There are a lot of misconceptions about long distance running, and most of them are due to people having little to no understanding of this worthwhile activity. That being said, here are five of the most common misconceptions about long distance running that you ought to know. . . and dismiss.
Your lower limbs take a pounding when you run, and the more you do it, the more you put your knees at risk of being ruined. At least, that’s what many people say. But the opposite might actually be true: running might help you avoid knee problems in the future. A study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that running “appears to decrease knee intra-articular pro-inflammatory cytokine concentration,.” In layman’s terms, runners had less inflammation in the knees, which is a precursor to arthritis, compared to non-runners. (To read more on this, check out our ‘Running – Good or Bad for Your Knees?’ post.)
Misconception 3: You Must Run All the Time
To run long distances you have to get used to running for long periods of time – so you need to train all the time, right? Well, not exactly. There’s a need to train, yes, but running all the time is not something long distance runners do as it can lead to injury. Instead, long distance runners train strategically and smartly. Training usually involves long runs on weekends, speed work once or twice a week, easy recovery runs, and a day or two off.
Misconception 4: Runners Need Not Build Strength
As Esquire notes in ‘Debunking The 6 Most Common Running Myths’, strength training “helps build your running potential,” particularly when leg exercises are correctly incorporated into your training. By doing these exercises, you will be able to build the muscles and joints in your lower body, and this means they will be stronger, more stable, and more able to withstand the grind of running long distances.
Misconception 5: Technology Has No Place in Running
Part of the allure of long distance running is its simplicity, and some argue that technology gets in the way of the sport’s innate unpretentiousness. But the fact is that technology has transformed nearly every type sport, helping athletes from all disciplines improve their performance. News platform Coral claims that tracking technologies are commonly used by professional teams due to the “exhaustive amounts of data” that becomes available. These same technologies, contrary to traditional beliefs, have a place in long distance running, too, as they give runners the capability to monitor and record real time information about their performance. The Lumo Run Sensor can even help you run better, as this sensor tracks all your essential running stats that you can later look over to check areas for improvement. The key here is to find the perfect balance that will allow you to make full use of technology yet enjoy the simplicity of the sport.
RunNUS is an annual running event in the Kent Ridge Campus, organized by NUS Students’ Sports Club to promote a healthy lifestyle in the NUS community. This year, RunNUS will be held on 9 September at University Town.
Since its inception in 2007, RunNUS has become one of the biggest and most anticipated event for NUS students, staff and alumni. This year, in their 12th year of running, RunNUS will be partnering with NUS Disability Support Office (DSO) and inviting Social Service Organisations. With the tagline ‘Run For A Cause’, we aim to empower the community of People With Disabilities/Special Needs (PWDSNs) through inclusiveness.
Conquer RunNUS race routes!
Ever heard of the notorious hilly terrains of NUS? Challenge yourself and conquer these routes! The members of RunNUS committee have run each route and ranked the difficulty level of these routes for you! Come, challenge your limits at these places!
Wear this cool official race singlet!
Grab your running slot now and receive the official race singlet of RunNUS 2018!
A Finishers’ Medal for everyone!
Regardless of which category you take part in, you will receive the Finishers’ Medal upon crossing the finishing line!
Visit the running clinic before race day!
In collaboration with NUS Cross Country, RunNUS will be conducting one free running clinic for all registered participants of RunNUS 2018.
For the crazy running enthusiasts who aspire to beat your own personal record on top of the challenging running route (or for anyone even!), come for our running clinic to familiarise yourself with the route!
Date & Time: 2 September 2018, Sunday, 5pm– To sign up for the clinic, click here: https://orgsync.com/140428/forms/327026
Exclusive for JustRunLah! readers: 5% OFF Public Rate
Great news! You can now enter code: NUSxJustRunLah to enjoy 5% OFF Public Rates during registration.
Also, don’t miss out on these exclusive bundle rates!
For bundle rate of 4, enter code RunNUSx4 to enjoy 10% off total bill.
For bundle rate of 8, enter code RunNUSx8 to enjoy 15% off total bill.
The Petaling Jaya Half Marathon is considered one of the oldest HM races in Malaysia. HM is never my interest, ever since I started with FM, HM has become more like for training. Going for overseas HM is also not that frequent, this time round, since most of the running friends are doing this, I decided to just crash. Having known that Malaysia is famous for many good runners, I thought just to go and see where I stand.
Logistics
Flagging off of 30KM runnersEarly Morning at Dataraan
Petaling Jaya can be accessed via KLIA and is about 38KM away from this international airport. Although I was tempted to come here via bus, I found out that taking a plane over is about $150 via budget air, that is only 50 plus more than I take bus and I was deterred by the customs. Since now the budget airlines depart from Terminal 4 in Singapore, I thought of taking a look there too. I was really quite impressed with the Terminal 4 and its efficiency, quite a good way to start the trip. But unfortunately my Airasia flight was delayed by one and half hours, I guess there’s nothing much I could do about that, just happy to laze around the nice big terminal.
From KLIA, you can take a taxi to PJ, that cost about 80 RM at most. At the city centre there are many choices of stay, you can also opt for AirBNB.
THE RACE
At the race venue
Taking place at Dataran Petaling Jaya @Padang Timur, PJ, Selangor. The race flags off on 15 Jul at 5:15 am. Quite an unearthly time for a sleepy head like me. Thank god despite being late, my friends already helped me to get the race pack. As such I was not able to check out the race expo. Inside the race pack was a running tee and some brochures, there is also a tube of the muscle rub from Denmark. Kinda interesting as it is Herbal.
The official website has enough information: http://www.pj-halfmarathon.com/
You can also do the registration here. Finishers also get the medals and finisher tee shirt. Best of all , there are many refreshments around.
RACE COURSE
Finishing it
The race course is undulating, there were many slopes around circulating around PJ. I guess this time many of the powerhouses went for the 30KM or gave it a miss. The 30 Km is a new category only for this 30 special anniversary edition. However, may suspect that the years to come there will be I was able to have a breezy run by myself after shaking off the crowd. Running through half way, the 10km and other folks merged in and it got a bit crowded. However, there were still ample space for us to run. The motorcycle kept following me, making me wonder if I have a chance to stand on stage again.
