It’s been a good few months since I’ve signed up for a race after a painful period of non-recovery from injury. The decision to participate came after a miraculous recovery and subsequently an invitation from a friend to participate in the team challenge.

As with previous posts, do look out for the font in italics which perhaps you may find important in a race, just as I do 🙂

Race Pack Collection

Race Entry Pack Collection (REPC) was held from the 26 to 28th February 2016, from 10am to 7pm each day at City Square Mall. I dropped by on the evening of 27th. There was a short and rapidly moving queue, thus taking me less than five minutes to grab my race pack. The race pack was rather plain – the race bib, the race tee and some other sponsors’ vouchers. There was a booth by Decathlon Singapore displaying some merchandise. The cheerful volunteers asked if this was my first time participating in the race and yes indeed it was! In fact it was the first time that I would be running along the Green Corridor route. “Then got motivation to run faster?” they quipped; “yah, my first and last chance to try this route!”

The Race Precinct

Less commonly do we find a race which is has a different start and finish point. This point to point race began at Tanjong Pagar Rail Station, before finally concluding at the old Bukit Timah Rail Station. Having met up with my team at Tanjong Pagar MRT, we took a 10 minute walk over to the start line. There were multiple trucks available for baggage deposit, making it highly efficient. In addition, there were tonnes of portable toilets available with hardly any queues.

The Race

The unfortunate aspect about most races in Singapore is that there aren’t race pens for runners to segregate themselves according to expected finishing time. Therefore, this meant that eager runners keen to position themselves appropriately often had to arrive significantly earlier than the flag-off time. I would commend the race organisers in allowing runners to select their approximate finishing times and thus be segregated into various waves, thus minimising congestion and improving safety. As my team was hoping to place well in the Team Challenge, we opted for the 8.00am start (the first wave).

At about 8.00am, we were flagged off. The race route took us all along the Green Corridor (as the race title suggests…). The route was largely flat, extending across grass, gravel and trail. There were some damp portions, though nothing particularly muddy. Though largely well lit (after all, the race begins well after the sun has risen), there were portions under expressways that could be deliberately lit to maximise safety on trail terrain.

Hydration stations were situated 3.5km, 5km and 7.5km into the race. One of my qualms would be that there was no isotonic hydration available, let alone chilled hydration. Yep, plain, lukewarm water was all that was available. Distance markers were religiously placed every 500m (if I recall), thus helping runners to accurately keep track of their progress and pace themselves.

One of the things I really liked was that as this was a popular race, photographers were everywhere! 🙂 Though a significant number were the official photographers (Marathon-Photos), there were many photographers that had made available their snapshots for free! Big thank you to all of them including Running Shots, RecoveringAddict Runner, Pictureart, Trail Running Singapore and any others I may have missed!

Post-race

Participants were handed a bottle of Volvic mineral water and a Finisher’s Medal. Bananas, apples and cups of isotonic hydration were available as well. Baggage retrieval thereafter was sadly, less efficient that baggage deposit.

Last but not least, Race Results were promptly released the day after the race!

That’s about all for me for this objective review. For my personal experience and thoughts of the race, you may check out my personal blog here (:

Cover Photo Credit: Green Corridor Run’s Facebook Page.

Having experienced a great deal of fun at both of these races in 2015, with a great deal of excitement on my daughter’s part, the family returned for the 2016 editions.  Here’s a quick recap:

Marina Wet ‘n Wild

Held once again at the Gardens by the Bay East gunslingers Dodge this Trini, Quickdraw Silv and Johnny the Kid were each lock and loaded with two custom designed green and orange shabbily squirting water pistols.  Undeterred by the wet weather the posse returned to the scene of the previous year’s gunslinging showdown.

This year the 5km route was a circuit around the Marina Bay Golf Course as opposed to last year’s 2 x 2.5km loop.  Being untimed last year we only completed one loop which was more than enough given the starting and stopping and shooting and refilling.  However, having one complete loop this time made it more interesting although more tiring especially being rained on but no less fun.

Also, this year the run was tied in with the Marina Run races as opposed to last year being an event on its own on a separate day.  The family activities that provided so much fun last year and made the event memorable were missing this year.

We had a great time because we always do whatever race we engage in with our kid but there’s not much drawback given the changes in their organisation and reduction of after race activities.  Remains to be seen whether we’ll be back for the third year.

Safari Zoo Run 2016

This might have been the call of the “Wildest Tribes” but fluoro orange tees??  We were like running targets for the animals or maybe we scared the daylights out of them with the brightness of the colour.  Perhaps the reason we saw less of the nocturnal creatures this time round (besides the fact that they are nocturnal).

