Singapore has seen an increasing number of people participating in sports activities, especially in running events, triathlon events, and cycling events. However, some may say that such events in Singapore are reaching a saturation point. With races happening every week, many of the races are held at the same few running routes or venues.
As a result, more people are looking to join races overseas, where they get to run a totally different route and explore a different country. Here are the 3 words to get familiar with this year for those looking to participate in events overseas:
Istanbul Marathon
Runcation – This is a wordplay on run and vacation, which essentially means to go for a running event and vacation at the same time. It has become increasingly popular the past year, and we are expecting to see even more runners joining overseas races this year onwards. In fact, some popular races among Singaporeans are just a short flight away, such as Penang Bridge International Marathon and Gold Coast Marathon.
ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN – May 1- Adventure mountain bike cross-country marathon in desert
Cycation – Similarly, cycation is also a wordplay and refers to a vacation together with a cycling race overseas. There are bigger and longer roads overseas, more trail routes suitable for cycling; and these maybe some of the contributing factors to why more people are travelling overseas to cycle.
Trication – This word is also coined by triathlon and vacation, referring to vacation on a triathlon race overseas. With greater space and more natural elements available overseas, triathlon races may be more popular than those in Singapore. Races overseas also provide more exposure for our local triathletes.
GALWAY – SEPTEMBER 4- Start of Pro athletes at first Edition of Galway Iron Man Triathlon on September 4, 2011 in Galway, Ireland
Whether you are a runner, a cyclist, or a triathlete, it can be a very rewarding experience when you step out of your comfort zone and participate in a race overseas. Which ones do you intend to join this year?
Research has shown that the chances of staying smoke-free improve by 5 times in the first 28 days of kicking the habit. Withdrawal symptoms from quitting usually last about 2-4 weeks and the risk of relapsing decreases after the first 4 weeks of being smoke-free.
If you are somebody who has always thought of quitting smoking, there is no best time is to do it. The only time you can do it is now.
You may follow Health Promotion Board’s I Quit 28-Day Countdown programme, which is created to support individuals who want to take the first step towards a smoke-free life. By participating in the countdown, individuals can choose their own start date and receive daily SMS tips for 28 days to support them in their quit journey.
Take one step closer to a smoke-free life. And you will be one step closer to being a better runner, a better employee, a better parent, a better sibling, a better son/daughter; most importantly, a better and healthier person.
These are the marathons that every runner wishes to compete in at least once in their life. They are also the most popular marathons in the world, and often sold out to its participants. Some of them require balloting, while some require certain qualifying times for runners to register for the race. Here are 5 of the marathons in the world – which of these races would you be signing up and training for next?
The Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label marathon and one of the six World Marathon Majors. It is Asia’s favourite and most popular marathon race in one of the most spectacular cities on earth, featuring over 36,000 full-distance runners with over 1 million spectators lining the course. The Tokyo Marathon’s atmosphere is truly electrifying, with a scenic route symbolizing the past, present and future of Tokyo. Runners will enjoy the sights of the Imperial Palace, the Tokyo Tower, as well as the Asakusa Kaminarimon Gate, the oldest temple in Tokyo with its trademark large lantern. Join in the fun and see the beautiful city of Tokyo transformed into a runner’s paradise!
There were were 1,000 participants in the first Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon in 1997, but it has grown to over 70,000 participants now. The route is known to be challenging with high levels of humidity. The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon is not only a way to put your physical fitness to the test, it is also a unique way to see the sights of the fantastic city of Hong Kong. Runners from over thirty countries competed in this year’s race, making it the most popular Hong Kong Marathon to date.
The BMW Berlin Marathon is a major running event held every September in the German capital. One of the World Marathon Majors, it is highly popular among elites and amateurs alike, as the mild temperatures, flat course route with even running surface makes Berlin ideal for a first-time marathon, or those seeking a PR. The most marathon world records for men and women have also been set at the Berlin course, with the current world record of 2:02:57 set in 2014 by Dennis Kimetto from Kenya.
