The past few months have not been a good time for races due to the prolonged haze period this year. Great Eastern Women’s Run (GEWR) 2015 will be happening this Sunday and organisers have been closely monitoring the situation leading up to Race Day. The organisers place great importance on the health of race participants and contingency plans have also been put in place in the event that the haze situation warrants a race cancellation.
We can expect an update on the race status at 8.30pm on Saturday, 31 October via SMS and on the event website, and GEWR Facebook page. The second update will be made at 2.30am on Sunday, 1 November.
The organisers will be referring to the National Environmental Agency (NEA)’s PSI guidelines, proceeding with the race only when it is a moderate PSI level of 100 and below. However, should the PSI level hit 101 and above, which in accordance with NEA guidelines is considered unsuitable for prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion, the race will be cancelled.
In the event of a race cancellation, alternative collection arrangements of the Finishers’ entitlements will be provided for the runners. They can collect them from Great Eastern Centre at 1 Pickering Street. More details will be shared on the event website and Facebook page.
Colin Chan, Chief Marketing Officer, Great Eastern Life, commented, “We understand that the participants are looking forward to the event and, on our part, preparations have been going on for more than half a year. However, we place the health of our runners, working crew and volunteers as utmost priority and will only proceed with the Race under acceptable conditions. We seek everyone’s understanding on this and I encourage all participants to look out for our updates.”
For 5 seconds into the race, Lexxus Tan lead the race. He finished the Osaka Marathon 2015 in 2hrs 50min 11seconds. Beating his time at Gold Coast Marathon 2015 of 2hrs 54mins. At 43 years of age, Lexxus is the top veteran runner in Singapore. The only coach currently training and coaching full time in Singapore always believe in setting the right examples for the academy runners to follow, ran hard, ran well.
Lexxus: “Head wind was so strong! Not good for a light runner like me!”
Assistant trainer to Lexxus, Liu Zhiyong finished the Osaka Marathon 2015 in 2hrs 59mins. Beating his time at Gold Coast Marathon 2015 of 3hrs 00mins. At 32 years of age, Zhiyong is considered a late boomer in the event. An audit manager for the past 8 years joined the family at JustRunLah three months back, believes that enjoying one’s passion is the key to all success.
Zhiyong: “Appreciating the race, taking in the awesome atmosphere and enjoying the experience were my objectives today. I’m happy with a good timing at the end.”
Congratulations to both runners, may the both of you scale greater heights in the months to come.
Special mention for runners who have broken their personal best. Prasant Kannoth 3hrs 17mins (Previous PB: 3hrs 42mins), Kelvin Chua 3hrs 32mins (Previous PB: 3hrs 35mins) and Mark Chng 3hrs 35mins and Susan Tan for completing her first marathon in 4hrs 34mins.
All smiles from the F1 Runners
As our head coach’s famous quote, “With dedication, discipline and determination, every dream can be achieved.”
We thank Flight Centre Active Travel, our academy’s travel partner for the planning and making this overseas race a successful and enjoyable one. With most runners enjoying their trip, we look forward to Penang Marathon with excitement.
We were born to run. Run the world, one race at a time.
While the race participants were eagerly queueing up for their individual race packs, the other side of the expo was also filled with energy coming from vendors engaging runners about their newest running products and services. Most activities at the booths were met with long queues of cheering crowds and curious runners. It was great to see all runners coming together to celebrate the one thing we all love – running. The race expo was also accompanied by a mega food expo showcasing the delicacies of Osaka, which provided a good platform runners to mingle around and learn about Osaka’s culture. And as expected of Japanese’s excellent service standards, the vendors and volunteers were very courteous and politely entertained every runners’ enquiries and requests.
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The Osaka Marathon 2015 Race Expo was definitely, one of the best race expos we had ever attended. Thank you to Flight Centre Active Travel for giving us the opportunity to experience the passion runners have for Osaka Marathon and a preview of the race on Sunday.