This year’s route was in the opposite direction to last year running through the Zoo first and then connecting to the Night Safari.

I was quite impressed with the three water station on the route.  Besides hydrating regularly they were perfect opportunities for my kid to stop and rest.

The baby giraffe distraction was Trini’s highlight, since giraffes are her favorite animals.  Mine was the majestic Asian elephant and playful orangutan youngsters hanging on the vines.

We were fascinated by the beautiful white lions restlessly prowling in their den and my favorite white tiger duo resting on a rocky outcrop in perfect view to all visitors.

Trini found the zoo hills a little hard but she always managed to summon extra energy when daddy would challenge her to a sprint to either a water station or the next KM marking.  The sprinting games gave us the motivation we needed to pick up the pace and finish 5.3km in 43 min.  An improvement of seven minutes from last year.

We were satisfied with the generous offerings of bananas and sports drinks.  The tribal inspired finisher medals were another fun design and we think we like these better than last year’s.

One element I was disappointed in was the limited goodies in the race packs.  Last year we paid $38 each and besides the tee and medal we also received a small towel in our race pack (RRP in the zoo is $10).  A useful item we still use today.  This year we paid $48 each. Besides not finding our registration at race collection time, the pack consisted of tee and a bunch of useless vouchers that just end up in the bin.  This voucher usage seems to be a common theme this year as we noted after five collected race packs thus far.

We are uncertain if we’ll join next year’s zoo race.  It’ll largely depend on the price and value of pack and perhaps my daughter’s big pleading eyes.

This year’s Green Corridor Run would be the last edition since it started in 2013.  The Green Corridor is the only stretch of greenery and woodlands that runs the entire length of Singapore, from the old Tanjong Pagar Rail Station in the south to the border of Malaysia in the north.  This run was also held in conjunction with Singapore’s World Water Day celebrations.  World Water Day started as a United Nations initiative to focus attention on the 768 million people who lack access to fresh drinking water and sanitation.  It also advocates for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. To help raise awareness, there was also a new category called the Water Challenge which allowed participants to experience first-hand what it was like for 44% of the world’s population that have to walk large distances to fetch clean water for their families daily use.  (Note: Featured photo credit to Green Corridor Run’s (FB) photos.)

I signed up for the 10.5 km race hoping to enjoy the trail yet another time this year (since Compressport Rail Corridor Run on Jan 31st).   I was not alone as about 11000 runners signed up and from some 82 nationalities.  I was hoping also to improve over last year’s trail run’s PB.

I had attended a fairly heavy wedding dinner the night before and so it was late when I finally got to sleep around 2 am.  Though I set the alarm at 5.50 am, I woke up at 5.15 am.  I had no idea what a heavy dinner nor the short hours of sleep would do to my running but I tried to keep to the same routine before the race.  Peanut butter spread on bread (reduced to one slice because I thought I had enough food from last night still), downed with coffee, cleared the bowels, brushed my teeth and got into my running attire.  I drove to a car park near Jalan Bukit Merah Road, took the public bus and then walked a few hundred metres to the Outram MRT to catch the shuttle bus provided.  I had been experiencing long queues at previous races this year (see my earlier blogs) and so had taken this strategy for this race, compromising between public and own transport.  It worked.  No queue at the shuttle, no queue at the bag deposit and I didn’t wait long at the toilet stations for the last relief before the race.

Soon I was in Wave 1 and waited for several minutes.  But it was better than being late. The Senior Minister of State (Amy Khor) was there to reiterate the theme of the race ‘Every drop counts’ in her speech.  The crowd cheered and clapped when she ended her speech as they were impatient to get started.  She then flagged off the race on the count of 5.

Last year, I was in subsequent later waves and it became a very hot and humid, though scenic run.  This year, the sky looked calm and weather held well, a perfect day for a good run along the nice trail one last time.  I was also prepared this time, wearing a cap to shield myself from the glaring sun if it came on.

After 2 km, a dull pain came on my left leg as usual.  This had been happening the last couple of weeks or so, but stopped when I slowed down or stopped during my regular morning runs.  This time I ignored the pain and it disappeared after a few hundred metres.   I noticed the course was well marked out after 2 km at every half km.  At about 3 km, I started to feel a piece of small pebble that got into my left shoe.  I thought this was inevitable as there were stretches with loose pebbles and stones.  I shouldered on, hoping it would not go under my foot.  After a short distance, it seemed to disappear.  Then it came back near the back of the foot.  I carried on running and soon I was lucky, as it seemed to have flown out of my shoe as the discomfort disappeared.   Then I got into a good rhythm and enjoyed the run, scenery and weather, though there were the occasional trips.  At one point, I even became the stabilizer for someone who tripped behind me and steadying herself with a hand onto my back.  Always happy to be of service so I said ‘It’s Ok’ as she apologized, and I continued to run.

