Why You Should Travel for a Race in 2015

Image credit: 123RF

It’s the time of the year again where you start making plans for the year-end vacation by reviewing your bucket-list items and travel packages. Instead of being a typical tourist doing sightseeing, food-tasting and other touristy activities, why not assume a new and different role this year as a travelling runner?

Image credit: 123RF
Image credit: 123RF

Race for a holiday!

Most people have 14 – 25 days of annual leave, and yet most subject these limited days to traditional package tours where the tour guides simply move the tour group from attractions to attractions according to the itineary. At the end of the trip, what you have brought back are photos, memories and souvenirs which are no doubt precious, however the same as everyone else who had been to that destination.

So, what else is there for the travelling runners? RACE tours! It is the next big thing where it is a holiday and a race trip with all your accommodation, transport and race administration settled by the race tour agency! Not only do you get to enjoy the time of your life in a new place, timezone and culture, your running experience will be brought to whole new level like never before! Race tour is the combination of creating special racing memories with the comfort of traditional package tours.

Recently, a number of Singaporeans flew to Australia to compete in the Gold Coast Airport Marathon from 4-5 July 2015 and some of them even qualified for the prestigious Boston Marathon 2016! Read about their overseas race experience here!

Image credit: 123RF
Image credit: 123RF

Journey of self-discovery

Most of us travel across countries for family holidays, business trips or a DIY tour. However, your role as a tourist usually limits your curiosity and opportunities to discover more about yourself due to the travel plans made by your travel agent or recommendations from fellow travelers.

For an even more authentic travel experience and memories of the destination, you should always do what the locals do! Participate in their local races and get a chance to interact and communicate with the locals! While some races require pre-registration before a certain date, there are always local races that allow on-the-spot registration for the travelling runners like you! Taking part in local races provides you the rare chance to engage with the community, enjoy the scenery and immerse yourself in the tradition the race has to offer. Who knows, you may just learn more history and travelling perks of the place from your fellow runners than you ever will from a guided tour!

Image credit: Gold Coast Marathon
Image credit: Gold Coast Marathon

Affordable airfares

Not all of us are able to have fractional ownership jet to enable us to fly private (although there are ways to fly private without this, and it may not be too different in price to a first-class ticket if you know what to look for). However, for those who don’t have this kind of money to spare, budget airlines are everywhere and affordable flights can be easily purchased via computers and mobile apps. It may used to cost a small fortune in the past, but now travelling to nearby countries can be cheaper than a night of hotel stay! All you need to do is to pack light, book a flight and ensure that the race registration dates and race dates are in your favour.

Running in a new destination is arguably the best thing to see, hear, feel and know everything that the place has to offer. So, why not run the world this year? One race at a time.

Getting started

For the upcoming September and year-end vacation period, we have handpicked several bucket-list races around the world for you to take the first step in becoming a traveling runner!

Must Do Marathons Bucket List World
Click here for the best marathons around the world.
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Kind and In Kind

As I conclude my “season” – essentially the first half of the year – I look back at my experiences.

I went through a series of disappointing injuries. Often these were not overuse related, such as strains. Instead, the variety came in the form of single-episode injuries triggered by the most tragic of reasons, such as a shoe that was too tight (putting me out of running for more than a month?). Furthermore, I wasn’t able to meet my time goal for this season.

Nonetheless, disappointments and frustrations aside, I probably experience some of the sweetest blessings. They’re arguably simple, yet the simplicity can be meaningful. For one, I received a Garmin Forerunner 15 from my classmates. This undoubtedly aided me in my running journey, having managed to track my many runs on Strava. In addition, I was offered a free foam roller from a kind running forum user. I’m still not certain if it provides any significant physiological benefit, though the psychological benefit is present. Last but not least, a kind runner offered to sell me a brand new, yet heavily discounted Garmin HR Monitor for my FR15, fuelling my interest in understanding the science of running.

The running community is kind – I’ve received its blessings in kind. I’ve gradually come to run for aspects far greater than myself or my goals. I do want to pay the kindness forward – within the community and beyond. When suitable opportunities come along, I’ll seize them, kindly.

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50, the Golden Number of 2 inspiring stories

For Singaporeans, 50 is a special number this year as Singapore celebrates 50 years of independence and birthday, with SG50 festive events islandwide. For the running community, this number has also surfaced in many meaningful race events where it bears a special significance as seen in the following sports stories in particular:

GO50 – Singapore ultramarathoners Yong Yuen Cheng and Lim Nghee Huat finish 2,500km run in 50 days

Image credit: The Straits Times
Image credit: The Straits Times

On 16 April 2015, teacher Yong Yuen Cheng, 43 and media producer Lim Nghee Huat, 61, embarked on their first 50km run as part of their 2,500km challenge in 50 days to celebrate Singapore’s 50th birthday and commemorate the resilience of the nation’s founding fathers. After 50 days of gruelling runs and overcoming their physical and mental endurance limits, the proud Singaporeans crossed the finishing line on 4 June 2015 at 10:32am.

One of the highlights during the 50days challenge included an impressive timing of 4 h 47 min on day 47, which was the fastest timing ever accomplished by the duo. The most excruciating run took them 9h 51 min to complete on day 24. The scorching heat and merciless sun were the main factors that affected their running reserves and timings during this period of the year where heat in Singapore is at its peak.

Processed with VSCOcam with hb1 preset
Image credits: Channel News Asia

Some heartwarming moments were also witnessed during the challenge as supporters from all walks of life, including students and working professionals, ran together with them for part of or the whole of their 50km journey. The humble duo hopes to inspire Singaporeans to “make sports a part of [their] lifestyle” and proved that “ordinary guy like [us] can do things that are extraordinary – like running 50km daily in 50 days”.

