wake up at 7 and happily hop onto a bus to the Tanjong Pagar railway station. As I approached the railway station, I recollected the few times as a boy my father bringing me to the station to pick up my grandauntie whenever she came to Singapore as well as the last time I took a train out from here as I made my way with my uncle to witness Singapore winning the Malaysia Cup for the last time in 1994. I believe many who join the race for the first time not only wanted to run along the green corridor but also to visit the station which has a rich history behind it. I found a spot to fiddle with my hydration pack(dug out from the storeroom after a few years of ‘cold storage) which I hoped could counter the effects of the potential heat.
As I heard the first wave flag off, I slowly made my way to the starting line. Unfortunately, the flag-off for the next wave was delayed for safety reasons as it seemed that the last runner from the first wave was taking longer than expected to reach one of the checkpoint – hence the 2nd wave was made to wait under the sun on the remnants of the railway track at the station. Eventually after a 20 minute wait, the 2nd wave got flagged off 0940hrs. The starting pace was relatively slow and I thought that it was the gravel and pebbles which was causing it. But as I near the 1st kilometer mark, my concerns of the late start flag-off were confirmed as the heat got to me, as well as some of the other fellow runners. I could see some of them already walking(although it could also have been what they already doing from the start, ie treat this a Sunday stroll) and I myself already required a drink which was earlier than what I usually do. While my pace remained slow, I was able to make my way pass ‘the walking contingent’ along the way. Now most people who know me will know that I am never critical about slower runners or joggers – I myself being one of them, but my tolerance level for people who intend to walk for the whole distance is practically non-existent. While I applaud their intent to participate – they could either start at the back of the wave or rightfully start in the next wave. By choosing not to do so, they tend to make the run slightly more tedious and rather unpleasant.
Back to the run, the heat was not making it any easier and by the time I reach the 1st water-point, I didn’t just had a couple of cups of water but also a longer than usual break before continuing. I pretty much did the same at the 2nd water point and the effect of the heat was taking its toll as a handful of runners basically headed to the exit point where it seems that bus(es) were waiting to ferry them. It is never easy to drop out of a race but it is something which is prudent, especially when the risk of heat-stroke is there.
As the route ‘neared civilization’ around Commonwealth Drive and Tanglin Halt, you could basically see more people who probably use the Green Corridor for their weekly exercise, trekking by as well as on their bikes. At the 3rd water-point at North Buona Vista, which was a vehicle overpass or rather previously a underpass for the trains, quite a few runners stop to take in ‘Street Art’(which you don’t normally see), which is probably one of the interesting aspect of this route.
As I left this last water-point, I was slightly apprehensive about whether I had enough water to beat the heat. Fortunately, it got slightly cloudier and this last stretch of the route was ‘greener’ with more vegetation and also ‘friendlier’ terrain. The fact that it was the last 2.5km probably helped and I was honestly quite thankful to cross the finish line intact. 😛
Points To Ponder
While I was making my way to the bus-stop (another rare occasion which I could also take a bus back home), I had a short conversation with a Irish runner. He also observed the walkers (I was not not the only one!) and in addition to what I mentioned he also brought up the point of safety – of runners being blocked. He also remarked that there seem a lack of running etiquette when it came to overtaking, walking and even stopping(don’t do it suddenly). But we both agreed that the width of this route (versus a roadrace) probably made the problems more obvious.
On the overall, this event is worth a try if you want to experience this unique route. But do note the heat that comes along with the late start time and hopefully organizers can do more to separate those who wish to do a Sunday leisure stroll in another category as well as remind participants on some of the etiquette to make this run a safer and more enjoyable event.
HI to all JRL readers, I am You Liang, 23 this year. Before I start off with the normal race review entries, I would like to talk more about how running changes my life. Maybe after reading my stories, some of you are able to tell more of your non-runner friends,to motivate them to make their first step.
Since young, I did not really enjoyed running, in fact, I hate running. Running to me is a torture, I always ask myself, why did we had to run? Why are we being force to take the 2.4km run? This mindset of mine does had a impact of how I looked like back then.