The event
An annual marathon road running event for men and women held in late October in the city of Osaka, Japan. Happening on Sunday, 25 October 2015, the 2015 Osaka Marathon is expecting a staggering 30,000 marathoners. There is also a “Challenge Run” covering a distance of 8.8km. The event will kick off at 8:55 a.m. with the wheelchair race, followed by the Marathon and Challenge Run at 9:00 a.m. Both marathoners and challenge runners will flag off at the exquisite Osaka Castle Park.
The event is jointly hosted by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations and Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese national newspaper. Runners are able to select the charity colours representing the charity theme and activities of the charitable organisation they wish to support: Red—to support your hopes to live, Orange—to assist your dreams, Yellow—to support families, Green—to conserve our natural environment, Light blue—to provide clean water, Navy—to brighten children’s future, and Purple—to preserve the beautiful Osaka city.
With FCAT you can combine your love of travel, fitness and adventure.
Our body is 2/3 made up of water and water helps to keep our body functioning properly. Although we may not be able to feel it, we are continuously losing water from skin evaporation, breathing, urine, and stool. Especially for us runners, we tend to lose more water content when we are working out; it is important for us to replenish and replace these losses daily to maintain a good health. Not having enough water can cause us to experience dehydration – which may result in lethargy, headaches, dry skin, bad breath and many more. In worse cases, it may even result in kidney stones or kidney failure. While it is recommended for us to drink 8 glasses of water to keep ourselves hydrated throughout the day, drinking water at different times of the day can also help our body in different ways. Find out what are the benefits drinking water can bring us:
The 20th Angkor Wat International Half Marathon 2015 (AWHM) is a world-bucket list and must-do race for runners all over the world. Manulife – one of the world’s leading life insurance companies, is the principal sponsor for this year’s AWHM, which will be taking place on 6 December 2015 at the majestic Angkor Wat of Cambodia – the largest religious monument in the world.
AWHM aims to encourage families and communities to participate together and live a healthy lifestyle and it is one of Cambodia’s largest fund-raising events. The 5-year sponsorship from Manulife reflects their commitment to build a stronger Cambodian society where peoples’ futures, and those of their children, are better protected. With such huge support and efforts put forth by sponsors, race organisers and participants from many different countries, here are the Top3 reasons why YOU should be part of the 20th AWHM 2015:
#1 Run in Angkor – UNESCO World Heritage Site, symbol of Cambodia
Spanning across a total area of 400 square kilometres, including forested areas, Angkor is one of the most prominent and significant archaeological sites of Southeast Asia. It was built in the 12th century by Khmer King Suryavarman in the capital of Khmer Empire, which gradually transformed from a Hindu to Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century. The architecture and layout of the successive capitals bear witness to a high level of social order and ranking within the Khmer Empire. Angkor is therefore a major site exemplifying cultural, religious and symbolic values, as well as containing high architectural, archaeological and artistic significance (Source: UNESCO).
Angkor Wat is the best-preserved temple of the entire temple complex, largest religious monument in the world and is ranked at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. The Cambodia national flag bears a symbol of the Angkor Wat and has been the top destination for visitors to Cambodia, ranked Number One by TripAdvisor’s 2015 Travelers’ Choice Award in June.
#2 Meet a Diversity of Running buddies
Last year, AWHM 2014 saw around 8,000 runners flying in from 78 countries to participate in this world bucket-list race event. There is simply no other race in the world that offers the same adrenaline rush, amazing opportunity of exploration of ancient ruins and interaction with so many runners!
Since 1996, the AWHM races have been the most popular sports event in Cambodia, known for its exhilarating and breath-taking race course amongst the majestic monuments of Angkor Wat, as well as the meaningful causes it supports for the Cambodian society and people.
As the saying goes, “Strangers at starting line, buddies at finishing line” – Such global event creates valuable opportunities for runners to meet new running buddies, forge meaningful friendships and create unforgettable race memories together.
Not to forget, the coolest months of the year in Siem Reap are December and January, in between the dry period of November to March with minimal rainfall. At nightfall, temperatures can go down to sub-20 degrees Celsius and reach a maximum heat of 30 degree Celsius in daytime. As such, December is one of the most popular months to visit Cambodia, and the perfect season to run a race!