1 of 2

At the published hydration stops, water was provided for runners.  They were adequate for me though some did wish for the electrolytes drinks.  I enjoyed the run which ended at the defunct Bukit Timah Station and the organizers continued to be as efficient post-race, so we got the results the day after.  (I don’t run with any gadgets so I don’t normally know the exact timing immediately after the race.)  I was happy to beat my PB by slightly more than 2 minutes at 1:10:41 this time.  Not fast by any standard but I was happy since this was just my second year into running.  It was a good 17 minutes over the last one in January though I was recovering from a cold then and also the trail was very much more muddy due to the frequent rainfalls then.  At the finishing point, runners collected their finisher medals, towel, an apple or banana and a bottle of water or two.   Yet another good run – my fourth one this year.

It was with a great deal of regret that I missed out on the 2015 Green Corridor race due to a fractured ankle at a race the previous week. With 2016 being the last ever Green Corridor run, I made sure I signed up early and patiently waited for this final event.  The marketing was incredible.  Every other week another photo posted, more encouragement for participants to sign up, regular reminders that it was the last event.  It was bound to finish up with a bang.

What I didn’t anticipate is coming down with a stomach bug and high fever the day before the race.  You can imagine my disappointment and my thoughts of how much bad luck could I have incurred in relation to this one event.  And then the self-talk began.  You know the mantra “mind over matter”.  I didn’t care if I had to walk the entire route, so long as I was well enough to stand up and walk it.  And walk it I did.  All of 10km.

When I woke up at 2am, barely able to stand, I was certain there was no way I’d make it to the 8am start.  Dressed in multiple layers right down to wearing socks and covered in blankets, I sweated all of that fever out of my body and when the alarm went of at 6am, I sat up and thought OK I can stand, well lets see what I can do.

Signed up for the first wave, John and I along with our friend, Remek, joined the thousands of other competitors in the pen at the historic Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.  At some point the MC announced that 11,000 runners were registered for this event.  I suspect about 40% of them were in our wave alone.

It was a perfect racing day overcast with clouds and a slight breeze.  With an 8am flag-off, I eased into a very slow jog and lasted all of 650m.  With an elevated heart rate and jelly legs, I figured the lack of food and previous day’s dehydration has made it clear that this was going to be a long walk to the end.

Once the stampede of Wave 1 runners disappeared into the distance, we had about 4km of silence on the route with occasional joggers passing by or other walkers.  It was pleasant but with my ears blocked and labouring heartbeat, it was difficult to chit-chat with my husband who I am grateful for keeping me company the whole way to the end.

Then, the Wave 2 stampede came and they just kept on coming for the next 5km.  We kept pulling to the left side to give way but still managed to be in the way of many who couldn’t figure that going around us would’ve been more appropriate than barreling between the two of us.  I suddenly realised how narrow the route is and why so many previous year’s racers complained about the congestion.  Having done 6km of this part of the Green Corridor with my Team Costa friends, I must say it was a much more pleasant affair given the space available and even good photo opportunities.  This time I figured if I have to walk, then maybe I can take a few pics but with a sea of blue tees and stampeding bodies, it didn’t draw the same appeal, so the camera remained packed away.

We just kept trudging along, knocking off one kilometer at a time and with each kilometer the pace was slowing down.  As I was walking, I swung between disappointment for not being able to run and appreciation for actually being able to get up and at least participate.  I remain in those mixed feelings.

As we reached the 9th km, I observed a teenage kid being cared for by family, struggling to breathe and the first aid team coming to help and all I could think of is how bummed she would feel that she was 1km away from the finish line and she couldn’t complete it.  I thought chances are if that was me, I would drag myself by my teeth if I had to, to get to the end.

With the end in sight, I said to hubby let’s make it feel worthwhile and jog to the end.  It was a mere 200m but it felt like 2km.  As soon as I crossed the finish line I hunched over trying to settle my heart rate and rebalance my breathing.  With the excitement over, we hydrated, topped ourselves up with bananas and apples, checked out the old railway bridge and started making our way home.