The course starts in the beautiful Greenwich Park and takes you past London’s famous sights including Cutty Sark, Canary Wharf, Tower of London, Nelson’s Column, Millennium Wheel before finishing in front of Buckingham Palace.
As a fundraising event, there is no marathon in the world that comes close to the Virgin Money London Marathon. One of the dominant images of the race is that of thousands clad in fancy dress, tramping the cobbles in support of charitable causes dressed as rhinos, football team mascots, giant trees and the like. In 2008 £46.7 million was raised for charity and is the largest annual fundraising event in the world!
The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world’s most prestigious road racing events. Managed by the Boston Athletic Association since 1897, the Boston Marathon has distinguished itself by virtue of its traditions, longevity and race entry via qualification. The incredible demand for participation in the event led to Boston qualifying times (BQ) being tightened in 2011, and a change in the application process prioritising faster runners.
The race runs through eight Massachusetts cities and towns: Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and Boston. Given its series of hills en route, it is considered to be one of the tougher races around. However, race results from the Boston Marathon do not count towards marathon world records due to the overall decrease in elevation over the 42km and the westward race route permitting for tailwinds. A crowd of half a million spectators gather to show support annually.
Sister Madonna Buder isn’t your average nun, nor your average 80 year-old lady in your neighbourhood. You would think an ordinary woman in her 80s should be resting and is accompanied by aches and pains and lack of mobility. But Sister Madonna Buder is anything but ordinary. Let her story inspire us to do more than we think we will ever be able to.
Sister Buder is known as the “Iron Nun” for being the nun who competes in the grueling Ironman competitions. In fact, she has completed more than 340 triathlons – 45 of them the notoriously grueling ‘Ironmans’ – and she only started running when she was 48.
She first broke the record for the oldest woman to finish an Ironman at Ironman Canada in 2012. Sister Madonna continues to compete in Ironman competitions despite her age, which forced the Ironman organization to create new age brackets to accommodate her. For two years, Buder had tried to open the 80-plus group for women.
At 82, she became the oldest person to finish the grueling IRONMAN Triathlon and even helped launch new age groups in the sport. But to Sister Madonna Buder, it is not about setting records or getting accolades. Her real mission is to encourage others to discover and develop their God-given gifts for the benefit of all. She leads by example as the “Iron Nun”, completing feats some of us won’t even consider possible, especially at her age.
“All of this puts me in touch with nature. I really do not like to do anything indoors with a mechanical animal. I want the real thing because it puts me out there in nature and I’m able to absorb the wonder of (God’s) creation… I consider it the biggest of his cathedrals. I just get lost in it.”
She trains for her competitions by running to church every day and bikes 40 miles to swim in a lake near her home. She also jogs to her regular visits at the local jail, where she reads scriptures to inmates – an activity which makes her feel ‘so blessed’ to come home from. As for her diet, Sister Buder sticks to a mostly raw diet of fruits and vegetables, but incorporates carbs and protein powder into her meals, and she says she ‘listens’ to what her body tells her it needs.
Sister Madonna Buder at the Roth Challenge Triathlon 2014 | Photo credits: Lennart Preiss/Getty Images Europe
Sister Madonna was inducted into the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame in 2014 and she has had 12 age-group victories at the Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii and has won dozens of national and world titles in Olympic-distance events.
“I’ve learned other life lessons along the way, but the ones that I’d look back and tell my twenty something self now are: It’s not what you say, it’s what you do; don’t pay attention to how old you are, only focus on how old you feel.”
For someone who had only started running at age 48, and yet competed in various Ironman races, Sister Buder is a living testament that we can accomplish anything as long as we set our mind to it. Her perseverance, positive attitude, and refusal to bend to society’s expectations will continue to be an inspiration for all.
Started with only four friends in 2006, Joyriders have since grown to a community of over 2,000 members and is the largest recreational cycling club in Singapore! This year, Joyriders celebrate its 10 years together with its community members and how far the cycling community has progressed the past decade.