50 Full Ironman Distances in 50 Days in 50 States

Image credit: Triathlete.com
Image credit: Triathlete.com

James Lawrence began his quest on June 6 to complete 50 iron-distance triathlons in all 50 states over 50 consecutive days. “My goal is to simply to inspire others to challenge themselves and to be more active. Together with the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation we can all be part of the movement to fight obesity.” (Lawrence, Ironcowboy)

Image credit: Reviewjournal.com
Image credit: Reviewjournal.com

Initially, many were skeptical about the possibilities of overcoming logistical issues of travelling from one state to the next while trying to recover from energy lost in the daily 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and 26.2-mile run. However, on July 25, Lawrence successfully achieved his unbelievable 50-50-50 goal, which sums up to a total of 120 miles of swimming, 5,600 miles of biking and 1,310 miles of running. Lawrence’s end goal in all of this is to raise America’s health awareness and to inspire people of all ages to make healthier choices.

Lawrence’s admirable and unbelievable feat is an inspiration to all and his success has proven that man can achieve the impossible as long as he never gives up.

All staff from JustRunLah! would like take this opportunity to wish Singapore an awesome and happy 50th birthday! Majulah Singapura!

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Orange, Yellow and Pink Ribbons: Do you know their significance?

Have you ever wondered what do the different colored ribbons stand for in the race event logos of ribbon races? In Singapore, there are 3 major ribbon sports events organised annually by various communities where race participants gather to run for their respective causes and movements. Let us find out what the story behind these ribbons:

Orange Ribbon Run

Image credits: One People.sg
Image credits: OnePeople.sg

The Orange Ribbon has been adopted by various countries and groups of individuals as the symbol of harmony, equality and freedom. As for Singapore, the Orange Ribbon is adopted as a symbol of respect, understanding, trust and friendship.

The Orange Ribbon Run is a signature event organised by OnePeople.sg, the voice and main resource centre on race relations in Singapore. This race event aims  to promote understanding, appreciation and trust among Singapore’s multi-cultural and multi-religious society.

It is also Singapore’s only Run against Racism, where Singaporeans gather and make a stand to show their support for a united and harmonious multi-religious and multi-racial society we call home.

Image credits: OnePeople.sg
Image credits: OnePeople.sg

This year, the Orange Ribbon Run 2015 will be held on 29 August 2015. Participate in this meaningful and fun event by registering via the link here.

Yellow Ribbon Prison Run

Image credit: Yellow Ribbon Prison Run
Image credit: Yellow Ribbon Prison Run

The Yellow Ribbon concept was inspired from the 1973 Tony Orlando and Dawn hit song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree”, which aptly describes a released prisoner’s desire for forgiveness and acceptance.

The annual Yellow Ribbon Prison Run is part of the Yellow Ribbon Project, which aims to create awareness and promote a more accepting society; a society that is willing to give ex-offenders a second chance at making good. It is important that we help unlock the second prison for our inmates, even as we let them out of the physical one.

Photo credit: Yellow Ribbon Prison Run
Photo credit: Yellow Ribbon Prison Run

This year, the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run will be held on 13 September 2015. Register for this event by clicking the link here.

Pink Ribbon Walk

Image credit: Breast Cancer Foundation
Image credit: Breast Cancer Foundation

The Pink Ribbon has been used as an international symbol of breast cancer awareness. Similarly in Singapore, the Breast Cancer Foundation organises the annual Pink Ribbon Walk and ‘Wear the Pink Ribbon Campaign’ during the Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

These campaigns aim to attract participation and support among the public, and to emphasise the importance of a healthy lifestyle to reduce the likelihood of contracting breast cancer. Proceeds collected from the events will also be used to enhance Breast Cancer Foundation’s support group programmes and awareness outreach.

Image credit: Pink Ribbon Walk
Image credit: Pink Ribbon Singapore

The 2015 edition of Pink Ribbon Walk will be taking place on 3 October 2015. Show your support by registering via the link here.

More Ribbon Races to come?

There are many more ribbon symbols and with the booming running industry in Singapore, there is a huge chance of seeing new ribbon races being introduced in the years to come!

Image credits: PADV
Image credits: PADV

Purple Ribbon is another commonly used ribbon worldwide to raise awareness for more than 30 over causes. This includes raising awareness for domestic violence, International Women’s Day, Alzheimer’s disease, Anti-gay bullying, animal abuse and pancreatic cancer.

Image credit: Aids day
Image credit: Aids day

Red Ribbon has been used internationally as the symbol for the prevention of drunk driving and also solidarity of people living with HIV/AIDS.  Also, the red ribbon was the first ever ribbon symbol, inspiring later versions such as the pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness. The 2 main organisations that utilize the red ribbon symbol are The Red Ribbon Foundation and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Supporters of MAAD tie red ribbons on their cars or visible areas to represent their commitment in safe and sober driving  during the holiday seasons.

With the knowledge of these colored ribbons and their significance, be a charity runner today by signing up for the ribbon races!

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Race Review: Tri-Factor Run 2015 [24km] (by MJ)

The Tri-factor Run 2015 was held on 26 July 2015 and I had registered for the 24km category.  But as the days drew nearer, I was having second thoughts as I had not been training consistently and the longest run I had was 15 km.  But upon collecting the race pack, I made up my mind to just go for it and enjoy the run, also to take it as a practice run for the 2XU Run on 2 August 2015. And yes, it is another half marathon.  It was not planned to be this way, having two long distance runs back to back within two consecutive weeks, but never mind.

The day came, and I jumped out of bed at 3am.  Took a quick breakfast, put on my running gear and off I went in my car to the venue.  I had wanted to park at the Indoor Stadium car park, but unfortunately, when I reached the vicinity, I realized the usual entrances to Sports Hub were blocked as there was another concurrent Shape Run on the same day! I had to take a huge detour and ended up parking near Kallang MRT, and took almost 30 minutes on foot to make my way to the starting point at Gardens by the Bay East, reaching at 5.15am.  Phew….