The weather was humid and hot, I was all sweaty with my tortoise running shirt, and half way through I also splashed water on myself to cool myself down. This time round I only brought one small hydration bottle, I guess my ultimate aim is to make FM like running a 10KM, without much baggage. The water points are well stocked, towards the end there were gels available too.
The ending was really weird with a small u turn into the finishing pen. Thank god the finishing was not filled with runners. We were given drinks ( 100 plus and water) and also banana. The volunteers also hand the finishing medal and very nicely ethnic designed finisher tee to the finishers. The whole dataran is a large field with spectator seats.
The ending was a nice gala for all with tent with seats and also bouncy castles. There were also massages and heat rubs.
As I waited for the rest, I just walked around and enjoy what the different booths have to offer. There were many sponsors selling their stuff like sunglasses, nutritional items etc. There is also a refreshment area with milo truck and many cereal stuffs. Some booths were giving out ice cream too.
In conclusion
Managed something happy
The race is really quite enjoyable for a short weekend touch and go trip. I managed to keep up with my timing despite the slopes. Maybe will come back again but doing the 30Km.
It’s a run that celebrates Singapore’s birthday, organised by Yew Tee and Limbang Grassroots organisations and supported by Gain City. It was a good running event that’s why I’m back this year after participating in it last year! Probably will be back again next year too! ?
There were the 3km Walk category and 8km Run category, Willis and I participated in the 8km run category. The fee for the registration was super low! The cheapest running event I’d participated so far this year ? The 3km category only cost $3 and the 8km category only cost $12 and it’s inclusive of T-shirt, medal plus lucky draw chances and can participate in their carnival games and activities ?
Flag off was at Choa Chu Kang stadium and it was very packed with participants and also residents from the area for the National Day Observance Ceremony. Noticed many secondary school students from the region and residents also participated in the run. There was a slight delay for the 8km category flag off and before the flag off, we sung the National anthem and recites the National pledge. Makes me really reminising back to those days while I was still schooling. There was also a parade by the students of 3 different secondary schools with Red Cross, Girl Guides, NCC etc and shortly after the march off, the ministers flagged us off.
The pavements were pretty narrow as soon as we exit the stadium. Many participants including me ran on the grass patches by the pavements to avoid the human jam but shortly we run into the Pang Sua park connector and it was spacious and more comfortable to run in. We also ran a small part of the rail corridor enjoying a part of the greenery. There were also a quite few water points a long the way.
There was many volunteers along the way, almost stationed every few metres away along the route and all of the volunteers were so joyful and cheerful ? It was truly a nice route and an enjoyable run. And I’m in a superb mood and feeling patriotic to the maximum by holding my National flag and run and at times sung some National songs ?
The end point was at Gain City Megastore at Sungei Kadut, though it seems quite inconvenient to get out of there but shuttle bus services were provided to get runners to the MRT station ?
I’m giving a hundred likes for this run for as soon as we finished the run, immediately my eyes gone bling bling with hearts ? It was my all time number 1 favourite Milo van with my favourite drink, Milo ?
The carnival was funfilled with many games and actvities and there was even a mini vertical challenge by Gain City to climb up the top of the building which I think is 7 storeys if I didn’t remember wrongly.
Willis and I went to play basketball and gotten towels for the participation, the queue was long but fast moving. It was fun and sort of bring awareness to participants of all ages to stay active.
There was also work out and performances on stage but I’m more interested in getting a foot massage. The masseuses were visually impaired, it was $4 for 10 minutes of foot massage and all the proceeds goes directly to them
It was a well organised event, cheap and many goodies and items were given such as red bean bread, banana and bottled drinks. And for me especially, got Milo they win already ? Looking forward to celebrating Singapore’s 54th birthday with them already! ?
The Singapore Sports Hub was abuzz with fiesta activities as more than 18,000 clad in red and white, came together today to celebrate the nation’s 53rd birthday. The lively atmosphere was filled with familiar National Day songs as citizens and foreigners alike sang along and danced to the favourite tunes, and participated in a slate of family-friendly activities at the Sports Hub National Day Fiesta.
The massive turnout for the ‘Workout Lah!’, a cardio-fusion dance programme choreographed with a Singaporean twist, drummed the place with upbeat adrenaline moves. Kids were wriggling through the mini obstacle course with all their might at the ‘Junior Super Warrior Challenge’. Families and friends picnic together and watched the live telecast of the National Day Parade on the giant LED screen at the OCBC Square. The fiesta rose to a crescendo when the National Anthem was sung and the pledge was recited together.
Indu Dhevakar, 38, who frequents the Singapore Sports Hub, said, “I really enjoyed the ‘Workout Lah!’ as it was different from the usual workout. We danced to National Day songs, and it was very nice to see all the races coming together to celebrate National Day as one. My two sons also took part in almost all the activities here such as the bouncy castles, e-sports gaming, 3D flag and bookmark making, as well as the Junior Super Warrior Challenge, and they really enjoyed themselves!”
A web consultant in his early 30s, Ariff Munshi, whose child participated in the Junior Super Warrior Challenge, said, “This event is different from other National Day events in that it has varied activities for families and kids. While the event is more sports-oriented, there are also crafts activities for kids. This makes it very enjoyable for children, not only for younger kids but also for the older ones.”
“The Singapore Sports Hub is a place where Singapore comes to play. It’s heartening to see everyone, from the young to the seniors, having a great time with their families and friends, actively participating in the many lifestyle, sporting and local-themed activities at the Sports Hub National Day Fiesta. We will continue to bring many more exciting activities for all to experience and rediscover the Singapore Sports Hub,” said Ms. Christine Lau, Director of Sports and Community Programming, Singapore Sports Hub.
The craft workshops were a great hit with the kids today as they brought back with them fond memories of the one-of-a-kind masterpieces such as the tiles, batiks, bookmarks and pyssia beads coasters which they have personally created.
38-year-old Ms. Sabrina Chong, a mother of three kids aged 1.5, 4 and 7 years old, said, “I brought my family of eight here today to immerse in the atmosphere, and to keep my kids occupied during National Day through the different activities such as the tile-painting workshop and Junior Super Warrior Challenge. It is the first time I’ve heard of an obstacle course for the younger kids; hence I signed them up to enhance their motor skills. My youngest kid was a bit scared initially but she still tried out the obstacles. I think this event it is a great chance for me to bond with my kids.”