That means more than 3,650 days of riding together under the flag of the Snail Queen, covering an estimate of about 100,000,000 kilometres along the way!
That’s a whopping 2,500 times around the world!
For that, and all the friendships that have grown in the JoyRiders’ Community, JoyRiders will be celebrating these milestones together this month.
The celebration will be held at 1855 Bistro, on 24 January 2016, from 6pm to 10pm. The event will be a massive riders-dinner buffet with free-flow beer. Riders can also expect to walk away from the event with a goodie bag of $200 worth of gifts (including Bike Lights, Cycling Gloves, 60-Minute Massage Vouchers, SPIN Magazine, and more).
When: Sunday, 24 January 2016 from 6pm to 10pm Where: 1855 Bistro – 3 Temasek Boulevard Singapore. #01-643 Suntec City Tower 4. Singapore 038983
Once again, happy 10 years anniversary JoyRiders! We hope the cycling community in Singapore will continue to grow in Singapore.
Eating your meals at the right time is important when you are concerned about how meals affect your weight loss goals. Generally, there is no best time for you to eat your specific meals. You should be following the natural rhythm clock of your body and and plan your meals around your schedule. For example, if you are a late riser, your meals will be later than someone who is up by 6 am. Avoid missing or delaying your meal times, because you are more likely to overeat when you are hungrier (your brain takes 20 minutes to register food in your stomach).
Studies also show that if you skip breakfast, you are likely eat up to an extra 500 calories per day. If you are the type to eat six smaller meals, then you will eat more frequently, let your body tell you when you are hungry. If you are dieting, a good rule is to not eat after 8 pm, however, for the late riser who goes to bed late, it is okay to eat after 8 pm as long as you stop eating three hours before bedtime.
Here is a simple guide for you to follow and share with your friends:
We have listed 5 half-marathon events in Asia that you should consider joining this year. It gets difficult to travel overseas for races on top of our work schedule, but you can try going for short trips to nearby countries. These can be great to add to your short trips with family and friends. It will definitely be a great way to travel, have fun, and run!
While the rail corridor will be closed for 3 years for underground water pipe construction, the URA also has another bigger plan for the rail corridor. On top of preservation of the natural settings, the rail corridor will be transformed into a new comfortable space for walking, jogging and cycling. Click on the heading to read more about the details of the transformation.
Runners are always looking for new interesting races to join to challenge themselves. Here, we have listed 8 races with unique characteristics each that you may want to join in 2016. These races will be different from your usual road races or trail races and you get to experience a new dimension to running.
Trail races are a great way for runners to explore a new place and get close with nature. The beautiful sceneries and the fresh air are just some of the reasons why more people are signing up for trail races every year. There are plenty of trail races with beautiful sceneries in the world, and most of them are ultramarathon races. For those who love nature, but not ready to challenge an ultra distance footrace yet, here are top 5 trail marathons you can consider in 2016:
Hoang Lien National Park, Vietnam
Next race: September 24th, 2016
Vietnam Mountain Marathon is the result of a lifelong love of running and a fascination with Vietnam. The mountains of Vietnam are home to thousands of yellow rice fields, water buffaloes and colorful ethnic minority groups. The small dirt roads and narrow trails will take you through the beautiful mountain ranges of Hoang Lien National Park and valleys near Sapa that are only used by locals. Each route will encompass challenging climbs, exhilarating descents and a true glimpse of local life through the rice fields and ethnic minority villages.
Khövsgöl Province, Mongolia
Next race: 3rd August 2016
Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset is an annual event that allows runners to experience some of the most spectacular and pristine trail running in the world as well as an opportunity to visit Mongolia – the land of Chinggis Khan, nomadism and infinite wilderness.