Whilst the race pack only consisted of a tee, we were pleasantly surprised with the mini towel received at the end.  The finisher medal design with an image of the Green Corridor captures the ruggedness of this place and perhaps the last time we will see it this way again. It is a nice commemorative medal.  I was also very grateful for the three water stations along the route.  Given my dehydration, I kept topping up with a couple of cups at each water station and I was even more grateful for the cold bottle of water at the end of the race.

A nicely organised event, I am thankful I made it, regardless of how I completed the race. I may not be happy about not being able to run it but I know I will never regret not having done it.

With the impending long-term closure of the Green Corridor, we still have the opportunity to take our daughter to Bukit Timah Railway Station and explore it along with the old railway bridge.  For any other nostalgic person, I would recommend that if you haven’t explored this area, do so now before it completely disappears.

[Before the race]

Race Fee: Shut up and take my money! Even though is super expensive for a 5km run, but it’s One Piece, $60 plus is worth it! Of course is a die die must go no need to consider! Had been a huge huge huge fan of One Piece since I was like 13 years old and I can say that One Piece is the greatest manga and anime ever! No joke! ?

Race Tee: Why must Tshirt? ? Don’t like Tshirt ? One Piece run was held before in Taipei, race tee is similar just different in colour but I really don’t get it why must be T-shirt? To cover flabby arms? ? Can actually give us the option to choose singlet also and it actually helps the organiser cut cost also right? Can actually come up with more interesting design race singlet or give interesting accessories. Last year’s Justice League run good, they give batman’s mask or superman’s cape etc.

Race Pack Collection: Queue to collect the race pack is short and fast. Got sell some merchandise but never sell some cosplay clothings quite sad because I’m rather interested to cosplay as Luffy and go actually. I think got char bors will cosplay to go as Nami, wear bikini go run or like the super sexy Boa Hancock. Too bad my figure no good, I very considerate don’t want to make people eyes blind.

[After the race]

Race Tee: I really buay tahan the Tshirt, finally I decided to cut it last night and takes about 30 minutes. I figure that I won’t be wearing this shirt anymore after the run so I just cut. Quite satisfied as not too badly done lah. Some people wear their own shirts or singlets that they are comfortable with to run. But going to a event ma, so I’ll try to be part of it. See next time if the runs they give Tshirt I bear to cut or not. 

Cosplay: Saw quite a few interesting cosplayer today, saw one Mr 2, I think very cute and got effort and quite nice.

Running route: The whole run is actually only 3.6km. Too short already, never sweat enough ? But really nice lah! Got many photo spots can take pictures, got mermaid some more but I never stop and take pictures, although this run no timing one but run finish first more important than taking pictures ?

Finisher medal: I can say this is the chioest medal I have gotten so far! Although there is Green Corridor Run today as well but I never regretted signing up for One Piece run instead ^^

Race village: And this is the most enjoyable race village ever! Got games (I never play), got best cosplay competition(I never participate), got sell food (I never buy), got sell merchandise (I never buy too), got tattoo and got photo booth. Luckily I start and end quite early so when I go get my tatto and go photo booth still not much of queueing yet ? Hopefully there will be Naruto Run or even Lord Of the Rings Run coming up next ?

I’m a Hardcore Fan: I’ve been chasing One Piece, watching the anime, reading the manga again and again many times for about 15 years and I hope Luffy will never find one piece until at least the 1000th comic is published or before I die, because I really want to know the ending but don’t want it to end so fast.

Every character’s story is damn touching, especially Zoro’s, Nami’s, Usopp’s, Sanji’s, Chopper’s, Vivi’s, Brook’s, Mr 2 and Ace’s part (Wah actually more than that, lidat mention seems like the throughout the entire anime I’m crying because of the touchiness) I cried damn hard many times, even when Going Merry(their ship) can no longer sail anymore I also cried so much and sad for a super long period. Those who never watch or read One Piece before you’ve missed something really great and awesome! It’s funny, cute, touching, about love, friendship, kinship and more than just this.

Used to keep up to thousands of comics till about a little more than a year ago, I gave them away as I got a little crazy after I got out of a long term relationship and I turn my focus into tidying my room, giving and throwing things away and other than that, use the rest of my energy on running of course. Its a pity but the collection is really taking up a lot of space in my room and also collecting dust. I only kept 3 sets of my favourites, One Piece, Naruto and Hunter x Hunter. Slam dunk is also my favourite, but I didn’t kept it as the book all turn very yellowish already. Now I regretted, yellowish can still read what. Although now we can read manga online, but all these authors is really talented, must buy their comics to show support right!