Took a quick toilet break and there was the announcement to start the race.  We were flagged off at about 5.40am.  The first couple of kilometers, the paths were pretty narrow, but as the crowd thinned out, it was not an issue.  It was rather a humid day and I was sweating profusely. The race was uneventful and eventually I crossed the Marina Barrage Bridge.  From there, I increased my pace as it was breezy and conducive to run.  But the thought of looping twice here was bugging me. Hah….So all the way I ran to Marina Bay Sands, did a U-turn and made my way to the Marina Barrage Bridge again to get back to Gardens by the Bay East for another U-turn.  As I crossed the Marina Barrage Bridge for the 2nd time, I saw the front runners (damn fast, my goodness!) that had already completed the U-turn at Gardens By the Bay East, and now racing on the Marina Barrage Bridge for the 3rd time (opposite direction to me).  I think my pace slowed down significantly at the thought of coming by the bridge again.  Ha ha.  I think doing U-turns in a long distance run really test one’s mental resilience.  I shall not bore you with the loop back to Gardens by The Bay East.

tri-factor 2015
Photo source: TRI-FACTOR Series Facebook Page

By the time I completed the U-turn there and was back at the Marina Barrage Bridge for the 3rd time, the sun was already up and getting warmer by every minute (or is it me only?).  By the time I did the 2nd U-turn at Marina Bay Sands, I had slowed down to a trot after the water point station there.  The sun’s heat was getting to me.  My mind was wavering.  Started to walk for a couple of hundred of metres and felt lonely as there were not many runners around me.  Aiyah…dragged myself and starting a slow jog and eventually reached the Marina Barrage Bridge for the 4th time. Thank goodness, it’s the last time as this was the last loop. Phew!  After crossing the bridge, probably after a couple kilometers, I was distracted by a family of otters that made a sudden dash from the vegetation to the waters.  A number of runners stopped by to take photographs as well.  And yes, I stopped as well and could only walk after that.

When I looked at my watch, made a mental calculation and realized that I could possibly make it less than 3 hours (it was my target anyway) if I sprint for the final kilometer, I psyched myself, took a few deep breaths and started to run.  My legs felt numb but I just went on and very soon the finishing point appeared on my right.  Made a final dash though the gantry when I saw the timing board ticking at 2:59:11.  This was like driving past an ERP gantry quickly when you realized that 7.30am is a few seconds away and you will get charged a dollar if the lights came on… ha ha ha….. And yes I made it!  Collected my medal, but there was no more cold cans of isotonic drinks.  Look around to collect my finisher tee, but there were no one handing out and I was too tired to look around for any booths that could be doing so.  So I went over to the water station and gulped down almost 10 cups of cold isotonic drinks.  Saw a fellow runner standing by, so asked him to help take a post-race photo for me.  As I was too tired to hang around and the sun was burning hot and bright, I took a slow painful walk to my car which was half an hour away by foot.  When I reached my car, then I realised that I had forgotten to collect my finisher tee.  Wah……..I am so not going to walk back again.  Too bad for me!   What a waste…..

Overall, the race path was relatively flat and the water stations were well spaced out and well stocked with enough water.  The only thing was the number of u-turns that I had to make. It was a test on mental strength. Anyway, need to rest well as next week’s 2XU Run is beckoning.

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Race Review: Shape Run 2015 [10km] (by ‘runforfun’)

I Got A Personal Best!

With an official gun time of 54 min 03 sec (nett time of 53 min 43 sec) at my first Shape Run! This fulfills one of my running goals that I had created for at the start of the year (link). I am so excited that I managed to fulfill this goal which I actually think that I may not complete this year.

There are a few reasons that contributed to how I am able to go faster and finish stronger in this race. One, I finally incorporated more strength training to my lower body and abs. With more strength, I believe that it helped me to push stronger and further. Two, I went back to my favourite brand of shoe, Adidas. Even though the last Adidas shoes I had was about 2 years ago and they have changed alot, but the fit of the shoes feel like the one that I used to love. Luckily, I did picked up a Adidas Boost Response a few months ago and deemed that to be my racing shoe. I feel so light in it. Third and last, I have many friends who went into the race together which gives me loads of motivation and mental strength. Thanks ladies!

The Race

When we reach the starting pen, fitness instructors from True Fitness were doing warmups as me and my friends squeeze through the crowd to get a good spot just behind the 1hr pacers.

The race then started their flag-off at about 6.50am as I accelerated past the 1hr pacers and then to get into a comfortable speed. First 5 km was a quite a breeze to me. I could probably go faster in the next race. Then after, I started to try chasing after another lady who is ahead of me. I manage to get very close to her but I lost her after the 8 km mark where I started to feel fatigue after the 2 slopes. Also, all the turning around the sports hub area seems to be quite taxing on the mind as well. Nevertheless, I had a strong finish to the race.

The Shape Run is very well organized with 3 water points and no bottleneck whatsoever.  The route is a rather easy and flat terrain with two small slopes at the later half of the race. They have many volunteers who are well-informed and enthusiastic to guide us runners to the finish point.

Congratulations to Shape Magazine for organizing 10 years of Shape Run.

Next up for me: 2XU Compression Run 2015!

-runforfun.justrunlah-


Videos from youtube.com/JustRunLah

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What Inspires You To Run?

Image credit: 123RF

Singapore has a growing total population of 5.47 million and out of these millions, runners form a huge portion where we run for leisure, health and even competitions. Many have made life-changing decisions by taking their first step into competing for races, joining a local running community and finding themselves becoming someone who is healthier and fitter like never before. Runners come in various shapes and sizes and definitely have different running preferences such as time of the day to run, venues and distances. Regardless of your runner’s identity, there must be something or someone who inspired you to take the first step. Here, we explore the various sources of inspiration that created the runner you are today:

1. Brand Ambassadors

Just like the entertainment industry, there are some people whom we admire or even idolize because of certain skills, charisma and personality they possess. In sports marketing for running products, companies select brand influencers who are reputable athletes because they not only possess commendable running abilities but also understand the demands and concerns of the running community. Many supporters usually gather and form fan bases to support their celebrity athletes, which also creates brand awareness of the product represented by the athlete.