Throughout the day, families enjoyed the bonding activities such as block-building challenges, bubble performances, bouncy castles, as well as the flag-making activities, badge-making workshops, and storytelling sessions at the Singapore Sports Museum and Sports Hub Library. Sports enthusiasts were also kept entertained all day at ELXR Arena’s first mobile container gym, parkour try-outs, e-sports gaming, and RED-X Games.
53 FREE guided tours for the public, including National Stadium back-of-house experience
The National Day celebration at the Singapore Sports Hub will continue till 17 August and members of the public can still sign up for the free Sports Hub guided tours to learn more about the 35-hectare site. There are two types of tours available: a 90-minute tour around the Sports Hub, and a 60-minute back-of-house tour of the National Stadium. The latter is subject to stadium availability and allows the public to explore areas such as the executive suites, premium lounges, media areas, and the players village.
The Sports Hub National Day Fiesta is held in conjunction with GetActive! Singapore. For more information, visit www.sportshub.com.sg/NDFiesta.
The 5 August run was organised by The Gardens Mall and Mid Valley Megamall to support the protection of the environment and sustainable use of natural resources
KUALA LUMPUR, 6 AUGUST 2018: Jointly organised by The Gardens Mall and Mid Valley Megamall, the Mid Valley City Charity Run (MVCCR) 2018 was held for its fifth consecutive year on 5 August. This year, the charity run saw its first collaboration with Global Environment Centre (GEC) to promote environmental education as well as toraise awareness on global environmental issues. MVCCR aims to support the protection of the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources.
In total, 2,000 runners gathered at Mid Valley City at 6 AM to gear up to run a 5km route on the Mid Valley Ring Road, including running through the two shopping malls. All participants’ registration fees, amounting toRM100,000 was channeled to GEC’s efforts. Before the flag-off time at 7 AM, a mock cheque for RM100,000 was presented by Elizabeth Tan, Executive Director of IGB REIT Management Sdn Bhd to Dr K Kalithasan, Coordinator of GEC’s River Care Programme.
“We are encouraged to see that people are even more inspired to run to raise funds for a good cause,” says Antony Patrick Barragry, CEO of IGB REIT. “As corporate citizens, we want to actively help alleviate the environmental issues that affect our local communities. This year, we hope to support, to the best of our abilities, our non-profit beneficiary GEC, and we admire their commitment to the cause,” he added.
At 6.30AM, Celebrity Fitness Malaysia hosted a warm-up session for all participants. The flag-off time at 7 AM signified the start of the run for all runners. Runners who completed the run received a finisher medal to commemorate the experience and achievement. Each participant also received an exclusive New Balance high-quality running shirt, and various vouchers and gifts. This year, a little extra effort and some observant eyes during the run earned lucky runners the chance to win SUUNTO watches from Solar Time.
In addition, the run also featured other key partners including Citibank, 100 Plus, Ice Mountain Mineral Water, Milo and New Balance. Refreshments from tenants including Auntie Anne’s, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Delectable by Su, Lavender, Moo Cow, and The Chicken Rice Shop were scheduled to be available for all runners after the run at the event area from 7.15AM till 9.00AM.
Shoppers who visited The Gardens Mall’s South Palm on the Ground Floor from 27 July to 5 August were able to witness the photo exhibition held in collaboration with GEC to learn more about GEC’s conservation efforts. GEC community merchandise were on sale at the booth, such as accessories made from waste materials by Island Ranger Seri Pangkor Community and handicrafts made by Friends of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest Association. The booth also welcomed first-come, first-served registration from members of the public for GEC’s monthly tree planting activity, an annual activity aimed at conserving the various species of the North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest and restoring the deteriorated area to its former glory.
It’s the race 3 of the series and this time it was held at Bedok Reservoir. Bedok Reservoir is a nice place to run and I’ve been there a couple of times before to run ? It was a happy morning for me as I had enough sleep and had saved a lot on traveling time as Fannie is kind to tompang Eleanor and me to the race site ?
After 3 REPC, which was held at a very not so convenient place for me, I really hope that if there’s any TPS series next year, runners that registered for the entire series are able to collect all of the bibs and race tees at once, it’s also like a privilege to encourage runners to sign up for the entire series right? ? Though now I am contemplating of giving up running race 4 of the series as it clashes with Great Eastern Women’s Run! ? It’s the only run that I ran without fail yearly for the past 3 years since I started running.
Flag off was on time at the usual 7.30am. Race route was 2 loops of Bedok Reservoir and there’s a super long slope to run up ? But when there’s upslope also means that there would be the shiok and happy downslope ? The downslope was quite steep and while running down I was thinking if I tripped I can really reach the end of the downslope the fastest way by rolling down ? While at the second loop I was thinking I shall take a rest and walk all the way up for the coming upslope but lucky me, runners do not need to run up the scary slope for the second loop. I was also disappointed a bit actually because I have no excuse to walk already but to keep running ? Never study route map some more lah! ?
There’s many photographers along the route to take many photos for runners too! Really thankful for their hard work ?
(Photo credits: Ang Chi Song)
It was pretty hot already by the time I was on the second loop, Sun was out but luckily it’s not too hot yet. The terrain is mostly gravel and I find it not easy to run on. Public toilets were available throughout the entire park and there’s 2 hydration points spaced out along the route which meant runners would total run pass hydration points 4 times which had kept the runners pretty hydrated. The route was slightly over distance as many of my friends and my running watches showed 10.2 to 10.3km.
Hahahaha! Though I don’t have the habit of choping a table in hawker centre or kopitiam with tissues and umbrellas, but I find the medal so Singaporean and cute lah! ?
Back for its sixth edition, The Color Run – 2018 Hero Tour, is proudly presented by Union Pay. The Color Run Singapore aims to give their valued Color Runners a fresh new experience each time they participate. Therefore this year, they strive to soar to greater heights with their brand new hero-themed tour!
Get your powers super-charged as you crash through double the colour in their brand new SUPER colour zones, and then take off and fly through skies of dreamy foam clouds! Here, anything is possible, and you are unstoppable! After you’re covered from head to toe in different colours, celebrate and reward yourself at the Finish Festival – filled with music, dancing, and more colour throws.