See, this was my size during 2012 May, 95kg. Actually, all along I was always around this size. This size makes me very difficult whenever it comes to choose clothes, maneuver in crowded places, and many many more. To be honest, during those period of time, despite having quite a few disadvantages, I was comfortable with my size. Until one day, while I was sitting along Bedok Reservoir looking at groups and groups of people running past me, a few questions flash through my mind. Why am I satisfy with my size? Why must I stay in this size? Why have I not done anything to lose weight? So later on that evening, I decided to make a change in my life. I decided to go for my “first run”. The reason I choose to run is because that I don’t know what else can I do to lose weight beside running, and running is the only sports that I could do with just a running shoes and no other equipment. So I did my first 5km run around my house area, and I spend 40 over minute to complete the run. It was very tiring and I still don’t like running, but I felt a kind of satisfaction when I completed it. At least, I felt that I had contributed to my weight losing plan. So the following day, I forced myself out of the house to do the same thing again. I told myself that I had to at least run 6 times a week. Of course beside running, I had to watch over my diet as well.
Around july 2012, I manage to see a little bit to hard work being paid off. I loss around 9kg from the day I started running.
The next few month after this weight loss was tough. I had to manage between studies,work,runs. So if I had to study on work very early in the morning,I had to wake up earlier to do my runs as by the time I reach home at night is always close to mid night.No one actually expected my determination to last so long, not even myself.
Jan 2013,7 months after I started running, I shocked everyone around me. When I posted my picture up to social media, question starts to come in. “IS THAT YOU?” “WHAT HAPPEN?” “ARE YOU IN THE ARMY?” lots of question all around.
See the difference? From 95kg all the way to 64kg, my effort for the past few months paid off. Also until then, I found my passion in running. Running no longer is a torture to me, it became part of my life, and I enjoy doing it. I did my first race in Feb 2013, the URUN 15km + OMB challenge. Subsequently, I did my first half marathon(2xu compression run) in march 2013,and my first full marathon(sundown marathon) in may 2013. I also achieved my personal best of 3hr 53min for full marathon duing that first FM I joined.
Now, 2015 March, I had glad that I still maintain the weight, completed 5 Full Marathon and quite a few other races. Along this 2 years, I met quite a few great running friends as well. I am happy that my determination was right, if not all these would not had happen to me.
So I hope to use to opportunity to share my stories with all the JRL readers. Runners, keep up your this running passion. As for non running, a lot of things can be done, it all depends on how much efforts you are willing to put in. This is how running changes my life,I hope after today, it change yours too. So what are you waiting for? JUST RUN LAH!
As the SEA Games 2015 draws ever closer and Singapore is stepping up its preparations to host the 28th edition of the events, its representative athletes are working just as hard to ready themselves for June. In this interview, JustRunLah! catches up with middle distance runner, Soh Hua Qun. Despite the 24-year-old’s recent struggle with injuries, he ran the 1500m in 4:06.02 and 800m in 1:58.79 at the recent Inter-Varsity Polytechnic (IVP) Championships, earning first and second place in the respective events. With his ability to perform in the face of adversity, he’s dubbed Singapore’s best hope in the 800m and 1500m events.
Read on for more details…
JustRunLah!: What’s your running story? Who/what got you running?
Hua Qun: I’ve loved playing sports since I was young. I relished the adrenaline rush whenever I played catching or blind mice with friends, when I could inject quick bursts of speed at will and escaped the clutches of my friends. It was only at the age of 10 when I started taking part in a proper track race and won all the races (200m, 400m and 800m and 4x100m) with school shoes. Mr Affendy, the track coach of Townsville Primary (my primary school), spotted me and wanted me to join their track team. My mother was strongly against it due to my commitments to studies and CCAs – I was already involved in badminton, robotics, swimming and art and craft classes but I managed to convince her by working harder in my studies.
My love story with running began with this track team when I started working on the specific areas of sprints such as drills and accelerations. I enjoyed the camaraderie with my team-mates as we worked on every aspect of baton-passing and accelerations, practising our passing more efficiently. It was hard work but it paid off when my 4x100m team managed to emerge champion in the Nationals in 2002. I also attempted many events but the 800m seemed to intrigue me most, especially the part when it comes to fighting the lactic rush. Even though I came in 7th for 800m during Nationals in 2003, I was hungrier for more.