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One such example is Jenny Huang, an ultramarathon athlete sponsored by New Balance. Jenny has been an inspiration for the running community with her abilities to multi-task between career, role as a mother and dedicating time to train as a competitive runner. She became the fastest woman in the 2013 Sundown Ultra Marathon, clocking an impressive 10:38 performance for her first 100km endurance race.

2. National Athletes

Nothing inspires you more than seeing the dreams of your national athletes come true after all the training and time they have put in! Not too long ago, we had witnessed our national marathon representative, Soh Rui Yong, clinching the gold medal at the 28th SEA Games with an impressive timing of  2:34.56.

soh-rui-yong-data
Image credits: Channel News Asia

His victory has created a new wave for running among Singaporeans and caused many to take a step back and re-look at our chances of fulfilling the Olympic dream. Soh has also inspired runners all over Singapore to train harder, smarter and never give up on their dreams.

3. Running Clubs

Running Department, Team Fatbird, Safra Running Club and Gei Gei Running Club are just some of the various running clubs established all over in Singapore. These running groups allow runners to gather and train on weekly basis, where running stories, experiences and tips are exchanged among running professionals and amateurs. Many established runners started from these running communities because they provide great running foundation, motivation and atmosphere!

Be it your fellow colleagues, family members, neighbours or even the regular runner you meet at the park, these running buddies from all walks of life can also form your source of running inspiration! Sometimes you might feel lazy or exhausted, but the thought of abandoning your running mate makes you feel guilty and so you drop that thought and head for the running session nonetheless. Having someone to cheer you on and push you harder is certainly a great running motivation and inspiration!

Image credit: 123RF
Image credit: 123RF

4. Running Portal

With constant and daily newsfeed all about running related contents, as well as a running Q&A channel to answer your questions and problems encountered during your training and races, JustRunLah! is the largest running portal in Singapore! Runners can also read about reviews of products, races and daily running lives of fellow runners. Equipped with comprehensive running information and exciting race event news will definitely motivate you to train hard, well and smart for upcoming race events or your bucket-list races!

5. Running Events

Not to forget, with over 100 races organised in Singapore annually in recent years and averaging to 2 races per weekend, race events of various themes and concepts can definitely get you hyped up and ready to train for these events! From challenging trail runs to fun runs, every runner will be able to find one that suits their running preferences from the races listed on our informative race calendar.

6. Running Beliefs -Knowing that running brings more positive than negative

Image credit: 123RF
Image credit: 123RF

Running is a sport that has made positive impacts in many lives -It gets you moving physically, relieves you emotionally and boosts your overall well-being. Yes it might be tiring, exhausting and sometimes even boring because you run alone or lack motivation, however, always think about why you started in the first place and how it kept you going thus far. It is never too late to start nor too late to realize its goodness because you can run anywhere and at anytime.

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6 unique races not seen in Singapore… yet

Image credit: Decanter

As we browse through races around the world, there are some which we think to ourselves: Could this race be brought to Singapore? With our race venues, available resources and demographic of runners, here are some races that made us stop and think:

Men-Only Race

Women-only races in Singapore are extremely popular as it celebrates the power of females. Will the same apply to men-only races?  No doubt the difficulty and type of race categories will be modified due to physiological differences between males and females. However, the success of races also lie on the cause and goal of organising the race, be it for charity, festivals or significant events.  Man On The Run is one of such races which has raised a total of £26,041.46 last year in aid of cancer research UK.

Indoor Marathons

Image credit: Arlington Magazine
Image credit: Arlington Magazine

How mentally strong are you? This race is not for those with low determination because participants have to run endless number of loops around the typical running tracks to clog a total marathon distance. The Icebreaker Indoor Marathon & Half Marathon is one such race event which is organised to keep the spirit of Olympics.

Skirt Chaser

Image credit: cbc news
Image credit: cbc news

As the race name suggests, in the Skirt Chaser Run, women gets a head start in this race and men chase after the ladies. This event is only for singles and participants can expect a whole day of fun, laughter and possibly unexpected romance…

Undie Run

Image credit: Lava Magazine
Image credit: Lava Magazine

Well, such a race where participants run in their undies might not be possible in Singapore as it might cause some members of the public to feel uncomfortable and probably would stir controversies over the Public Order and Nuisance Act of the law in Singapore. Besides the interesting and rare concept, the Undie Run is all about running for charity, with their race slogan “Philanthropy just got sexy”.

Marathon du Medoc

Image credit: Tobias Mews
Image credit: Tobias Mews

Medoc is the place of wine production in France and the Marathon Du Medoc Marathon is essentially France’s long-distance drinking race. Instead of water as race hydration, wine are served to runners as they complete their marathon. If this race is to happen in Singapore, it will definitely be the most expensive one in town. Wine lovers, what do you say?

Wings for life world run

Image credit: Runtastic
Image credit: Runtastic

Are you ready to run for those who can’t? The Wings for Life World Run is a global running and wheelchair event which starts at a set time around the world and finishes when the last person is caught by the Catcher Car. This is the only race where you define your own finishing line for a meaningful cause. 100% of the race fee will be donated to spinal cord injury patients and research.

Are you ready if the above races reach Singapore’s shore? Which race do you anticipate the most? Will you sign up for them? Let us know!

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Race Review: Shape Run 2015 [10km] (by Ah Girl)

Warming up for 10km

Shape Run is Singapore’s first all-women’s run and this year they have new race categories such as 15km and family fun run to allow more people to join in the fun! I have been looking forward to race day as the race collection was superb; smooth queuing system and plentiful goodies in the race pack. Also, its finally my chance to see how I have progressed for a 10km since my last race back in 2013…

Pre-race

(Video by JustRunLah!)

It was around 6 am when I reached the Kallang practice tracks and there were already music, bright lights and masses of fit and fun ladies around all eagerly waiting for their flag-off timings. The road marshals and race event volunteers seemed to be all busy getting ready for the races and were friendly in directing incoming participants. Mobile toilets, food and beverages were given free at the sponsors booths and many ladies are already warming up along the tracks. The starting point is located away from the tracks and it seems like supporters of race participants do not really have access to areas near the starting pen. Most of the supporters stood across the overhead bridge to show their support, which was a heartwarming sight.