#3 Run for a good cause – Support landmine victims
Every year, runners around the world fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia to participate in the Angkor Wat International Half Marathon to show their support for landmine victims by giving them courage, hope and raise awareness of their cause on banning the use of antipersonnel mines. Many landmine victims also personally participate in the race to inspire their fellow people and appeal to the world to support their cause.
Entry fees and additional financial support foster independence among landmine victims by helping to provide prosthetic limbs, social reintegration programs, and supporting other relevant and needed programs such as education and prevention of HIV/AIDS. In addition, the funds raised by the event also help support organizations including the Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital and the Angkor Hospital for Children and the Cambodian Red Cross.
AWHM 2015 – A World Bucket-list Marathon like no other
Choose from 3 race distances of 3km, 10km and 21km (half-marathon) and participate in the wide variety of race categories including families, runners with prosthetic limbs, wheel chair and fellow road runners.
#RunWithManulife in the Angkor Wat International Half Marathon 2015 for good health, a great cause and an awesome race!
Make your bucket-list dream race come true by registering for the Angkor Wat International Half Marathon 2015 here!
Together with Flight Centre Active Travel, we made our way down to the Osaka Marathon 2015! We were greeted by a colorful sea of runners and crowd of enthusiastic supporters who kept cheering on “gambatte!”. It is definitely an unique experience at an overseas race and we are glad to be part of the Osaka Marathon 2015. Great job and congratulations to fellow runners who have completed the marathon!
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The event
An annual marathon road running event for men and women held in late October in the city of Osaka, Japan. Happening on Sunday, 25 October 2015, the 2015 Osaka Marathon is expecting a staggering 30,000 marathoners. There is also a “Challenge Run” covering a distance of 8.8km. The event kicked off at 8:55 a.m. with the wheelchair race, followed by the Marathon and Challenge Run at 9:00 a.m. Both marathoners and challenge runners will flag off at the exquisite Osaka Castle Park.
The event is jointly hosted by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations and Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese national newspaper. Runners are able to select the charity colours representing the charity theme and activities of the charitable organisation they wish to support: Red—to support your hopes to live, Orange—to assist your dreams, Yellow—to support families, Green—to conserve our natural environment, Light blue—to provide clean water, Navy—to brighten children’s future, and Purple—to preserve the beautiful Osaka city.
With FCAT you can combine your love of travel, fitness and adventure.
Join in the Winter Run and enjoy a cool weekend afternoon with your family and friends. Bring them along to experience this rare winter in summer! Last but not least, don’t miss out on the runners entitlements, including a unique ice medal and a mystery item!
Save 10% with JustRunLah!
All JRL readers get to enjoy an exclusive 10% off registration fees by using this code: WINTERRUN10DISCJRL upon checkout!
Leading up to the Compressport Rail Corridor Run 2016 which is happening in coming January, we had a quick chat with one of their ambassadors Rachel as she shares with us her motivational spirit for running.
JustRunLah!: How will you introduce yourself to Singapore running community?
Rachel: Hello, I am Rachel aka “Rachdaretdream”.
JustRunLah!: When did you first pick up running (what age) and what inspired you to do so?
Rachel: I picked up running back in 2013, running has taught me that I am capable of so much more than I ever imagined.
JustRunLah!: Would you say that one needs to have a certain mindset to take up running as a sport/exercise activity?
Rachel: Depending if you are a competitive or leisure runner. Having a strong and positive mindset will set you in a right direction towards achieving your goals!
JustRunLah!: What would you consider to be your biggest running achievement so far?
Rachel: Inspiring and motivating others to pick up running and keeping fit!
JustRunLah!: How has Compressport products assist in your training/achievements?
Rachel: The Compressport products especially my favourite the R2 calf’s sleeves has many benefits, It is highly compressive and eliminates calf vibrations while running it also aids in my recovering after a hard- workout. The products comes in many beautiful colours that could easily match your workout outfit.
JustRunLah!: What are your future goals?
Rachel: To keep on spreading the joy of running and chasing personal best timings!
JustRunLah!: One reason why runners should join Compressports Rail Corridor Run 2016?
Rachel: It is one of the most unique race course in Singapore! You can get to run on different surfaces such as tarmac, grass, rocks and the woodland trails. You also get to see the historical Tanjong Pagar railway station. Rumours has it that it might be the last chance to run along this route – One race not be missed!