When I enrolled in Catholic High, I embarked on distance running as my coach felt that I have more potential in longer distances. My endurance has enabled me to sustain a fast pace for long distances and coupled with my passion for speed workouts, I came to enjoy tactical races such as 800m and 1500m. My breakthrough in 1500m came in 2005 when my coach Mr Alan Koh worked greatly on my running economy to enable me to run more efficently and fast even under great training load. This enabled me to emerge champion and 1st runner-up in 1500m during Nationals in 2005 and 2007 respectively.
It was in Raffles Junior College when I got to dabble with my favourite events, the 800m and 1500m. Mr Steven Quek (JC coach and current coach) incorporated sports science and pace management in his training. Furthermore, he made me realise the importance of taking care of one’s lifestyle habits, taking note of the rest, diet and training to maximise the benefits of training. His program that he planned for us in Raffles had enabled us to juggle studies and training well. Taking note of these distinctions had also aided me greatly to bring my middle-distance running to greater heights.
I took a break from competitive running during my National Service but decided to try out middle-distance events again, as I missed the adrenaline rush of sprinting. Furthermore, it was my dream to qualify for the SEA Games and win a medal for Singapore. Mr Steven Quek has aided in the planning of my training program and I managed to have the opportunity to work with many passionate athletes along the way to push our limits. Besides improving the timings of my races, I came to enjoy running much more in university when I got to meet like-minded peers who shared the same passion and joy for running. My breakthrough came when I managed to hit sub 4 for 1500m and 800m in 2012, but I failed to meet the qualifying mark for the 2013 SEA Games squad. It was then I set my sights on 2015 SEA Games.
I endured a setback in late 2013 when I had an accident during a fall and tore my patella tendon. I had surgery and I was wheelchair-bound for quite a while. I worked really hard during my rehabilitation as I had the desire to prove to other people that it’s possible to pursue their dreams despite the circumstances, as long as one doesn’t give up. Thankfully I am recovering well and currently working hard for my SEA Games dream and hoping to make my breakthrough soon.
JustRunLah!: You are currently a student at the National University of Singapore. What are you studying, and how do you balance your academic and athletic commitments?
Hua Qun: I’m currently studying Accountancy in NUS. I try my best to do away with any time-wasting activities during training to shorten the training hours. I also make sure that I sleep early and have adequate rest so that I can make the best use of the time in the day. I try to read up before and after lectures and tutorials to understand the materials faster.
JustRunLah!: You recently participated at the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Championships, and bagged several impressive wins, placing 1st for the 1500m, 2nd for the 800m and 2nd for the 4x400m events. Congratulations! Can you share with JustRunLah! readers, what has been the highlights of your running career/journey?
Hua Qun: My breakthrough came when I managed to run 1:55min in 800m and 4:03min in 1500m during Singapore Open 2012. I managed to perform well under race conditions in ASEAN University Games 2012 when I emerged 4th in both 800m and 1500m, losing the bronze medal by about half a second.
JustRunLah!: And now you’ve made it onto the Singapore Athletics Association SEA Games 2015 training squad, and have been dubbed Singapore’s best hope in the 800m and 1500m events.
Hua Qun: Yes, I’ve been striving to excel in 800m and 1500m events ever since I returned back from my patella tendon injury. I hope to win a medal in these events at SEA Games on home ground. I have only attempted 5km and 10km events to evaluate my aerobic fitness from time to time.
JustRunLah!: How are you currently training and preparing for the SEA Games? You ran the ASEAN University Games with an ankle injury, is it better now?
Hua Qun: I have recovered from my ankle injury. My coach and I have raised the intensity and frequency of trainings to prepare for the upcoming SEA Games. I had also been working on more speed workouts as I foresee strong finishes by the foreign competitors.
JustRunLah!: What do you anticipate to be your biggest challenges at this event?
Hua Qun: I hope to win a medal for Singapore on home ground but a win is never predictable due to the tactics involved during a race. One of the challenges I will face would be to match up to the strong finishing kick that will be put up by the Vietnamese and Filipino competitors as they have great speed.
JustRunLah!: Conversely, do you feel there are any home-ground advantages to the SEA Games being held in Singapore?