In the race pen, we were led by fitness instructors for warming exercises and the atmosphere was great! The race was flagged off smoothly and on time at about 6:50am.

Race Experience

I was quite lucky to be in the first quarter portion of the running crowd, just before the 1:00h pacers and the roads were absolutely clear, litter-free and the cooling morning was perfect for the race. There were several U-turns in the 10km route and distance markers were clearly placed every km. I did not experience any bottlenecks because the roads were relatively wide and race volunteers could be seen at almost every km, all enthusiastically cheering us on.

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Happy runner with my finisher’s medal!

Too bad my phone decided to sleep and my unofficial timing was not captured. Along the race, I was pacing with some other ladies and it was a good run because I only stopped once for a water break. One regret I had was accelerating at the 8km mark; I sprinted up the slope as I thought it was an opportunity to move up the ranks and I did manage to overtake a few participants.

However, after the overhead bridge, I saw the 8km mark once more and realised that the remaining distance was longer than I thought. But in any case, Iopened my strides as big as I could with all my might towards the last stretch at the tracks and felt like a champ 🙂 And once again, another regret was not to look up at the huge digital timer on my right for an estimated timing because I was simply too engrossed in finishing my best. I did hear the emcee saying that it was under one hour or something…

Oh wells, I guess I just have to leave it to the official release of results on Tuesday! All in all, I was satisfied of myself for not giving up and giving my all towards the end 🙂

(Video by JustRunLah!)

Post-Race

The amount of goodies and sponsors spotted at the Shape Run carnival came in many forms apart from the finisher’s medal and singlet – from free towels, bread, box of cereals, facial masks, polaroids and many other stage activities that made participants continue being active even after the race!

I felt that this race was very well-organised, logistics and manpower were sufficient and definitely a success. What a way to celebrate Shape Run’s 10th anniversary with a successful race event!

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5 Benefits of Body Combat

Image credits: Her101

Looking for an alternative cardio sport besides running that allows you to kick, jab, clinch and master self-defence techniques in a non-contact environment? Body Combat is an action-packed workout activity that encompasses all of the above, which guarantees to make you sweat it out and get your heart racing. Inspired by martial arts and a huge variety of disciplines including Muay Thai, Tai Chi, Boxing, Taekwondo and Karate, here are 5 benefits that Body Combat can offer:

Image credits: CFYC
Image credits: CFYC

1. Sports Conditioning

When selecting a cross-training activity, athletes should consider the aerobic intensity as well as the risks of injuries from the sport. Body combat offers comparable stamina training as to running with its explosive workouts and the non-contact nature reduces the chances of sustaining unwanted injuries. The workouts are usually conducted in timed intervals and of different speeds, hence allowing for participants to maximize their heart and lung capacities.

2. Weight Loss – Excellent Calories Burner

According to body combat clubs, a 50 minutes Body Combat class allows you to burn an average of 740 calories! While the amount of calories burned is based on one’s fitness level, height and weight, this amount is higher than most cardio activities and definitely qualifies as an elite fat-blaster activity. This is great news for anyone who wishes to shred off those extra pounds and sweat it out during each short and intense session.

3. Agility and Reflex

The elements of martial arts in body combat focuses on the physical form, execution, and mental strength. With fast-paced and varied movements choreographed in a series of routines, participants have to change their body postures and positions within a short period of time. This trains the reflex time of our body to adapt, recover and be ready. While running is already an active sport, body combat brings the cardio intensity to a whole new level, putting one’s agility, physical and mental reflex to the test.

Image credits: QE Leisure Centre
Image credits: QE Leisure Centre

4. Muscle Toning

First you jab, then you kick, next you defend and so on – when combined and repeated in regulated pace and intensity, body combat forces you to utilize various parts of your muscle groups when executing the different movements. In comparison to running, the martial arts component trains both your upper and lower body, which essentially translates into a full body-workout. As such, body combat could possibly be your secret and solution to achieving defined muscles and toned body shape!

5. Stress-relief and build self-confidence

Sometimes, we just need a channel to relieve stress, rant or simply overcome the insecurities we have inside. While violence and aggression should not be solutions to resolve our problems, heading for an intense, power-packed body combat class can actually be a therapeutic experience. This is because you get to channel your inner negative emotions via a fiercely energetic yet safe physical activity. With improved physique and reduced negative feelings after a body combat class, you will feel better about yourself and therefore boost your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Image credit: Crazy Happy Healthy
Image credit: Crazy Happy Healthy

So what are you waiting for? Body Combat is an increasingly popular cardio activity that is suitable for anyone and everyone to join. Sports or athletic background is not needed to join a body combat class ; only commitment, endurance and an open-mind to accept challenges!

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Interview with Sylvia Lee, founder and director of EmancipAsia

Image credits: EmancipAsia

Human trafficking can happen everywhere and anywhere, including well-developed countries like Singapore. Often, it is a crime that cannot be seen, heard or known easily because these victims lack support, opportunities and resources to voice out and seek help.

Founded by Sylvia Lee in 2012, EmancipAsia is a non-profit charity registered in Singapore and a volunteer-run organisation. They aim to combat human trafficking by raising awareness, advocating change and empowering communities, businesses and individuals to take action to end this horrific crime against humanity. This week, JustRunLah! got in touch with Sylvia as she shares with us the causes and scope of EmancipAsia and their exciting upcoming event, STEPS In The Park 2015.

Image credits: EmancipAsia

Every step makes a big difference. Register for this race now via this link now!

JustRunLah!: EmancipAsia is a charity organisation that deals with a global problem and has its base operations in Singapore. So who does EmancipAsia specifically target and empower?

Sylvia: We target Singaporeans and residents in Singapore. Most people are unaware of this, and so we decided to focus our energy here. When the opportunity arises for expansion of our organisation and cause, we will then go beyond Singapore.