The Happiest 5km on the Planet
The Color Run, also known as the Happiest 5k on the Planet, is a unique paint race that celebrates healthiness, happiness, and individuality. Now the largest running series in the world, The Color Run has been experienced by over 6 million runners worldwide in 35+ countries. The event is returning to Singapore on Saturday, 29 September, at 4 pm, for its sixth year!
IMPORTANT – How The Event Works
This is it, its the time of your life to take part in such a fun event! The Color Run is a five-kilometer, un-timed event in which thousands of participants, or “Color Runners”, are doused from head to toe in different colors at each kilometer.
With only two rules, the idea is easy to follow:
Wear white at the starting line!
Finish plastered in color!
After Color Runners complete the race, the fun continues with an unforgettable Finish Festival. This larger than life party is equipped with music, dancing and massive color throws, which create millions of vivid color combinations. Trust us, this is the best post-5K party on the planet!
This year, Siem Reap hosts its 5th Khmer Empire Marathon and turn out for the run since it first started has increased exponentially. If I heard the host correctly, this year the largest international runners turn out was from China, followed by Japan.
Race Pack Collection:
Race pack collection was a breeze and no major hiccups there. Location of the collection is at Apsara Angkor Resort. No vendors were on site to sell anything. However, you may do a donation of any amount for charity (donation will benefit the less fortunate and kids hospital in Cambodia) if you choose to do so.
Early Sunday morning – Race day:
The Half Marathon start time was at 5.30am. It was still dark when the race started and you should make your way to the race site early. Music was loud and festivities were engaging.
All runners raring to go
After a quick speech by the VIP on stage, the race was flagged off on time. The day before the race, I had a paid tour around Angkor Wat so for most parts of the route, I have already seen the setting up of medical tents and water points done up.
Running along the moat outside of Angkor Wat
If you want a rough idea what the route consists of, here are some of the details that you may like to know:
Race route:
The run surrounds 3 main structures (Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm). You basically start off in front of the majestic Angkor Wat and run towards Ta Prohm. Then approach Angkor Thom from the east and enter it from Victor Gate. After running within the temple for about 4km, you will exit the temple at the South Gate and you will be on your way to finish line in the next 2km or so.
Entering the Victor Gate from East of Angkor ThomExiting South Gate of Angkor Thom
We were blessed with the perfect cloudy weather for this run. Like most other runs in Asia, you do have to assume a certain amount of risk when it comes to traffic.
Countries like Cambodia do not have traffic lights and proper road signs in this part of the remote Siem Reap.
I would not recommend listening to music but just enjoy the sound of your surroundings.
Running along the entire route is mainly on asphalt and water point is readily available every 2 km. There are also public toilets along the route to be used. I strongly beseech you as a runner to dispose your trash where they should rightfully go. You will not believe me but the roads are extremely clean to begin with. Kids will stand along the roads to give you “high fives” but I decided to have a little fun and try something different with the kids. From a distance, I showed them my fist. Then mimicked the posture and we all had “fist bumps” when I approached them instead. Very obedient kids and certainly something they wouldn’t have learnt from the TV.
Deploying Scouts for road marshaling
And some parts of the race, you will get to see temple structure upfront.
Buildings along the running route for runners to enjoy and be in awe of.
Finally, as we approach the finish line, you can’t help but to get the feeling that the entire race was so enjoyable and you would want to go to the start line and do this all over again immediately. The race has seriously won my heart over and I highly recommend runners who wants a taste of what it feels like to run in a less developed country.
The Sports Hub National Day Fiesta will make its return for the second year. In celebration of the nation’s 53rd birthday, Sports Hub brings to Singapore an array of exhilarating sporting and family-friendly festivities to ignite the spirit of ‘We Are Singapore @ The Hub’. Held at the OCBC Square on 9 August from12 pm to 9 pm, visitors will be able to participate in fitness workouts, sports challenges, and family bonding activities.
Key highlights of the fiesta include an innovative cardio-fusion dance programme choreographed with a unique Singaporean twist, ‘Workout Lah!’; quizzes and games on Singapore’s culture and heritage; and ‘Junior Super Warrior Challenge’ – an obstacle course consisting of activities such as tyre jump, plank walk, tunnel crawl, beanbags toss, tyre flip, spiderweb and low wall which are suitable for pre-schoolers and families. The day’s activities will culminate with the live National Day Parade telecast, where families and friends can picnic at the OCBC Square while watching the parade on a large screen. Free popcorn and picnic mats will be given out from 5 pm onwards on a first-come-first-served basis.
“The Sports Hub National Day Fiesta is a great opportunity for everyone from all walks of life to celebrate the joyous occasion together and bond through a dazzling array of shared sports, entertainment and lifestyle experiences. Families can join in our first-ever ‘Junior Super Warrior Challenge’, a special initiative for the young to conquer the obstacles with their mums and dads. There’s also a host of sports offerings for the more adventurous crowd and local-themed activities for all to bask in the spirit of togetherness as ONE Singapore. We hope that all Singaporeans and visitors can join us in the celebration of the nation’s 53rd birthday at Singapore Sports Hub,” said Ms Christine Lau, Director of Sports and Community Programming, Singapore Sports Hub.
An exclusive peep into the back-of-house of National Stadium
As part of the festivities, the Singapore Sports Hub will be offering 53 free guided tours till 17 August, for the public to explore the beautiful 35-hectare site. There are two types of tours available: a 90-minute tour around the Sports Hub, and a 60-minute exclusive back-of-house tour of the National Stadium. The backof-house tour of the National Stadium is open to public from 8 August onwards, and subject to stadium availability. The tours will be conducted in English by professionally trained venue tour guides and offers great insights and discovery into areas such as the executive suites, premium lounges, media areas, and the players village.
An array of family bonding activities
Parents can also keep their kids entertained with the various family-friendly activities including bubble performances, block-building challenges, bouncy castles, and ethnic craft activities such as tile and batik painting, bookmark-making and pyssia beads coaster art where participants can bring home their own masterpiece. There will also be flag-making activities, badge-making workshops, and storytelling sessions at the Singapore Sports Museum and Sports Hub Library throughout the day.