Hua Qun: It would be the acclimatisation to the humidity and hot weather in Singapore, especially in the afternoon.
JustRunLah!: Who or what is your source of inspiration?
Hua Qun: David Rudisha, who continues to step up his game even when he met with countless setbacks.
JustRunLah!: Any advice for aspiring young athletes out there?
Hua Qun: Give your best in everything you do and be daring to pursue your dreams. Leave no regrets.
JustRunLah!: Any message(s) you’d like to share?
Hua Qun: I would like to thank my NUS cross country team, my coach, my training partners and my close friends who have gone through this arduous yet fulfilling journey with me. Also, I would like to thank my sponsors ASICS for the training gear-shoes and apparel that had allowed me to run at my best and USANA for the health supplements that had kept me in the pink of health.
JustRunLah!: Finish this sentence: Running is…
Hua Qun: Running is… symbolic of life; to push yourself to overcome the obstacles and when you feel you can’t, search deep within for inner strength to realise that you are stronger than you thought.
Corrections: In an earlier version of this article it was stated that Hua Qun ran a sub-4 timing for the 1500m at the Singapore Opens 2012. The official time recorded for his performance at the event was 4:03.06.
Ring….ring….my trusty alarm clock rang at 4am. Jumped out of my bed and started preparing to move out.. Had my breakfast consisting of two pieces of bread and peanut butter. Changed into my race attire and did some light stretching before leaving quietly at 4.45am. Don’t want to wake up my wife and kids….
It was a long drive to Punggol Waterway Park, an unfamiliar place to me. Reached around 5.20am and managed to grab a parking lot at the nearby multi-storey carpark. Wow… a lot of race participants had reached there as well, all decked in the familiar neon orange t-shirt.
Made my way to the holding area and aimed for the mobile toilet. This is a must do pre-race routine, if not it would be extremely disruptive having to hunt for a toilet half way into a race…lol. There were ample toilet facilities but queues were already building up. After my toilet break, I moved to the start point and started my warm up exercises.
By 6.20am, the crowd had already built up all ready to start. The DJ had to speak to us in a low voice as we were near a cluster of flats. I find this amusing as we had to strain our ears to hear what he was trying to tell us. Around 6.25am, the pacers with their blue balloons started to stream in. Wah….. they have pacers for 2.30 hrs as well. I made a mental note to follow them and see if I could break my training time records of 2.35 hrs.
Soon, we were flagged off at 6.30am silently….lol…no horns..no loud music….ha ha…..So we started running ‘silently’. This was the first time I am running at Punggol Waterway Park. There were some construction going on next to the park connectors that were running on. But on a whole, it was a rather easy and flat route the runners.
As I was nearing the 5km mark, I saw the first runner streaking down the opposite side of the park connector, with a cyclist pedaling furiously to lead to the way…wow….(I understand that the winner of the half marathon came in at 68 minutes). Seeing him, I started to increase my pace, but soon dropped to my usual training pace. I completed the 1st loop of 10.5km at around 1:10hrs, and bump into the 10k runners who were just released from the start point. So it was rather squeezy from the 11km to the 15km mark, which slowed down my pace considerably. The 2nd loop also means a boring same route for the next 10.5 km. Some where around this distance, I passed by the energy gel point and grabbed a packet of GU energy gel (mandarin orange). I had never tried energy gel before and I was tempted to tear the pack open and glup the contents. But I decided otherwise, as it meant that I would need to start walking to do that, which would break my momentum.
I also started taking the isotonic drinks from the water points from the 11km mark onwards.. The isotonic drinks came in orange (or yellow?) and green and tasted rather saltish and made me thirstier. I decided to stop taking them after the 1st two cups and relied on my own supplies (100 Plus Edge) and the plain water from the water points. Luckily I had my trusty Redbull (in my waist belt bottles) and had sipped on them for every 2 km after the 11 km mark as well. It boosted my energy levels and make the race more enjoyable.
The crowd started to thin out after the 15km mark, and I picked up my pace. As I was coming on to the final km, I realised the finishing point was at the top of a low hill. To get there, I had to run up a rather steep slope which snaked around the low hilltop, and had to dodge the walker who were jamming up the route. As I crossed the finishing point, I glanced at my watch and realized that I had achieved a timing of 2.23 hrs!! A good 10 mins plus shaved off from my training best timings. I was very pleased with myself as I made my way to collect the banana, the 2nd half of the medal and the 1.5 litre of mineral water.