JRL: How are Singaporeans involved in perpetuating the crime, which makes Singapore a destination for human trafficking?

Sylvia: Singaporeans and residents are the ‘consumers’ of the crime – consuming products and services that are made or delivered by victims of trafficking.

For instance, many of the products we consume are tainted with slavery in their supply chains – coffee, chocolates, electronics (including mobile phones), prawns, fish, cotton shirts and many others. Some of the domestic helpers working in Singapore are victims as well. Not to forget the workers in the construction industry, landscaping etc. They are also common victims of exploitation and trafficking. We are the end users of all these actions and hence are indirectly perpetuating this crime.

In addition, victims trafficked for sex can still be found standing on the streets of Geylang or red light districts, selling themselves. As such, men could be complicit in this crime without knowing it.

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JRL: How does EmancipAsia improve the lives of affected individuals of human trafficking ?

Sylvia: EmancipAsia does not help victims of trafficking. We raise awareness which is a preventive measure against human trafficking.

JRL: How did the idea of spreading EmancipAsia’s cause via a sports event come about?

Sylvia: EmancipAsia reaches out via different channels of communications, such as art, film, talks, drama. We know that there are many Singaporeans who run and enjoy this outdoor activity. Therefore, we decided to target this group using a running event.

JRL: What differentiates STEPS In The Park 2015 from other charity races?

Sylvia: I suspect this is one of the cheapest runs in town. It is both a fun and enriching event with lucky draws, live performances, free food and a nicely designed T-shirt.

JRL: Every STEP goes a long way. How does each STEPS sign-up contribute to fighting against human trafficking?

Sylvia: Participants will have the opportunity to learn about this heinous crime at the event. They will also learn different ways to take action and how to make a difference.

Image credits: EmancipAsia

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Sports Drinks: Born In The Hospital?

Image credit: Protein Value

Bottles of colorful liquids are often spotted in the gyms, sports arenas and running benches where athletes gulp them down after working out. Sports drinks come in various flavours, sizes and contain different nutrients but do you know how did these seemingly magical drinks come about?

88 year-old medicine drink – Lucozade

Image credit: History World
Image credit: History World

The earliest record of sports drink dates back to 1927, where a chemist named William Owen concocted a mixture of glucose and water as a liquid for replenishing the lost calories and energy in ill patients. The drink was known in Britain as “Glucozade”, under the brand name Lucozade. By mid-1980s, the supposed ‘medicine’ became marketed as a drink to replenish energy for the mass public instead of medical usage in hospitals. The unexpected twist of target consumers was done by modifying Lucozade’s flavor and ingredients, which managed to appeal to the public market via collaborations with sports teams and organisations.

Campus idea – Gatorade

Image credit: Gatorade
Image credit: Gatorade

Another prominent pioneer sport beverage came from Gatorade in 1965, where the coach of University of Florida and a team of university physicians tried to analyze for remedies to tackle heat-related conditions suffered by his players. They concluded that the lack of electrolytes and carbohydrates, as a result from physical exhaustion and sweat, were the 2 major causes for the players’ deteriorating health conditions. Hence, they formulated a drink that contained these elements. ‘Gatorade’ was thus created and the Gator team of players won the Orange Bowl for the first time in their school history and the drink thus became a widely-popular sports drink thereafter till now.

Commemoration Drink – 100PLUS

Image credit: 123rf
Image credit: 123rf

Fraser and Neave, Limited (F&N) created 100PLUS to commemorate its 100 years of history in 1983 as a symbol of the company’s hope and ambition. This isotonic drink is a combination of fluids, electrolytes and carbohydrates that hydrate and replenish energy and water lost from our body during physical activities. With constant product innovation and research, 100PLUS isotonic drinks now come in a variety of flavour and forms to cater to the different needs of athletes and consumers.

Inspiration from curing jetlag – RedBull

Image credit: Corey Heck
Image credit: Corey Heck

In 1987, another major sport beverage was introduced into the market which contains other ingredients besides glucose – it is none other than the caffeinated-taurine drink, RedBull. This energy drink concept was started by Dietrich Mateschitz and his partner, Chaleo Yoovidhya, where they drew inspiration from Krating Daeng, a Thai energy drink that alleviated Mateschitz’s jet lag. RedBull was initially targeted at sportsmen who were active in extreme sports such as snowboarding, windsurfing and Formula 1 racing.

What’s next to come?

The history of sport beverages is indeed an interesting yet odd one – the first of the many was not even intended for athletes in the first place! Who would have thought an ill person’s drink could become a daily energy booster for healthy and fit individuals as well? With the evolving sport communities and market segments, sport drinks are increasing in variety and choices to suit the different preferences of athletes and non-athlete consumers. It is therefore not a surprise that the sport beverage industry continues to remain an attractive market where the unpredictable and unexpected can happen, just like how it was created and made for its current purposes.

Disclaimer: Neither the author of this article or justrunlah.com is associated with any of the brands mentioned on this article. No remuneration for advertising or any other purpose has been received. All brand names, logos and photos are copyright to their respective owners.
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4 Good Practices at Race’s Drinks Stations

Drinks stations are what most runners will welcome as an opportunity to “take a break”. Some may even plan their pacing according to the location of the drinks stations. Usually, ice, first aids, toilets, gels, bananas, isotonic drinks, biscuits or fruits are available at these drinks stations, and amenities will depend on the length of the race.

But what are we doing wrongly at these ‘comfort’ zones? How can we improve all runners’ approach at drinks stations?