The first mobile container gym for fitness buffs
Fitness enthusiasts can look forward to rediscovering their fitness potential at ELXR Arena’s first mobile container gym, equipped with ten stations including battle rope, box jump, chin-up bar, dips, rope climb, sandbag, skipping rope, slam ball, TRX and wall ball. Members of the public can work out at this unique gym and try out ELXR’s new fitness mobile application which functions as a DNA-based sports training programme. In addition, there will also be parkour tryouts and demonstrations, e-sports gaming that combines physical activity and Augmented Reality (AR) technology, and RED-X Games – a functional fitness challenge that integrates obstacles with functional fitness movements for a total body workout.
Full array of sports, entertainment and lifestyle activities
Visitors can also look forward to a local curators’ bazaar featuring customised gifts and crafts, music performances by local talents, as well as partners’ activations such as ‘Let’s Beat Diabetes’ by Health Promotion Board (HPB), where participants can stand to win attractive prizes such as $1,000 travel vouchers, Nintendo Switch and iPad, and the Singapore GP’s F1 Roving Truck, where participants can race on the Marina Bay Street Circuit in simulators. All activities are free for the public.
For latest updates on the Sports Hub National Day Fiesta, please visit www.sportshub.com.sg/NDFiesta. The Sports Hub National Day Fiesta is held in conjunction with GetActive! Singapore. For more information on GetActive! Sngapore’s activities, visit www.getactive.sg.
SINGAPORE – Organizers of the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) 2018, IRONMAN, have unveiled a new medal design for the Marathon category for this year’s 42.195km race. The new design is the first ever gold-plated medal to be unveiled and is 20 per cent bigger than the 2017 medal. It features Singapore’s icon, the Merlion, commemorating the race’s prominence in Singapore’s sporting calendar – celebrating national pride and excellence. More than 14,000 runners in the Marathon category are expected to receive the iconic medal upon completion of the race on 9 December.
Ours to Run
Set to take place on the 8 and 9 of December, the 17th edition of Singapore’s marquee running event, offers a new two-day format with a myriad of community-centric offerings and an improved race experience to over 50,000 runners across six different categories.
Saturday
Ensuring SCSM remains accessible to runners of all abilities, the 5km category has been reintroduced at this year’s edition. Participants looking for an entry-level distance but full marathon experience are encouraged to join this category, which will be flagged off after the 10km category run. The race will begin at the F1 Pit Building and end by the scenic views at The Float at Marina Bay on Saturday morning.
A few kilometers away, parents will be cheering their kids on at the revamped Kids Dash. The fun run, for children up to the age of 12 will take see the participants run through an exciting adventure as they dash through the scenic zones at the Universal Studios Singapore. Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2018 Marathon category medal design features the iconic Merlion
Sunday
The main event is Sunday’s Marathon and Half Marathon, which will take place on a brand new route, covering many of Singapore’s iconic and historical landmarks. Both runs will kick off at the F1 Pit Building, and conclude at The Float at Marina Bay.
This year’s Ekiden category will offer 500 groups of five runners the opportunity to run 42.195km as a team. The race will see each runner cover a distance of over 8km.
The most seasoned runners can take up the Double-Up Challenge, providing them access to either the 5km or 10km category on Saturday, before proceeding to participate in either the Marathon or Half Marathon on Sunday. They will get a special Double-Up Challenge medal on top of their individual categories medals.
Registration for all categories are available, starting with $60 for 5km, $80 for 10km, $90 for Half Marathon, and $110 for the Marathon.
To register and for more information, please visit www.singaporemarathon.com. Standard Chartered Cardholders will enjoy 15% off registration fee across all categories.
Bintan Resorts will be hosting the inaugural world-class running event, International Bintan Marathon on 9 September 2018 with the tagline, ‘Run and Discover’. Offering a wide range of distances; 10km (Charity Run), 21km and 42km. The event is expected to host more than 2,000 runners. The marathon will start and finish at a popular tourist spot at Bintan Resorts,Plaza Lagoi in Lagoi Bay. Just a 60 mins ferry ride from Singapore, you can race alongside the breath-taking sunrise and white sandy beaches.
Sign up for International Bintan Marathon 2018 and Stand a chance to win a 2D1N stay at Nirwana Gardens at Bintan Resorts
Great news for JustRunLah! readers – 3 lucky participants of International Bintan Marathon 2018 will stand a chance to win a 2D1N stay at Nirwana Gardens.
Just fill in the form below to take part in the contest!
The contest has ended. Thank you!
Exclusive for JustRunLah! readers: 10% OFF Promo Code!
Great news! You can now enter code: IBMJRL to enjoy 10% OFF Public Rates during registration.
Even die-hard runners have days when they just don’t want to run. For example, it’s a rainy day, or the night was crazy, or you have too much work, or there’s a new TV-show on Netflix… Perhaps, the real problem is that you’ve just got bored of your everyday jogging because it doesn’t seem to be a fun thing now. In this case, listening to the right podcasts is what can change your mind and put you in a right mood. Of course, podcasts won’t change the weather or make you the best runner in the city, but they will give you more motivation, and you will learn something new while having a workout.
What Makes Podcasts so Addictive and Pleasurable?
First of all, podcasts are convenient. This method of consuming the information is much easier than reading a text. You can find interesting podcasts, subscribe to them, and your device will automatically download new episodes. Podcasts also involve a more personal approach, as you hear a speaker talking to you directly. It makes you more involved in the process and increases your attention.
Another great thing about podcasts is portability. You can download them to your iPhone or Android smartphone, iPod, or PC. Most podcasts are available for iTunes, Google Play, RSS, Sticher, and hundreds of other apps. You can even synchronize new episodes with all your devices and listen to them no matter where you are.
So, if you are lost and you don’t know where to begin, we have compiled this handy go-to list! Happy training!
This podcast is about everything associated with running. Interesting discussions, interviews, and advice from coaches — hosts Tom and Martin do everything possible to make your jog informative and fun. There are more than 400 episodes, so you may not get some jokes at first, but after a while, you’ll love stories about their families as much as discussions about doping in sport. Episodes are about 90 minutes long.
This podcast is hosted by coaches Chris McClung and Steve Sisson (who worked in the University of Texas and founded the Rogue running community in Austin). Having many years of experience, they share their ideas about training strategies, motivation, and sports in general. This podcast will be interesting for both beginners and professional athletes. The atmosphere of friendly, relaxed chatting will surely help you get in the mood.
Hosted by two running mothers, Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea, this is one of the oldest podcasts for runners. Here you can learn a bunch of health tips, as well as new diets, and fun facts. The hosts interview various fitness experts and talk about everything that runners want to know. Episodes are 60 to 120 minutes long.