Whether you come to challenge the Mongolian champions over the 100km distance or to challenge yourself in trekking your first Alpine marathon, Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset offers you a week of discovery and exploration. The event takes participants to Hovsgol Lake on the northern border of Mongolia (adjacent to Russian Siberia) where the wide open spaces, dry and temperate climate and naturally soft terrain are ideal for running.
Run against the dramatic backdrop of mountains at the junction of France, Switzerland and Italy.
Mont-Blanc Marathon is one of the world’s premiere trail races, and starts in Chamonix’s central square before leading runners on a 26.2-mile loop around the surrounding valley. Along the way, racers pass through ancient hamlets and high-alpine meadows, all in the shadow of Western Europe’s highest mountain. This is ultra athlete Kilian Jornet’s training ground, so be prepared for a burly ride, including more than 8,000 feet of climbing.
Meili Snow Mountains, China
Next race: 28th May 2016
The Shangri-La Marathon is a challenging adventure race, a mountain marathon and ultramarathon, which takes place on some of the most breathtaking mountains in the world. The Meili Snow Mountains, or Kawagarbo Mountains as it is known by local residents and pilgrims, is part of the grand Himalayan Mountain range in the Yunnan province of Southern China, bordering Tibet.
The location is absolutely incredible with breathtaking sights to experience. The course features diverse range of terrain and climate with some good elevation gains, ranging from a combined 1,775m (5,823ft) for 21k Half Marathon runners to 5,288m (17,350ft) for 100k Ultramarathon runners, the first 5k is the most challenging with a 1,000 meter climb.
Entabeni Game Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Next race: 25th June 2016
Here is your chance to literally run wild with the animals in the plains of South Africa.
First organised in 2005, the Big Five Marathon is an annual race that takes runners through Entabeni private game reserve. The Big Five refers to the five famous game animals: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. The course boasts magnificent savannah scenery while runners get the opportunity to run close to wildlife, even traversing lion territory. Safety is a non-issue however, with helicopter surveillance and armed rangers.
The Big Five Marathon is quite a tough race requiring a certain level of fitness and experience. It starts and finishes at Lakeside Lodge on the upper escarpment. The surface varies from deep sand, dirt tracks and trails to paved roads and pebbly surfaces with holes, and the course will be ascending quite a lot from beginning to end. Weather conditions, the sun can be brutal on the open savannahs despite being in the wintertime.
Basic aerobic fitness is necessary, whether you’re trying out a new 10km or challenging your personal best. A strong heart can help protect you against exhaustion and aid with recovery. Despite the benefits, it’s important to progressively increase the intensity of your cardio training. It’s not always easy to feel that you’re working too hard, especially when you’re competing with yourself here.
To run safe whiletracking progress, having a HR monitor on hand can help you gauge which heart rate zones you’re working in. There is an entourage of HR monitors out there, from basic ones (that just do what they’re called) and those that come with an accessory of additional features. But before you go out and wreck your wallet getting one, let’s get some facts right.
Source: NASM Blog
TRUE OR FALSE: Resting HR is a good indicator of physical fitness.
True. As you train more, your heart becomes more efficient. It requires a lower beats per minute to deliver the same amount of blood through your body. For most people, the normal resting HR is about 60 to 90 bpm. For more trained athletes, it can go 10 to 20 bpm lower. The best time to capture resting HR is in the lingering minutes when you just awake from sleep. Those HRM (heart rate monitors) that help you track sleep patterns and capture HR during those times would be great.
TRUE OR FALSE: Your max HR decreases with age.
True. As you age, the upper limit of your HR declines. Scientifically, it’s because aging depresses the spontaneous electrical activity of the heart’s natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial node. If you’re the kind who continues pushing with every birthday you celebrate, it’s going to be important to watch how hard you’re pushing yourself. Some HRM allow you to set HR zones, while others allow you to set upper HR limits. Those might be useful for the more cautious ones. Otherwise, you can simply refer to your HRM during workouts.
TRUE OR FALSE: The harder you work, the more weight you lose.