JustRunLah!: What advice would you give to all participants at Compressport Rail Corridor Run 2016?
Rachel: Stay Hydrated, always look out for un-even terrain ahead of you and most importantly enjoy the beautiful scenery when running.
JustRunLah!: What is your mantra for when the going gets tough in a race?
Rachel: If you can dream it, you can do it!
JustRunLah!: Finish this sentence: Running is…
Rachel: not just exercising; it is not just an achievement. It’s a daily discipline that has nothing to do with speed, weight, social status… It’s about the slow and painful process of being the best you can be!
Click here now to sign up for the Compressport Rail Corridor Run 2016!
This year’s race is New Balance Run On’s very first race in Singapore, which many participants were looking forward to run in. However, today’s PSI levels were unfortunately high throughout the day and the race organisers from New Balance Run On had to decide that the weather was not within the ideal conditions to race. To the participants’ disappointment, the race was changed to a non-competitive walk instead.
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Despite this, the haze was unable to cause a damper on the spirits of the 4,000 participants that turned up today and many of them also had a great time at the carnival. While the haze was not within the organisers’ control, the whole event was very well organised and participants were also very cooperative. We can see participants queueing neatly at each booth at the pop-up festival to get their free beer, candy floss, truffle fries and tattoos. The race may not have happen as planned, but there were still smiles on everyone’s faces as they enjoy the food and music at the festival.
Two years ago, I was a disappointed finisher of the inaugural Commando Challenge. We were delayed for hours at the start point along the green corridor, many obstacles broke down beyond repair, and for a registration fee of $90+ we received a transparent plastic bag of a t-shirt and few vouchers as “race pack”. I did not return for the 2014 edition though it was managed by a different organiser.
But I heard that it went well. So this year, since the 2014 organiser is doing it again, I decided to give Commando Challenge another shot. Held at Sentosa, the 6km race over sand, tarmac and jungle, and featured 13 obstacles.
Credits: Commando Challenge Facebook Page
Two tutorial videos were published on the Commando Challenge Facebook page to prepare us for the race but I didn’t feel those were very useful. Perhaps next year the organisers may wish to consider a 30-day pre-race workout plan like The Spartan Race has for its participants.
Compared with the 2013 plastic bag, the race pack this year improved, albeit very slightly. It’s a drawstring bag, with a t-shirt, a can of Monster energy drink, an AXN handphone armband, and a few vouchers. T-shirts were unisex this year, i.e. men’s cut. An XS was still too big for me. The original registration fee was $85, and a $35 discount was extended to past-year runners. I still don’t think the race pack was substantial enough given the registration fee.
We started on time and none of the obstacles broke down. Red3 has done a fantastic overview of the obstacles, so please do hop over if you’re interested to find out about them.
Two years ago I gave up on the ice bath because it was too long. This year I went through both! I couldn’t feel my legs halfway through the first one which was chest-deep, but I decided the only way out was through the roughly 7m-long pool. The numbness took some time to subside. Then I heard from a friend (who finished the 10km Extreme Commando before running the 6km Commando Challenge) that there was a second ice bath. But we only had to crawl through that, without exactly submerging ourselves in the ice and water, so that went fine for me.
Credit: Commando Challenge Facebook Page
Many of the other obstacles require a certain amount of upper body strength, but everyone I witnessed did fine either by themselves, or with the aid of some awesome friends or fellow racers.
Credits: Commando Challenge Facebook Page
The most memorable obstacle for me was the final one, The Electric Shock. Prior to the race, I noticed a post on Commando Challenge’s Facebook wall that they would be bringing this back (from the 2014 race), and somebody responded with a vehement objection. So as I ran through the wires, I made sure to consciously experience the journey.
The voices in my head went something like, “hmm…nothing leh…oh wait. OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG YAY it’s over!”
So I felt the electricity about halfway through. My calves were pulsating. Strange that the feeling was only concentrated at my calves. I kept on putting one leg in front of another, but my legs seemed to have a life of their own and couldn’t stop right after the obstacle was over. So even after a Commando Challenge official hung my medal over me, I went on for a few more steps uncontrollably. Effects of the electric shocks probably differ between people, as some just collapsed for a breather after passing through the wires, and a friend’s ear was still tingling around 15 minutes after the race.