Hosts David Herald and Jody Raynsford describe this podcast as the alternative for those runners who are tired of all the other podcasts. It’s less focused on running itself and resembles conversations in a pub after a workout. The hosts (who are also running journalists) claim that, in this podcast, everybody will find something to be offended by.
Beginner Runner Village Podcast
As the name suggests, this is a great choice for beginners. Debbie Voiles will tell you everything you need to know about sports, and running in particular. You will learn how to prevent injuries, how to prepare for your first race, and what habits you need to avoid if you want to become an athlete. However, experienced runners will also find some useful information here, for example, interesting training strategies.
This podcast is about everything from sport to personal development to mindful lifestyle and business. Once an overweight 40-year-old man dependent on the alcohol, Rich changed his life for good and became a vegan athlete. However, this podcast is not only for vegans but for everyone who also wants to change his or her life for the better. Rich gives a lot of food for thought and interviews outstanding personalities from various areas. Every episode is 90-120 minutes long.
Even if you’re a road runner, you’ll find a lot of useful and interesting information here. Professional athletes and enthusiasts talk about increasing performance, rules of trail running, and motivation. When listening to this podcast, you’ll certainly want to run a longer distance.
Run Selfie Repeat
The host of this podcast, Kelly Roberts, is not only smart but also fun. She honestly talks about all the difficulties that may stop us from running and explain why we should never stop. Here you can find inspiration and laugh.
Every month, Ben Hobson and Rick Pearson talk about the world of running, inviting interesting guests and inspiring you to keep moving no matter what.
I’ll Have Another with Lindsey Hein
Lindsey Hein is honest, inspiring, and fun. She invites various athletes (mostly runners) and asks them about everything, from races to favorite movies and biggest failures. Lindsey always manages to balance between serious and funny, making every episode unique and interesting. Episodes are 60-90 minutes long.
These are just a few of many wonderful podcasts for runners. You can always make your run more meaningful, interesting, and fun by listening to people who devoted their lives to sport and fitness. If you need a little more motivation to wake up and put on your tracksuit, now you know what to do!
Guest Author / Bio:
Berta Melder is an experienced brand manager and co-founder of the Masterra. She finds her inspiration in creative writing and blogging. Enjoys aerial yoga and hiking/backpacking tours. Her Twitter @BertaMelder.
All run information including routes, elevation charts, updated mandatory gear and a race briefing video were made available to runners before race weekend.
elevation profile
Upon reaching race pack collection point, we were directed to have our information checked and submitted our indemnity forms. Then we had our mandatory gear checked. Only after all these are done were we allowed to collect our BIBs.
Mandatory gear check
There was no actual race briefing this time. However they were playing the race briefing video at the BIB collection area.
There was a tea party for runners the day prior to race day. So we went there to eat and mingle with fellow runners.
Prata was served at the tea party
Run day
As the hotel I was staying at IS the event venue, I did not have to take a transport over. So I just went to have my breakfast at the hotel at around 0300hrs before walking over to the start point. It was no fault of the organiser but the hotel breakfast served was not hot at all. I guess they prepared the food early and did not heat them up before putting them out for our breakfast buffet.
Start Point
It was party atmosphere at the start point with music blasting and runners all mingling around. If I did not know any better, I would have thought this was the starting area for a 5km fun run. But it was to be the start of a gruelling 100km by 290 runners and at 0345hrs, off we went into the mountains.
Start Point to CP 3 (16.5km)
The toughest section of the run with close to 80% of it in the jungle. I have been to a few technical trail runs but this was by far the most brutal. It rained for a while the day before thus the trails were wet. Many a times I had to use all 4 limbs to make my way up. Tree stumps, roots, rocks, branches; anything I can grab hold onto was used to climb up and down. Some parts were so muddy that I slipped a couple of times even with my TNF Ultra Vertical cos the lugs were thick with mud. But I was mindful not to trip on roots like I did in 2016 as I am not a big fan of becoming a flying Superman again. Even when the path looked runable I still chose to fast walk to be on the safe side what with the darkness and all. Whenever I heard foot steps behind me I will step aside for the faster runners to pass through as I really did not want to rush myself though I was moving at a much slower pace than I would have liked. But I know once I am out of this section, I would be able to make up time. Finally after close to 5hrs, I cleared this section and arrived at CP 3, with slightly more than an hour of buffer time.
Summit
CP 3 to 4 (5.7km)
Was surprised to see her at CP 3 together with the wives of some of our friends who were also running waiting for us. It was definitely a morale booster. However I did not linger long as I wanted to gain more time in anticipation for the return route that night. I reckoned if I needed close to 5hrs for CP 1 to 3 while I was still fresh, I might need close to 8hrs for CP 3 to the End Point as I should be almost spent by then. So I bid her goodbye and went on towards CP 4. After another 2km or so of jungle trails with a steep descend, I hit the main road and that was when I opened up. And I arrived at CP 4 about an hour later.
surprise visitorlettuce farm
CP 4 to CP 8 (28.1km)
CP 4 was the U-turn point for the 30km runners and also where we can access our Special Needs Bag. As I have no special needs, I did not leave any bags here. Porridge was served here but I did not feel like having any food then. So i refuelled and left with 5mins. Since CP 1, I had been topping up 1 of my flask with 100 Plus and the other with Cola and that would remain my hydration plan for the whole run.