Asked a fellow runner to help take the usual ‘victory’ post race photo, then did some warm down before heading home. It was a good 1st half marathon for myself. Thumbs up to the organizing committee as well for the smooth race, given the fact the they were volunteers.
The medal is a very unique design in that it had two pieces. You get the first one during the race pack collection and the other half only after you complete the race.
You can read more details on how I prepared for this race in my blog at runningat39.blogspot.com.
Running Date: 08/03/2015
“Transformed Rochor canal a hit with resident” screams the headlines on straits times. It was practically an open invitation for SG Unfit Runners to swing by the canal to check it out. So on that very Sunday, we gathered at Lavender MRT station and easily found a dolled up Rochor canal, just behind the immigration & checkpoint authority building. We had a special guest who joined us today, Ms S J, the cute daughter of Fang Tai who insisted on tagging along.
On the hand, if you want to have a smooth running path without any traffic junction, you can head east wards towards Kallang River whereby you have the choice to head towards Kallang Riverside park or along the south bank where it will take you to Singapore Flyer and if you feel like it, a victory run around Marina Bay.
There is an underground pass linking the new Rochor Canal to the Kallang River route and underpass acts like a time traveling tunnel. On one end, the sparkling new Rochor Canal and the old rusty Kallang River route.
I will strongly recommend that you try out that tunnel. It is somewhat magical!
We ended the run at the very nearby North Bridge Road Food Center. There are another 3 coffee shop around the region and there are tons of famous hawker food around the area.
Overall, I will say that starting the run at Lavender MRT station offers a bit of something for every runner. A short scenic route through a revitalized canal in one of the oldest HDB housing at the heart of Singapore or a long scenic route along the beautiful Kallang River. Throw in one of the best food center in Singapore and you have one of those perfect early morning running route suitable for both Fit and Unfit runners.
Visit SG Unfit Runners for more routes for absolutely unfit people. Don’t visit us if you are very fit and do ultramarathons without breaking a sweat! SG Unfit Runners is a finalist at the Singapore Blog Awards.
It’s the time of the week again where you put on your running gear, head to your usual venue and prepare to go for another run which could possibly be your next personal best timing or distance. However, the thought of having to conquer this path alone might make you feel slightly bored and unmotivated. And then, an idea struck you – why not ask your girlfriend along?
Indeed, running has long been associated with the idea of being an individual sport. As such, people often forget that having a partner to run with, in this case a loved one, can actually add some element of fun and chemistry into the supposedly solo activity.
As a boyfriend, the last thing you would want to do is to force your partner into doing something she dislikes. If running happens to be an activity which is out of her list of hobbies, do not lose hope and simply scrap the idea of running together! Try to find a suitable time, perhaps mealtime conversations or the night before a run, and share with her the benefits of running and how much you would like her to be part of your activity.
Bring her along on a sports gear shopping spree and recommend her suitable running shoes, attire and adding elements of running into her favorite pastime is definitely a great idea!
In addition, you and your partner can go for running dates at romantic locations, for instance, a night run along the paths at the scenic Marina Bay, or even sign up for an overseas marathon event as part of the itinerary of your getaway trips!
We all know that the female and male physiological differences account for the general differences in running abilities between woman and man. However, that does not mean that couples cannot run together and that your girlfriend has to end up chasing after you for most parts of the run instead.
When running with her, you need not deliberately slow down your speed to match hers so as to literally run side by side together. You can leave a comfortable buffer distance between both of you for her to catch up and keep her within your view for safety reasons. While the slower runner can practice on speed and strength training, the faster runner can train on pacing, stamina or even try out new things such as increasing cadence, breathing patterns and more.
Hence, running with a partner who has a different running ability is beneficial for both parties and a valuable opportunity to know each other more.
Friendly competitions and challenges are ways to spice things up between you and your partner, where goal timings or distances can be set for each other and perhaps the winner gets a meal treat from the other as a reward! Another idea would be to set a target timing difference which would require the effort of both to keep the differences in completion time as small as possible.