I felt that the most challenging part of the race wasn’t any particular obstacle, but rather running on sand. The uneven and unstable terrain gave my ankles great training. Washing my sandy shoes afterwards gave my arms great training too! Do you have any recommendations for suitable shoes for running on sand? Please share by leaving a comment below(:
Overall, I enjoyed the race and I felt it went well as there were no major mishaps on race day. Nevertheless, a plumper race pack and a women’s cut t-shirt would have been much appreciated.
Ever experienced the sudden urge to do a number 2 while you are running? It can be an embarrassing problem when you are running in a group or even during a race, putting you in a tight and agonising spot. While this may be a difficult topic to approach with your running buddies, let’s not shy away and find out more about the poop:
This might come as surprising, but it is a real problem among runners and there are even names for it. It can be known as mid-run diarrhoea, runner’s trots, jogger’s trots or even runner’s cramps. They have essentially the same meaning – a sudden and overwhelming need to evacuate your bowels during a long run.
A problem more common than you think
In fact, it happens to even the best runners – Paula Radcliffe had to squat at the side of the road to answer nature’s call while she was running the London Marathon 2005. She went on to win the race after pooping, and even setting the world record for women, which still stands today.
Why do you poop during a run?
On the other hand, over exertion can also lead to gastrointestinal stress. As a result, inexperienced runners may experience runner’s trots more often, which adds to why athletes should only increase their intensity and distance gradually.
What can you about it?
Poop before you run – To prevent unwanted bowel movements, the easiest way is to make sure the load is clear. Go for a poop before the race. Have a little food or coffee to activate the bowels and head to the bathroom before you hit the road. A short warm-up run in advance of a race can also help to get the bowels moving and help you empty everything out before the start,
Watch what you eat – Limit or avoid high-fibre and gas-producing foods, such as beans, bran, fruit and salad a day or two before the race. For runners who experience this problem more frequently, it is better to avoid high-fat foods, caffeine, and sugar alcohols. Warm liquids have also been known to speed foods through the digestive tract.
Avoid food 1-2 hours before run – Eating or drinking can activate the gastrocolic reflex, which essentially pushes things out when new food comes in.
Stay hydrated – Prevent your intestines from having difficulty to hold your load in and also to prevent yourself from getting dehydration during the run.
Trial and error to find out which pre-race and race nutrition routine works best for you. The above are simply suggestions for helping your bowel issues during a long run or race, but it may not be the absolute solution for everyone. Having your own tailored nutrition routine also has the added benefit of helping to relieve race stress, which contributes to alleviating gastrointestinal problems.
Good news for us: there appears to be less colon cancer in runners. You may be at lower risk for colon cancer because of your active bowels; the reason being that your bowel contents are not present in your colons as long as non-runners.
Let’s all poop happy and run happy together!
View or share with friends the the full infographic here (click and save image to view the full size):
We are excited to be travelling to Japan with Flight Centre Active Travel (FCAT) for the 2015 Osaka Marathon! Part of our team together with the GM of FCAT have touched down and settled in Osaka. Check back daily for a complete travelogue including the race expo and of course the big day on Sunday!
An annual marathon road running event for men and women held in late October in the city of Osaka, Japan. Happening on Sunday, 25 October 2015, the 2015 Osaka Marathon is expecting a staggering 30,000 marathoners. There is also a “Challenge Run” covering a distance of 8.8km. The event will kick off at 8:55 a.m. with the wheelchair race, followed by the Marathon and Challenge Run at 9:00 a.m. Both marathoners and challenge runners will flag off at the exquisite Osaka Castle Park.
The event is jointly hosted by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations and Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese national newspaper. Runners are able to select the charity colours representing the charity theme and activities of the charitable organisation they wish to support: Red—to support your hopes to live, Orange—to assist your dreams, Yellow—to support families, Green—to conserve our natural environment, Light blue—to provide clean water, Navy—to brighten children’s future, and Purple—to preserve the beautiful Osaka city.