Chef with our porridgetoilet and shower room
I enjoyed my run at this section as again I was running through the tea plantations with some magnificent views. Met many friends along the way and we kept on encouraging each other. My running strategy was up walk, flat and down run. So I took photos while walking uphills and run with no photos while downhills. CP 5 to 6 was the longest leg at 13.3km. With the sun in full blast then, it was challenging to keep going. I just refuelled at every CP and ate some oranges. I arrived at CP 8, which was my U-turn point after almost 11hrs. Which meant I now have a buffer time of 3hrs, which was still not enough from my estimation. So i tried to quicken my pace after.
tea leaf harvesting
CP 8 to CP 4 (28.1km)
With fatigue setting in gradually, I adjusted my running strategy to up and flat walk, and down run as I figured making use of gravity to aid my runs would be better off than attempting to run on flat grounds. I was surprised I could still do sub-5 pace while bombing downhills in the dark after a long day. And I guess this strength of mine of being able to bomb downhills aided me a lot during this run. I overtook a lot of runners whenever I ran down but I know they will catch up later during the ups. It did not bother me that they will catch up as I know my goal was not to get good placing but just to get more time for the last section. I targeted to reach CP 4 by 2000hrs so I can reach CP 3 by 2200hrs. But I missed it and only reached CP 4 at close to 2030hrs.
ran into a herd of goats
CP 4 to CP 3 (5.7km)
The Z monster started to get to me here and I felt sleepy and disorientated. So much so that I took a wrong turn and found myself in a unfamiliar place. I had earlier turned off the navigation function on my Fenix in a bid to conserve its battery so it did not prompt me that I was off course. It took me a while to realise I made a turn too early as I did not see any route markings around and so I turned back. I lost maybe 10mins there but well, if I blindly continued on, I may have lost more time. The 2km or so of jungle trails to reach CP 3 was unforgiving especially with my body condition then. I was so totally spent already. I kept digging within me to get myself going until I know I had almost nothing left in me. CP 3 arrival time; 2210hrs. buffer time 4hrs 30mins.
CP 3 to end point (16.5km)
I sent a text to her at this point letting her know I may not complete the run as I was really exhausted. It was also the first time I told her I was contemplating DNF as the last section was really daunting especially with my state of mind then. She encouraged me to keep going since I was not unwell or injured. So I told her I will try and budgeted 10hrs to clear this last 16.5km.
The climb to the summit at CP 3; Berembun Peak was a killer. I came across many runners just sitting along the route in a daze or napping. I myself took 2 short naps along the way as well as I was really tired. After what seemed like hours and still no summit in sight, I was so despondent that I shouted up “Summit?!” and was lagi demoralised when the reply was “Still far!” from a runner above. What to do? In the mountain now want to stop also cannot. So I just bite the bullet and kept pushing. CP 3 to CP 2 was a mere 5.6km but it took me 4hrs.
When I thought CP 3 to 2 was the worst because of the summit, I was in for a nasty surprise after CP 2. After about 2km of road, of which I took another wrong turn before turning back again, we entered the jungle again. There I came across one of the many volunteer tents and a volunteer took down my BIB number. I then asked her how far to CP 1 and she said about 950m. 950?! I was like finally! That was so near! I should be there within 30mins I told myself. I cannot be more wrong. It took me close to 2hrs to clear the 950m. Reason? Mud fest.
The trail was already muddy in the morning. After all the 100km runners ran through, came the 55km runners, then the 30km runners, then the 15km runners and finally the returning 100km runners. So what greeted me then was pure, mud, fest. I cannot stand without slipping, I cannot walk, I cannot run. I have forgotten how many times I had slipped. I was lucky that I did not ever fall face down. I did not need a face spa. Once I slipped and sat on the mud, and refused to move due to exasperation. 2 runners got by me and asked if I was okay. I just said lazy to move and told them to carry on. After a while I just continue slipping down on my buttocks as I figured getting up was futile. My gloves were thick with mud but I could not care for cleanliness then. I even used them to move my straw so I can drink. At close to 0500hrs, I reached CP 1 with only 3hrs 45mins left to Cut off time (COT).
I texted her again that I will likely miss the COT if the last part was another mud fest. So I told her not to wait for me at the finishing until about 0900hrs, which was after the COT. I will continue on but COT will likely be missed. Here I met a bunch of runners and we all agreed that we do not have much time left. So we quickly took off towards the end point with another summit; Jasar Peak to conquer.
This is where I got my big break. As I cleared this part in the morning while it was still dark, I could not remember the route condition. So I was expecting jungle terrain towards the summit just like CP 3 to 2. But we came to a mud road heading up instead. I looked at my Fenix for the expected elevation climb and saw that I needed to clear about 250m of elevation. As I slowly moved along upwards on the mud road, I kept telling myself this is good, better than being in the jungle going up. So I was hoping the 250m of elevation would have more of this mud road. However I was happy to be wrong this time; the whole 250m of elevation was on this mud road because soon after I heard some of the faster runners ahead shouting in elation and that was when I knew we had reached the summit.
With the summit cleared, I started to make my way down and it was down all the way now albeit on the jungle side; the side we came up from in the morning. But my spirits were high as I was quietly confident I would be able to meet the COT. I did tell myself not to count the eggs too soon as I still had this part to clear and who knows what might happen. Some parts of the trails were muddy but it was not as bad as the previous section. So I just slowly plowed my way through. After a while I started to see street lights, started to hear motorcycles passing by and even heard the prayers in a nearby mosque, but somehow I still have not seen the exit. It can be unnerving at times when you know the end is near but not near enough. Finally at 0650hrs, I reached the main road with 1.6km left to go.
I texted her that I was out from the mountains already and was slowly making my way back. So, after 27hrs 22mins, I crossed the finishing line to complete my 100km Cultra adventure, one of the 199 who completed out of 290.
Proud SingaporeanBest reward for completion. Ever
Post-run
Collected my medal and finisher tee before making it to the rest area to take photos and chat with her and friends. There was food being served there as well but I did not take any.
Breakfast packs
Takeaways
The course is beautiful with the vast mountain ranges and the tea plantations. Support stations were well stocked with isotonic drinks, cola, water, oranges, pears and dates. Some of the later CPs also have cup noodles for us. Volunteers were on hand eager to assist whenever they can. Route was well marked and as long as we pay attention to the markings, we should not get lost.
There was live tracking of runners available but apparently it was not really ‘live’ as it had delays in updating resulting in some anxieties amongst the supporters who were tracking their love ones and friends. Seeing your love ones last checked in 4hrs ago and not seen then can be a tad little nerve wrecking. Perhaps the poor network in the mountains played a part in this.
the not so ‘live’ live tracking
The weather was chilly in the morning and at night. In a way we were lucky it did not rain as forecasted if not the mud fest would have become a mud party. I did not have to wear my windbreaker at night as I felt ok and even hot when climbing though there were many runners who wore theirs at night. Some of my friends who did the course 2 years ago had to use their emergency blanket due to the extreme cold then.