1. Move to the back

Runners tend to crowd at the front of any drinks station. Human jam starts to form up. With a drinks station averaging 10-15m in length, moving straight to the back to get your water may eliminate any unnecessary unhappiness and frustrations.

cups move

2. Take and Go

If possible, do not stand still and finish that cup of water. Move along to make way for the back runners to get their water.

cups take and go

3. Show your appreciation for the volunteers. Say “Thank you!”

A lot at times, volunteers are under-appreciated. They station themselves hours before the start of any races and stay in position till every runner finished their race too. Most do not get any monetary return. They usually shout out encouraging words for all the runners motivating them on. Can we show them some appreciation with a kind reply “Thank you”? This is the least we can do.

cups vol say thanks

4. Throw cups/rubbish only in designated areas.

Do not just throw them on the road. There is usually a designated area for dumping at the end of the station. Kindly move to the rear and dispose the cups/rubbish in a proper manner. Cups/rubbish littered on the road, runners may trip over and thus causing potential injuries or unhappiness.

cups des areas

Every runner’s race experience can be improved with each other’s help. Every volunteer’s race experience can be improved with each runner’s compliments. Although we can’t control the drinks supply and race expectations, we can improve each other’s journey to the finishing line by being sensitive and considerate to all participating parties.

Thank you and enjoy your next race!

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Race Review: Mizuno Ekiden [42km] (by SinaiStrider)

It’s relay season in Singapore and after the appetizer served up by The Great Relay, this weekend was the main course, the Mizuno Ekiden Singapore.

Ekiden is how Road Relays are run in Japan. They are massive spectator events. The New Year Hakone Ekiden is the largest sporting event on Japanese Television, the streets are lined with spectators for every stage – and the fastest times in Japanese Road Racing are usually set at an Ekiden.

We’ve had a few Ekiden side shows at recent marathons in Singapore, but this was the first stand alone, dedicated Ekiden event. Main sponsor Mizuno is steeped in Ekiden credibility and the organisers did a great job in giving this event a uniquely Japanese feel.

So the Mount Sinai Striders selection committee went through the usual extensive selection process (ben – you in? Al – you in? jezza – you in? john – you in?) and the initial team was set. Entry was placed, plans were formed.

But then, as is becoming a feature of Striders team management at these events, the injuries came. Jezza is still sidelined with the stress fracture that caused him to miss The Great Relay, then Al injured himself AT The Great Relay. Two new Striders were required ASAP.

Stepping up again for his second Striders appearance was Ultra King Pav – fresh (!) from his 100km UltraTrail Lavaredo in the Dolomites a few weeks early – he’ll give it his all, but he’s not sure how quick he will be with a battered body.

Filling the final slot is new Strider Conor. A strava regular, Conor is a lifelong runner with some seriously quick times in his past, but a relative newbie to Singapore racing – so he’s not sure how he’ll cope with only his second 10km race in the city state.

Since I’m making all the excuses, I should add that Ben has mild tendonitis of the knee after his Macritchie Trail Marathon 6th place finish a few weeks ago – and I spent the whole of last week in the UK, arriving back in Singapore the night before the Ekiden, so I’m jetlagged and out of sync with the climate.

We have four committed runners and four great sets of excuses for any dodgy performance. Sorted!

We’re all 38-41 minute 10km runners so we’re thinking a sub 3 hour marathon is target number 1, a top ten finish is target number 2 and anything beyond that would be a real bonus.

The team assembles at 0630 at the meadow. Initial impression is that this is a super location for the race village and it’s been well laid out with loads of stalls, some nice seating and a very organised ekiden change over pen system. All good there.

We reshuffle the order slightly, as Pav’s taxi drops him off at Satay by the Bay, so he only arrives after Conor has gone off to the starting pen. These two have never met before, which would make a relay changeover a bit tricky, so Ben takes Runner 2, Pav goes 3 and I am given the honour of bringing us home as runner 4.

0710 comes and Conor’s off, we’re able to track his progress on the very sophisticated real time tracking system, either in the tent or on our phones. This is another real differentiator for the Ekiden, awesome detail and timing information, on all runners, real time.

Dear Race Organisers: If it can be done here, it can be done every time – we deserve much better from you guys!

Conor’s soon back in 46 mins and Ben heads out. Ben should be our quickest runner today, and his first few splits confirm that he’s running well. He comes back in 43 mins, so we are in good shape for the sub 3 at the half way point.

Pav’s out now and it’s warming up (both the race and the temperature!) I’m starting to process the fact that I’ve spent all week in cool london air and now i’m straight back into racing in the peak heat of the day. Alamak!

I enter the 4th runner pen in good time, where I meet Chee and Alan from F1, Jacek from MR25, Dominic and Dennis from Singapore Shufflers and a few others. These guys are in the teams that will later make up the top ten finishers, so I know I am in good company.

Soon enough Pav comes round the corner and I’m off. The route takes me into Marina Bay initially, over the bay to the floating platform, up to esplanade and over the new foobridge to the Merlion. It’s a lovely tourist route, but really I think it’s far too busy for a race like this. I’m ok until we hit the Merlion, where I have to barge my way through the tourists, without much useful assistance from the poor marshall who is struggling to make a pathway. I guess it was ok here for the 1st runner at 0730, but for the runners after around 0930, it wasn’t good at all.

Heading on round the bay the human traffic eases and I’m round the front of MBS and heading back down the bay in decent shape, although it’s very warm. At this point the shade vanishes and I’m slogging up to Satay by the Bay in full sun. I start to feel a little rough around the 5km point, then once I’ve crossed the Barage I get that ‘new runner in Singapore’ feeling where my head is ready to explode, it’s hot, sunny and there’s no wind here – I’ll have to slow slightly to avoid a complete blow up.

Luckily this is only 10k, and I’m 6k in, so I can just get my head down and grind it through. The rest of the race passes uncomfortably and soon enough I am in the finishing straight.

I’ve dropped a few minutes on target pace though, and my heart misses a beat when I turn the corner to see the finish line clock ticking past 3 : 11 . I know the clock would have started at 0700 when the 21.1k runners set off, which means it’s 3 : 01 for the full marathon. Fuck. 3 hours and 1 minute. Nightmare – and all my fault.

But the boys are all at the finish with broad smiles. First question from me to Ben ‘what’s our time’. Ben’s reply is the best thing I’ve heard all day ‘2:58’. Apparently there was a delay to the start of the 42.2, it went off at 7.12, not 7.10.