False, false, false. I can’t emphasize this enough. It’s the net calorie intake that would determine whether you lose or gain weight. However, different HR zones would train you for different distances. That would ultimately affect your race performance. Matt Fitzgerald has an amazing book for that called “80/20 Running.” In which, he mentioned that distance runners should be doing 80% of their training at low intensity and only 20% at moderate-to-high intensity. That’s because when you want to train your muscles to resist fatigue, you’ve got to go slow to recruit the right hormones for that. Matt also mentioned that it’s easy for us to confuse our “habitual pace” with our “low intensity.” In this case, having a HRM on hand to give you quantitative gauge of your training progress would help.
Does everyone need a HRM?
Of course not! It’s really up to you to decide how much you’d like to invest into your training and we have great runners who train based on how their bodies feel. So we say: Read the facts above and then make your decision.
You’re running along the east coast, feeling energized and free. Suddenly, the front of your leg feels strained. You carry on running, but the pain worsens. Every step is agony, yet you still push through to finish your run. Resting after the run gives you immense relief, until the pain returns when you start to walk again.
This anterior leg pain is often referred to as shin splints. It can be any pain from the anterior shin to the ankle. There are three commonly presenting conditions for shin splints. These conditions are most often found in sports personnel; they are caused and worsened by physical activity.
Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS)
Compartment Syndrome
Stress Fracture
1. Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS)
This is a very common injury among athletes, and is an overuse or repetitive-stress injury. MTSS starts from inflammation of the shin splints, which can be worsened by continual exercise. The inflammation occurs along the muscle, tendon and lining of the bone. Repetitive stress on these muscles worsens the injury, as they do not allow the inflammation to heal properly.
The condition can be worsened by running, jumping, soccer, basketball; especially if done on hard surfaces. This causes even more pain to be felt in the lower part of the shin bone. If the pain is untreated, it can become persistent and even present in non-exercise activities such as walking or descending stairs. The pain may then extend to the muscles and bone extending to the front of the leg.
Ways to resolve the pain
Reduce the inflammation, use ICE and Rest
Reduce lower limb activities that aggravate the condition
Switch to non-weight bearing activities to reduce inflammation
Do gentle stretching exercises of the foot and lower leg
If pain is not resolving and still persistent after 3 days, please consult a lower limb specialist
Preventive steps:
Warm up before any work out.
Gradually increase your physical activity in duration, intensity, and frequency avoiding sudden increases in exercise. Monitor your training regime closely.
Strengthen your muscles, but always remain flexible by stretching before and after exercise.
Get foot wear that give the right level of support for your feet, especially people with flat feet, collapsing arches or pronated foot type as they have higher inclination to developing MTSS.
2. Compartment syndrome
Shin splints refer to pain in the anterior compartment of the leg, meaning the front part of your leg. Anterior compartment syndrome describes numbness, tingling, pain and weakness in the leg. Exercise enhances these sensations, creating tightness in the affected compartment. There may also be a decreased feeling of space between the toes due to nerve compression.
What causes this to happen?
Swelling in the leg muscles
When the muscles are tight with scar tissue formation (inadequate stretching or recurrent injury)
The swelling reduces the blood and nerve supply to the muscles
Ways to reduce the pain
Obtain a correct diagnosis – see a specialist who can help run out underlying vascular, neurological or musculoskeletal issues causing the pain
Reduce exercise that brings the pain
Progressively increase your activites (frequency and intensity)
Sports compression stockings may be considered
If conservative treatment (listed above) fails, surgery may be considered
Ways to prevent recurrence
Ensure you stretch and warm up adequately, seek professional medical advice if needed.
Have sports injuries treated – scar tissue development can hinder your future performance in sports.
Make sure your sports shoes are supportive with high shock absorbancy and stability around your ankle. Arch support orthotics may be needed to reduce tibial and ankle rotations in your foot.
3. Stress Fracture
Stress fractures are overuse injuries; when the muscles are tired they transfer the overload stress in the muscle to the bone causing small cracks called stress fractures.