With FCAT you can combine your love of travel, fitness and adventure.
Experiencing a different climate in Singapore seems like a mission impossible. But, coming to Singapore next year 26th of March, is a spin-off of the iconic UK Winter Run Series! Yes, the Winter Run, in Singapore! The organisers are making this a dream come true to many, to bring us Singaporeans a winter in summer, where we can breeze (or freeze) through a 5 kilometre route that boasts 3 different climatic zones with sensational on-route activities and line-ups at this fun-run.
Enjoy 10% off by using code: WINTERRUN10DISCJRL upon checkout!
3 Different Zones For Different Adventures
Fun Zone: Slip into the Fun Zone on the bouncy slide! From clowns and jugglers to carnival games, there is something to keep everyone entertained right here in this zone.
Snow Zone: Be greeted by falling snow flurries welcoming you in the snow zone. In this zone, you are transported into a land of snow-tipped alpine trees, snowmen, and chilly breeze. Filled with wondrous photo opportunities and photobooths, you might want to prepare yourself for the amazing selfies you can take here.
Cold Zone: This is where you experience the freezing winter – evoke all senses as you venture through an ice cave. Prepare for some brain freeze while you grab hold of the ice-cold tasty treats stalls, or jump right into the ice bath; there is no finishing the race without a shiver down your spine!
Chill Out And Have Fun!
Join in the Winter Run and enjoy a cool weekend afternoon with your family and friends. Bring them along to experience this rare winter in summer! Last but not least, don’t miss out on the runners entitlements, including a unique ice medal and a mystery item!
When my brother asked me to plan a half marathon training programme with two runs a week, I refused.
That training plan would flout conventional wisdom, which recommends a minimum of three runs a week, I lectured. Two weekly runs would not meet the mileage commitment required for a half marathon and would cause the long run to exceed 30 percent of weekly mileage.
Then he reasoned, “I don’t enjoy running more than twice a week.” The statement made me rethink the importance of common training guidelines. Why do we run, if not for the sheer pleasure of it?
So I crafted an eighteen-week programme based on two principles. First, the weekly mileage would increase gradually to minimize injury risk, and where the increase was moderate, the mileage remained the same for two weeks to ensure adaptation. He would report any aches and pains, so that I could monitor his fatigue level and adjust the programme accordingly. Second, the lack in quantity would be made up for in quality. He would run at a variety of paces: easy pace for weekly long runs, threshold pace for tempos (from fifth week onwards), and race pace (alternate week) in the last third of the long run. From his easy pace, I calculated the threshold and race paces using Jack Daniels’s running calculator.
Week after week, he checked off the workouts smoothly. His aim was to complete the half marathon in two hours and hopefully to break his personal best of 1:52. I was certain he would break his Personal Best; as for how much, that depends on how much he was willing to suffer during the race. Perhaps 1:50?
He ran 1:48. He was surprised that he could still break his PB in his thirties; I was surprised that running twice a week could yield that race performance and relieved that he escaped unscathed (I know that my body couldn’t pull off that kind of programme without injuries).
While I see conventional wisdom as safety guidelines to minimize injury risks and maximize the amount of running I can do, my brother sees it as an imposition on how he can enjoy running based on his schedule and interest. But behind our different attitudes lies a principle perhaps more fundamental than conventional wisdom: running is to be enjoyed.
Is conventional wisdom useful? I used to answer an absolute yes, but now I also say, to each our own.
Singapore Rail Corridor has been a popular running route, providing runners a safe, uninterrupted and peaceful run in Singapore. This unique corridor is a green passageway stretching from Bukit Timah to Tanjong Pagar and connects many green spaces together along the way. Unfortunately, the Singapore Rail Corridor will be closed in 2016.
New underground water pipeline
Following the press release from PUB on 30 June 2014 – to meet future water demand in the city area, about half of the 22 km pipeline from Murnane Service Reservoir will be laid underneath the lower half of the Rail Corridor. Construction work is expected to commence in first half of 2016 and complete by 2019. The stretch of Rail Corridor on south of Holland Road, which sits between between Tanjong Pagar Station and Bukit Timah Station, will be affected and some sections of the corridor will be closed temporarily.