So we’ve done it. A sub 3 Ekiden marathon, our main goal for the day. This feels fantastic and I’ve now long forgotten the heat issues from a few minutes earlier.

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We take a quick team photo and head over to the Kirin stand for a well deserved beer and the traditional race debrief.

In the final analysis we came 10th (which I think will end up as 9th, because Chee, 4th runner in the F1 Runners Team 2 took a wrong turn and skipped 500m accidentally, so they should have been behind us).

Conor and I feel pretty good about finishing Top 10 with two over 45’s in our team, we reckon none of the teams ahead has 50% old buggers, so that’s a moral victory for us veterans.

Pav ran the fastest striders leg of the day, edging out Ben by just a few seconds. It’s a great result all round and we’re all feeling great, sitting on the grass (a lovely lawn – possibly the nicest grass I have ever sat on in Singapore) enjoying the cold beer in the mid morning sun. Cracking.

Talking to friends at the event, everyone agreed it was a success. The format allows runners to socialize during the race in a way which is unusual for us – and we like it a lot.

I haven’t heard any grumbles from anyone I know, so really the only issue was the routing of the course around the merlion, which maybe is only a problem for the more competitive teams trying to max their times. I guess the counter point would be it was a great Singapore highlights route – so my alternative (racing optimised) route of heading straight over the barage and taking the new PCN out and back to ECP probably wouldn’t have been so appealing for many runners.

Another sociable day for me, catching up with the F1 Gang, the Shufflers, Chad from VGO, Purpledelic, Tony and Vivian and lots of other folk I know through races and social media.

Now I can let the jetlag catch up and laze around the house all day. I’ve always had ‘sub 3 marathon’ on a loose list of goals/aspirations, so even though this is a team result, I can sit and enjoy the moment!

In two weeks time the Striders will take on the ASICS City Relay, the last of the 2015 relay event and another Ekiden. ‘love it!

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Happy Trails.

 

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Sports Bands: Fashion or Enhancement?

Photo credits: Mediablazegroup

They come in various shapes and sizes, colors and textures, and are packed with a variety of functions. Undeniably, sports bands are one of the most popular buys among runners and athletes alike. Are these fancy fitness trackers more of a fashion statement or practical supplement? Let us find out:

A Runner’s Identity

Image credits: Knowyourmobile
Image credits: Knowyourmobile

Just like the clothes you wear, sports bands are also runners’ way of expressing their personality and style. With hues that range from bright to dark, cool to warm, and designs that exudes minimalism or boldness, one look at the band would display some traits of that runner. The booming sports band industry has also featured extravagant and creative designs such as those with Swarovski crystals embossed on them, as well as those that are detachable and wearable as a necklace.

Functionality and compatibility

Image credits: Wareable
Image credits: Wareable

Embedded with multiple sensors and motors such as heart-rate monitor, pedometer, accelerometer and more, sports bands are able to generate data regarding your calories burnt, steps taken, distance and route traveled and some can even be voice-controlled.

In addition, sports trackers can be synced with other gadgets such as PC, tablets and smartphones. Most popular running apps are compatible to sports bands, allowing for easy data transfer and sharing among multiple platforms and devices. These applications are mostly user-friendly and they certainly do not require you to be an expert in sports or IT to use your sports band like a pro!

A Band of Motivation

Image credits: Bloomberg
Image credits: Bloomberg

Running and fitness training is no longer a solo activity once you create a profile on the various social platforms linked to your fitness device. Not only can you send virtual motivation to your fellow fitness buddies, these social networks allow you to challenge your peers, set fitness goals and rank among others on leadership boards as a way to motivate yourself each day. Having a sports band would also change the way you perceive each step, run or second you take because each of them do make a difference.

Beyond Sports – Sleep and Nutrition

Image credits: Hypebeast
Image credits: Hypebeast

Besides tracking your fitness level and goals for different activities, sports band can also evaluate your sleep quality and diet habits by regularly logging in your sleep patterns and calorie intake. Alarms in the form of vibration are available in some sports bands. As such, charts generated from your sleep and activity records will enable users to spot and analyse trends so as to improve their quality of life and fitness.

Perfect Gift Choice

What better idea to give your loved ones a gift that embodies both functionality and aesthetics? With a wide range of prices, brands, designs and sizes, anyone will definitely find one that suits them best. Many had also experienced positive lifestyle changes after including this sports companion as part of their daily life.

So the next time you feel in need of a fitness boost, companion or gift, a sports band would be a great item to add to your running cart!

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Race Review: OSIM Sundown Marathon 2015 [5km]

Some of you may have read my Sundown pre-race review, where I mentioned finally returning to some form of running post injury.  It was meant to be my first night race and I looked forward it.  No early wake up, plenty of caffeinating opportunities and no sun blaring down on us.

The event finally came and with the exception of a 20 minutes delayed flag-off for parents with children it was a fun race.  My daughter was in good form, hubby relaxed as usual and I was happy just to have my runners on and be amongst all the other participants.

Ready to roll
Ready to roll

Singapore is a beautiful city anytime but it is spectacular at night.  Any race that circles the Marina Bay area is a bonus.  I very much enjoyed running down The Shoppe boardwalk spiritually engaging with the diners who are watching the racing spectacle.

My running style was a cross between power walking to midfoot running to flatfoot hobbling to somewhere in between all of those.  My ligaments are stubborn and taking ages to heal but I’m still finding ways to race even if I’m anything but classy or stylish in my approach.

My daughter thoroughly enjoyed the experience, at times flying like a jet fighter (perhaps all the NDP practice fly-bys past our condo may have influenced her) and other times zig-zagging between runners like a F1 driver.  Her joy and happiness was infectious, providing John and I with an overall marvellous experience at this event.

Besides the overall fun we had, our highlight was at the end of the race, being able to sit down anywhere to rehydrate, listen to the live music and rest without the sun or the heat overwhelming us.

As night creatures, this event certainly hit all our buttons and I would be back again.  Hopefully in better form next time.

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Cheers

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