Athletes in tennis, track, field, gymnastics and basketball are highly susceptible to stress fractures, especially in the lower limb. Women athletes are much more susceptible to stress fractures as they have a higher tendency to have eating disorders, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis leading to decreases bone mass and subsequently stress fractures.
Orthopaedic surgeons, sports physicians and podiatrists can help diagnose and treat stress fractures. X-rays are not a necessity and fractures may not show on x-rays for several weeks, but the clinician may order one to help confirm diagnosis.
Ways to reduce the pain
Ice the painful area daily
Rest from activities for 6-8 weeks – it takes this long for your bone to heal
Your physician will strongly suggest immobilization and ask you to wear a cast
Alternative bracing and shoe inserts may be offered to help heal your injuries
How to reduce recurrence rates
Set incremental goals i.e. gradually increasing your mileage on a weekly basis.
Mix and match your workouts, do some cross training to reduce repetitive stress on your bones. Mix strength training with cardio.
Rest between work outs and competitions
Slowly adapt to unfamiliar surfaces e.g. running outdoors Vs indoors
Ensure you have a healthy diet, rich in calcium and vitamin D.
Do not wear old, unsupportive and worn out running shoes. The fracture will worsen and become a more serious problem. Wear supportive footwear with ample cushioning and shock absorbency.
If you experience persistent pain after sports then please ICE and rest. If resting does not resolve the pain, please seek medical attention.
Recognising the symptoms early and seeking medical help to recover means you can return to sports quickly and efficiently.
Hands up if your New Year resolution is to complete a marathon.
Now, there are so many out there to choose from. If you were to extend that overseas, there’s going to be way more options available. To make choosing easier for you guys, we’ve narrowed down the options to present you the one marathon you should never, ever miss – the OSIM Sundown Marathon 2016, Asia’s largest night-marathon.
Newbies, ‘siao-on’ runners, budget students… This race is the one for everyone. Let us tell you why.
For hardcore challengers:
When night falls, our body starts to switch into sleep mode. During which, there is a general loss of skeletal muscle tone and active sympathetic nervous system. Let’s break this down. Muscle tone is a continuous and passive part of your muscle that contracts. This contraction acts as a resistance when your muscle experiences a sudden stretch or pull. It protects your muscles! Then we have the sympathetic nervous system that speeds up your heart rate and gets more blood and oxygen throughout your body. That’s important when you’re running. All these tend to shut down when night falls and your body clock tunes to sleep mode. So I’m not saying that the Sundown is a road to death but it’s going to take training, which also makes it perfect for those who loves a challenge.
For all ages and levels:
Sundown has grown from a humble 6,000 participants in its first year to an expected 30,000 in 9 years. Starting as an ultramarathon event in its first year, the organisers have progressively introduced more race categories for everybody to participate. So, regardless of your current level as a runner, this year you can experience racing safely in the heart of Singapore in the wee hours by going for either a Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km or 5km. What’s more, since last year, kids from age of 6 years old and up can take part in the 5km fun run!
For value hunters:
Races typically range about $50-$100. Those culminate to paying for the race route, the sports singlets and most importantly, race logistics. Everything from baggage collection to ensuring your welfare during the run itself is covered. Imagine how much more needs to be done for a night race! There has got to be proper lighting, more water points and first aid-ers readying at every turn. For Sundown to be offered at a similar price range as any other race but with so much more, it’s definitely “value for money.”
Well, truth is we all have various reasons for why we choose to join a race and why that particular race. So you might end up signing up for this marathon, or you might turn around and end up with another. It’s all up to you, the runner. The good news is that if you think Sundown is for you, we have a discount code for you!
We are pleased to offer our readers special Loyalty Rates from now till 31 March 2016. Use code OSDM2016LRJUSTRUNLAH during check out to enjoy the discount! Click here to sign up
JustRunLah! is proud to be Running Portal Partner of Sundown Marathon 2016.