PUB has consulted the Rail Corridor Partnership Group and assured that an Environmental Impact Assessment study will be conducted before the works to minimise the impacts and that alternative public access will be provided along the corridor to minimise disruption. The pipeline will also go under or around wildlife spots including a bat roosting site, and historic structures such as the former Bukit Timah Railway Station and a brick culvert along the Rail Corridor.
Photo credits: Urban Redevelopment Authority
Long-term conservation of the green corridor
Dr Balakrishnan posted on his Facebook: “I agreed to this plan because it not only enhances water resilience, but it is also one way of guaranteeing uninterrupted public access along this corridor for hopefully a century and beyond.”
Tan Chuan Jin posted on his Facebook: “This is a good move in terms of meeting our water needs and particularly in securing the continuous space we aim to keep as we develop the Rail Corridor.”
While there will be inconvenience for users along the southern stretch of the corridor over the next 5 years, this short-term disruption would eventually lead to the long-term conservation of the corridor. After the pipeline has been laid, the surface of this stretch will be maintained as a contiguous green space for public recreational use.
Head for the Compressport Rail Corridor Run 2016!
Before the rail corridor closes for the next few years, take this opportunity and join in the Compressport Rail Corridor Run which falls on 31 January 2016! Experience a race along the rail corridor, running from the historic Bukit Timah Railway Station via Singapore’s rail corridor to Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. Embark on the 5km or 10km heritage trail, and bring yourself through an enriching journey of history, and flora and fauna. This is a race that you would not want to miss!
Click here now to sign up for the Compressport Rail Corridor Run 2016!
Bliss Out is Singapore’s first mega event that combines yoga and music in one spectacular night. A Yoga practitioner for 2 years, Bliss Out ambassador Jiamin shares with us about her Yoga journey and how we runners can benefit from practicing Yoga.
JustRunLah!: How will you introduce yourself to Singapore running & fitness community?
Jiamin: Hello! I’m Jiamin, currently working as a freelance yoga instructor. My favourite ways to sweat are Ashtanga yoga and dance (salsa and standard ballroom). Follow me @jyan_g on my sweat journey! If you ever need help in getting started, I’ll be more than happy to assist you!
JustRunLah!: When did you first pick up yoga (what age) and what inspired you to do so?
Jiamin: I did my first Ashtanga session when Kino Mcgregor came over to Singapore in March 2014, I was 22 then. I’ve been following her on instagram and she’s such an inspiration! When I heard she was coming to town, I knew I had to go even though I had zero background in Ashtanga. Out of curiosity I decided to explore more about Ashtanga and I fell in love with it. Shortly after I took my teacher training (in Nov 2014).
JustRunLah!: Would you say that one needs to have a certain mindset to take up yoga as a sport/exercise activity?
Jiamin: Practicing with non-attachment to the results. Be present in yoga throughout the practice, wherever you are at, be true to yourself.
JustRunLah!: Physically, Mentally. On the mat, off the mat, how has yoga improve your life?
Jiamin: Dedicated yoga practice definitely improved my overall physics. I was diagnosed with Spondylolisthesis in June 2014. Yoga helped to strengthen the core, and soon, the tremendous pain I was experiencing was gone day by day. Through asanas, I was able to better concentrate and persevere. It’s a control of mind over body. I always tell myself that I can do it, push myself a little more to get out of my comfort zone.
JustRunLah!: Is Yoga just all about stretching for runners?
Jiamin: For sure, stretching helps to relieve the tightness in the muscles that runners have built up over. However that’s not all. Practicing yoga also helps to improve overall physical and mental conditions. Physical benefits are strength, flexibility and balance. Mental benefits are concentration (staying focused) and perseverance. All these play a part for runners as well.
JustRunLah!: What are your future goals?
Jiamin: To stay healthy and maintain good relationships with the people around me.
I would love to hold retreats and set up my own studio in Bali someday.
JustRunLah!: One reason why the running & fitness community should join Bliss Out 2015?
Jiamin: It’s gonna be fun and exciting! Don’t miss out!
JustRunLah!: What advice would you give to all participants at Bliss Out 2015?