For instance, a target for timing difference of 10 minutes between you and your partner for a 10km run can be set. If you completed the run first, you will have to find different ways to make your girlfriend finish as soon as possible within 10 minutes; be her personal pacer, cheerleader, timekeeper and anything else you can think of to achieve the goal together.
It will be quite a challenge at first to adapt to these running practices but running as a couple is nonetheless an interesting, interactive and healthy activity and the satisfaction from achieving fitness goals by working together is beyond description and definitely a relationship booster.
Be a running boyfriend who cares, motivates and love your running girlfriend for putting herself in your shoes, your running journey and your life.
A few days ago, we introduced Newline, a Danish brand producing quality running, cycling and triathlon gear which has just arrived in Asia.
Today, we are happy to bring a special promotion to all our readers:
If you have signed up for a race, stop by ACTIV360, at Novena Square #03-42, 238 Thomson Road, show your race BIB and enjoy 30% OFF your next compression wear!
The main focus of the company is and always has been continuous experimenting with functional product improvement to achieve highest possible comfort for the runner.
Details, comfort, functionality and high quality are combined with contemporary design to make fashionable products. Styles are inspired from fashion tendencies, and these are transformed into sporty combinations of prints and colors. Newline collaborates with some of the world’s best color and tendency experts to make sure that collections are up-to-date and innovative. Newline’s belief in the combination of function, fashion and differentiating design has opened doors to many markets worldwide.
Newline Asia has decided to partner with ZEN’YU Pacific, as they have established themselves over the years as one of the leaders in the running market providing a comprehensive range of products. ZEN’YU Pacific has also been active in sponsoring events and participating in running, cycling and triathlon races.
Have a look for yourself to what Newline has to offer at ACTIV360, Novena Square #03-42, 238 Thomson Road, (S)307683.
To check out Newline’s online catalogue, click here.
Life was dark for all visually impaired runners. Life was dark for all intellectually-challenged runners. Life was dark for all physically-challenged runners. How to stay active and lead a healthy lifestyle were a question none of them could answer. Likewise, a lot do not have the opportunity to interact with their peers, ordinary youth and adults to build bonds and widen their social networks. NOT ANYMORE! Love was found in the form of Runninghour.
Since the founding of Runninghour, all visually impaired, intellectually and physically challenged runners have the chance of doing something once deemed impossible in the past. They have a chance to interact with the mainstream people, doing things and socialise like how mainstream people do. This JOURNEY Of LOVE, appreciation and trust will go on and on. Visually impaired runners, intellectually and physically-challenged runners are here to stay.
Have you been running for a while and been trying to find more meaning to running? Do you need more inspiration and motivation to your running journey? Running will never be the same again with Runninghour. Here, runners run for his/her buddy every step of the journey.
The first blind run in Singapore. Hand in Hand. Heart to heart, run to bond, run so others can. An inaugural national event that aims to use mainstream sports as a platform to promote integration and nurture an inclusive Singapore. The only race in Singapore where participants run alongside over 200 visually, intellectually and physically-challenged runners.
The Run will be a rallying call for all Singaporeans to come together and show their support towards integrating people with special needs. Last call for walk in sign up at City Square Mall tomorrow. See yar!
Kick-start your mornings with a vitamin-packed fruit and vegetable juice, or recover faster from your workouts with a fresh fruit and protein smoothie.
The Oster MyBlend personal blender comes in four bright colours and boasts a sleek look, but the true beauty of the Oster MyBlend personal blender extends beyond its appearance, and lies within its design. Its high speed function is ideal for crushing ice, giving you a smooth and tasty shake, while the one-touch blending makes it super easy to use.
Instead of pouring your drink from the blender to another container, the Oster MyBlend blender vessel doubles as a bottle you can drink straight from, so you keep every last drop of blended goodness. No pouring, no risk of mess, no cleaning up twice. More for you, less washed down the sink. The BPA-free 600mL reusable sports bottle is also dishwasher safe.
Just fill the blender with your favourite smoothie combination, give it a quick whizz, swap the blender blade for the bottle cover, and you’re good to go!
[ot-video type=”youtube” url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrhdiXSAHo4″]
Whether you’re off to work or play, the Oster MyBlend is great for the busy and health-conscious individual who is constantly on the move. The Oster MyBlend blender is the quick and convenient choice that saves you money, and your body will thank you for it.