A man runs through Victoria Park at sunrise in Leicester, central England, October 14, 2015. REUTERS/Darren Staples TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Getting out of your bed to go for a morning run or jog may seem like an uphill task to some, but sometimes all you have to do is to convince yourself to just do it… Or basically, just run lah! Here are 6 simple steps you can take to make things easier for you when you want to go for a morning run. It does not require too much effort, as long as you set your mind to do it. Theres’ nothing bad about going for a morning run to enjoy the fresh morning air and morning breeze!
Don’t miss the one and only chance you get to run through the zoo! Safari Zoo Run was conceived to commemorate Singapore Zoo’s famous matriarch and one of Singapore’s most loved animal personalities — Ah Meng the Sumatran orang utan. This year, the event is happening on the 27th and 28th February and includes 10km, 5.5km and 2.5 (Family/Kids) races.
We are happy to be giving away four (4) free slots to this event to our readers for the category of their choice. Fill in the form below to take part in the contest!
Singapore national marathoner Soh Rui Yong will incorporate popular isotonic drink H-TWO-O/Yeo’s in his hydration plans for trainings leading up to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Local leading food and beverage company, YHS, has signed national marathoner Soh Rui Yong as their brand ambassador for popular isotonic drink H-TWO-O/Yeo’s. The company, with 116 years of heritage, aims to empower athletes like Rui Yong, who are bold enough to take the next step to fulfil their dream of making a name for themselves in the international sporting arena.
YHS believes that Rui Yong’s “never give up” attitude and his perseverance to always push himself to improve is a true embodiment of the brand’s philosophy. After winning the gold medal in the men’s marathon at the 28th South-east Asian Games, Rui Yong is now ready to conquer a bigger race – the upcoming Rio Olympics marathon.
“Rui Yong is a talented and diligent athlete with a promising running career. As a Singapore grown company, we want to support our local athlete to elevate his sports performance to the next level. Rui Yong’s determination and perseverance is an inspiration to all of us and these qualities resonate with the H-TWO-O brand value and spirit.” said Mr Melvin Teo, Group CEO of YHS.
Singapore national marathoner Soh Rui Yong will be the new face to front popular isotonic drink H-TWO-O/Yeo’s 2016 ad campaign for local leading food and beverage company, YHS.
The 24-year-old runner is currently preparing to qualify for the upcoming Rio Olympics marathon. He is very excited and grateful for his new sponsorship.
“The story of a Singaporean company supporting the dreams of a Singaporean athlete is one I am very happy to be a part of. Including the H-TWO-O/Yeo’s drinks as part of my hydration regimen will definitely help me in my training and competition. I look forward to helping the Yeo’s brand grow as I pursue my Olympic quest.”
As an ambassador of YHS, Rui Yong will be promoting the brand and sharing his hydration plans for his training and competitions on social media. Rui Yong will also be the new face to front H-TWO-O/Yeo’s ad campaign for 2016.
Let’s show support of Soh Rui Yong’s road to Rio and his ultimate goal of being the first man from Singapore to qualify for the marathon at the Olympics!
Previously, we received news about the closure of Rail Corridor from 2016 to 2019 for construction work for new underground water pipeline. But the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore has even bigger plans for the Rail Corridor – to recreate the green scenic place as a seamless and comfortable shared space for walking, jogging and cycling.
It will become Singapore’s new elevated park, spanning 24 km around Singapore. This will be 10 times as long as the successful High Line Park in Manhattan. The park will connect the Tanjong Pagar railway station to Kranji. The route will pass through residential neighbourhoods like Bukit Timah and Choa Chu Kang along the way.
There will be over 120 access points, and includes 21 platforms with toilets and rest areas.
“Where the former railway line divides communities, the rail corridor now has the potential to become an inclusive public space that connects communities,” says See Nin Tan, senior director at Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority.