The challenge is in the first 16.5km. All runners from 100km to 15km will have to go through this section with the 100km runners doing it twice (reverse on the way back). It is very technical and runners really need to be physically and more importantly, mentally prepared for it. Be prepared to climb on all 4s and a good pair of gloves is a must. I did not use any trekking poles as I personally did not find them helpful during VMM last year. But I did see many runners with poles. So it is really a matter of personal preference. To be honest, nothing we do in Singapore can prepare us for such a terrain there. So it would be good to do some trails nearby perhaps in Malaysia to be more familiar with this kind of technical terrain.
For those who intend to do this course, a word of advice;
Car-Free Sunday SG is an initiative that involves the closure of roads around the Civic District and Central Business District, including the Telok Ayer Conservation Area, to create a car-free experience for pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy.
It was first introduced in 2016, a community initiative by the URA, Land Transport Authority, National Parks Board, National Arts Council, Health Promotion Board, Sport Singapore and Singapore Land Authority. There are various programs catered for all age groups, and many of these programs are family-friendly.
The next editions of Car-Free Sunday will run in October and December and is usually held on the last weekend of the month.
My first participation in a Car-Free Sunday was in July last year, exactly one year ago. In that edition, I had catered transport to bring my family and our bicycles to cycle in the event. Apart from OCBC Cycle, I believe this is the other only event where we can walk, jog, roller blade or cycle in the CBD main roads without fear of being hit by cars!
On 29th July morning last sunday, I took a Grab to Raffles City with my foldie. Note that there will be some road closures and bus diversions in order to facilitate this event. Hence, the most convenient mode of transport is actually by train, where you can choose to alight at City Hall, Raffles Place and Tanjong Pagar, areas whereby some of the activities were being held.
The event had officially commenced at 8 am. I arrived at 8.30 am and immediately joined the ranks of cyclists plying the road. It was great cycling in the CBD, where the roads are wide and the tall buildings block out the direct heat of the sun. There were marshals helping to direct the cyclists and clear signage to urge users to share the roads. Wheelers were reminded to keep at a speed of no more than 15 km/h.
There were also groups of students and participants from the community centres, who chose to walk the closed roads and many of them were wearing red, as it is relatively near to National Day.
Most activities were concentrated around the Padang area. There were trishaw rides, kids zone and yoga or fitness workouts. There were also booths for rental of bikes and e-scooters. Isotonic drinks such as pocari sweat and 100 plus were provided.
There were other activities scattered at the Telok Ayer district as well. The advantage of riding a bike means I was able to easily access these areas. It must have been quite some time I last visited here, and I certainly missed the cultural scene and of course, the many good food at the Amoy Street Hawker Centre.
I stayed till 1030 am, before cycling back to Bedok via East Coast Park. This is one of the favourite route for cyclists, as it brings you past the Gardens By the Bay, Marina Barrage, Gardens By the Bay East and East Coast Park. Some even cycle all the way to Changi Village through this route. As for myself, I exited to upper east coast road to treat myself a well deserved katong laksa for lunch!
Comments
Car-Free Sunday is a great event where families and friends can come and bond, spending quality time together. It is my annual ‘pilgrimage’ I won’t want to miss!
PASAY CITY – A former champion and a new face stole the scene from almost 28,000 runners at the conclusion of the 42nd National MILO Marathon Metro Manila qualifiers Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia grounds. Amidst the sporadic downpours, Jeson Agravante and Christina Hallasgo brought home the championships of their respective divisions in the full marathon and will lead the Big City delegation to the National Finals set for December 9, 2018 in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.
Agravante entered the race with the mindset of getting back the MILO King title he won in 2016 in Iloilo City but lost it last year in Cebu City to surprise winner Jeorge Andrade. The Silay City, Negros Occidental native also won the Metro Manila qualifier in 2012 but suddenly went on a two-year hiatus from running but he has indeed returned with aplomb.
He literally flew and built an over one-kilometer gap with the chase pack upon hitting Gil Puyat Avenue from Fort Bonifacio for the final push back to MOA. Agravante finished the 42.195-kilometer course in 2:35:10, seven minutes faster than runner-up Eric Paniqui (2:42:41) and third placer Bryan Quinco (2:43:59).
Hallasgo from Malaybalay City, Bukidnon may be an unknown quantity nationally but she is a star in the Mindanao running scene. She is a back-to-back MILO Cagayan de Oro champion from 2014 to 2015 and took a break in 2016 to give birth to her first child but returned immediately to rule MILO Butuan last season.
Hallasgo overtook early leader and defending champion Cinderella Lorenzo somewhere along Gil Puyat and never looked back. She clocked 3:05:17 to beat two-time MILO Queen Jho-An Banayag-Villarma of Philippine Army (3:14:28) while Lorenzo of Team Soleus faded to Third Place (3:17:48).
In other distances, Richard Salano (1:08:46) and Nhea-Ann Barcena (1:31:02) ruled the 21 kilometers which also serves a qualifier for the Laoag Nationals. Southeast Asian Games gold medal winner Mervin Guarte (34:04) and Meagy Ninuna (40:24) topped the 10 kilometers that also saw actress and MILO Ambassador Solenn Heussaff take 10th Place (55:56).
Another national athlete Immuel Camino (15:18) and Joida Gagnao (18:39) were the fastest over five kilometers. The special kids’ race of three kilometers went to Cedric Alcoriza (11:33) and Rishane Abellar (12:23).
Marathon 31 and counting with no plans of stopping.
The next MILO qualifier will be hosted by Tarlac City on August 26. The cities of Batangas (September 16) and Lucena (September 30) will next take their turn before the caravan moves to the Visayas and Mindanao for more races.
![My Majulah Walk & Run 2018 [8km] (by Lingderella)](https://www.justrunlah.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/FB_IMG_1534125148937-768x1024.jpg "My Majulah Walk & Run 2018 [8km] (by Lingderella)")
![My Garmin The Performance Series Race 3 [10km] (by Lingderella)](https://www.justrunlah.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/FB_IMG_1533606095971-768x768.jpg "My Garmin The Performance Series Race 3 [10km] (by Lingderella)")
PASAY CITY – A former champion and a new face stole the scene from almost 28,000 runners at the conclusion of the 42nd National MILO Marathon Metro Manila qualifiers Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia grounds. Amidst the sporadic downpours, Jeson Agravante and Christina Hallasgo brought home the championships of their respective divisions in the full marathon and will lead the Big City delegation to the National Finals set for December 9, 2018 in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.