Click here to get your Oster MyBlend blender now and benefit from the launch promotion – a free additional bottle!
After doing the Tokyo Marathon in 2014, a friend told me about the Nagoya Women’s Marathon and how this race was different from others. So last September, I bidded for an entry slot and was lucky to garner an entry to this largest women-only marathon in the world.
Here are some facts about the Nagoya Women’s Marathon:
Feeling excited as it was my first real solo trip, I happily flew into Nagoya on 3 March and headed north to visit Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Hira Furukawa, which were all awesome in winter. I took a bus back to Nagoya city after two days of sightseeing and started to prepare for the marathon.
Race Pack Collection: 6 March 2015
Race pack pick-up started two days prior to the race and it was held at the Nagoya Dome (home of the Nagoya Dragons, their local baseball team). Here, various sponsors and partners showcased their products and services with Menard and Nike having the largest booths. Others sold running gear, power gel and isotonic drinks. The race expo however, was significantly smaller than the Tokyo marathon’s.
Race Day: 8 March 2015
I awoke at 6.30am to have a light breakfast before heading to the Nagoya Dome – the start point of the race. Boarding the subway proved a challenge as it was so packed on a Sunday morning with presumably everyone heading to the same place. The Japanese are known for their civilised and courteous behavior but when it comes to the subway, this is where they are most aggressive! J
Upon arrival at the Nagoya Dome-mae Yada station, hordes of people got off and there were volunteers carrying signs in Japanese, presumably leading the way to the Dome. The baggage drop off was relatively smooth as we were allocated sling bags to contain our personal belongings and we just had to drop it off at the pre-assigned sectors. Thereafter, we walked through the Dome, caught a glimpse of the finishing line before heading out into the carpark area to await the start of the race.
Here, I was greeted by a spectrum of colours as the women were dressed in bright sports gear. Popular colours were various shades of pink, purple, yellow and turquoise (this is the official colour of the marathon) and I was probably the most boring one in black. Like most races, there were several who also chose to don their favourite cartoon character or super hero outfits.
I must say the weather was excellent – sunny yet cool, nothing like the heat and humidity one would experience running in Singapore. However, the day was actually hotter than usual at 12-17 degrees Celsius as compared to other days of about 10. So while very few chose to wear a down jacket, I was left with little choice as it was my only top with pockets, and I needed pockets to carry my gel and gloves. I saw a smart girl wearing a cycling jersey and immediately thought that why didn’t I think of that as it would have been ideal – it was not too warm as a second layer, and had pockets to store stuff!
At 9.10am, the elite wave of women were flagged off and by the time it came to ordinary folks like me, it was about 9.27am when I reached the start point. I quickly snapped a few pictures, started my Runkeeper app, kept my mobile phone and started my race. The start was a bit slow as there were many runners, but I knew I had to keep to a good pace for my first half if I wanted to complete the race in a decent time.
So I zig-zagged a little, weaving in and out, attempting to pass some runners. I managed to do so until I hit the 15km mark. This was where the pain started to set in due to inadequate training (yes, yes I know, I deserve it). Nonetheless, with crowds cheering by the road side, I persevered, as no one stops running here in Japan! I also dared not stop (except to drink), for I feared that if I had done so, my legs would not start-up again 😛
From the Nagoya Dome, the race route took me past the Nagoya museum, Atsuta Jingu, Osu Kannon, Tsurama Park, Nagoya TV Tower, Nagoya Castle, Nagoya City Hall, Shachihoko and back to the Nagoya Dome.
At the end of the race, finishers were treated to a pleasant surprise – a Tiffany & Co. “medal” in the form of a Sakura pendant, all nicely ribboned-up in a box. Indeed, it is the best and most useful race medal I have ever received! This truly, is a women’s marathon.
What can be done to improve the event:
Highlights of the race:
Although I could barely walk after the race, I still treated myself to sake and Izakaya to celebrate the completion of my 3rd marathon.
If you are thinking of doing the Nagoya Women’s Marathon next year, do remember to bid for your slot by early September this year. What are you waiting for? Just do it! 🙂