Part of the corridor will feature panoramic views of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
The preliminary design includes eight distinctively-themed stretches along the entire Rail Corridor, each embodying a unique characteristic of the Corridor. For example, at Stagmont Ring which is near the residential community, can offer more community oriented amenities such as playgrounds, community farming plots and fishing ponds. This ensures the preservation of the entire Rail Corridor, while developing each segment according to its unique characteristics.
For the segment of land at Choa Chu Kang between the Rail Corridor and Pang Sua Canal, a housing design will be integrated with the Rail Corridor, with an extensive public space that allows residents to appreciate the enhanced greenery of the Rail Corridor from various heights through sky links and bridges.
One section of the corridor passes under a viaduct and will become a “passage of light” with interactive lighting.
Cementing connectivity and heritage of the Rail Corridor
URA has begun the process for the conservation of the two steel truss bridges along the Rail Corridor. The bridges are important landmarks that once facilitated the seamless transport of passengers and goods along the Corridor. They were traditionally used as locational markers for the 7th mile and 9th mile of Bukit Timah Road. They are now beloved railway artefacts that capture Singapore’s railway history, and they will become important connectors for users of the Rail Corridor.
If you are not convinced, think of the engineering and architecture marvels we already have in Singapore such as Marina Bay Sands, Esplanade, Singapore Indoor Stadium, Southern Ridges; this may just be another breakthrough in our architectural icons. If it does succeed as planned, the new Rail Corridor will definitely be a dream come true for runners and cyclists in Singapore.
I am a late bloomer as far as running is concerned.
My previous post chronicled my first HM experience and also briefly mentioned how I started my running journey. Like many other runners, I also reflected on my runs and races in 2015. It was a pivotal year for me. After a year of running, I had a modest haul of medals and collected a few finisher tees; not forgetting clocking some personal best timings. Here is a quick summary of 2015.
1 podium finish
2 long distance races
3 finisher tees
4 personal records
5 10k finisher medals
10 official finishes
Medals Haul for 2015
For more than 5 decades, running wasn’t my forte. Then in 2014, I made an important decision to sign up for SCMS2014 – my first official race ever. It became a turning point in my life. But then, being a senior beginner, I was looking for resources to help me take up running as a serious sport. I could not look to my friends for help as most are somewhat physically inactive; let alone run or jog. I trawled the Web for good running resources but these were few and far between. So, my 2015 running journey was one of trial and error.
After a year of hits and misses, here are 10 lessons (there could be more) I learnt that may be of help to the more senior folks who are contemplating taking up jogging/running this year.
You can actually teach your body to run – educate it.
You can run longer than you think you can – start slow and short.
You can run without music in your ears – listen to your body.
You discover that 10km is a recovery run – run long and easy.
You need to refuel and hydrate during your long runs – have a strategy.
You can improve even when you are senior runner – read up and resource yourself.
You can enjoy and run injury free – do your research.
You need to space out your runs – watch your recovery.
You get to try different running routes – add variety to your runs.
You need to choose your races – enjoy running company.
So you see, it is still possible for someone who is in his fifties to start running. For those of you who are still hesitant about running in your senior years, I trust that my sharing can help encourage and prod you along. Not only will it transform your life, it will also make you fitter and leaner! But do your homework first; consult your doctor if you need to. Lace up your shoes, gear up and hit the road with youthful gusto . Running will make you feel young again!
Photo from my Instagram @twtwriter
I am looking forward to 2016 with much anticipation. Told myself that I won’t chase after medals and finisher tees anymore but will still beat my own personal timings for 5k, 10k and 21k. I will go beyond my comfort zone (maybe attempt a FM), look for new running routes and hope to make new friends. I am expecting new challenges as set new goals for 2016. All in all, I want to do the following:
Strengthen core
Build speed
Run long
Race less
Eat healthy
But above, stay injury-free so that I can all run into my golden years – literally.
Blessed New Year & 2016 to all fellow runners – run happy, run safe and just run lah!
