Embarking on a mission to save the environment! On 29th July, a group of runners gathered to explore the Rail Corridor, one of Singapore’s most iconic trails as recommended by JustMove Asia. We met at Hillview MRT Station and plogged our way down to old Bukit Timah Railway Station.
What is Plogging?
Picking up litter while jogging in groups has become a popular pastime in Sweden. Yesterday, it has officially arrived in Singapore. Running is good for your health and picking up litter is good for the planet’s health. Why not combine the two?
Plogging brings awareness to just how much litter lines our streets, parks, and trails. It is an easy, feel-good way to make a direct impact in our community. A great way to connect with nature, while helping to restore it. Oh, and you will burn some calories, too! Stay tuned for their next Session.
“We do what we can to help, every “litter” way. Start Plogging today!” – Neyton Tan
“Fulfilling, meaningful and awesome morning spent!” – Serene Er
“Felt heart-warming to see everyone taking time out to participate and seeing their commitment during the plogging session.” – Christina Leo
Plogging at Rail Corridor
Also, check out Plogging in other parts of the world:
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.
Stand a Chance to Win A Free Slot To International Bintan Marathon 2018
Great news for JustRunLah! readers – 9 lucky winners will stand a chance to win a complimentary slot, with a choice of 10km, 21 km or 42km, to International Bintan Marathon 2018!
Just fill in the form below to take part in the contest!
The contest has ended. Thank you!
Check out these unique entitlements!
Know the route before your run!
Lastly, get comfortable during your stay!
2D1N Stay in a Deluxe Room (Twin-share, $95 per person/night)
Two-way return direct ferry from Singapore to Bintan Lagoon Terminal
Two-way return land transfer from the ferry terminal to resort
Welcome Drink
Complimentary two-way transfer to the race site
Buffet breakfast at Fiesta
For more information, Visit their official website at https://www.bintanlagoon.com/bintan-packages/promotions-partners/international-bintan-marathon-2018-promotion/
Exclusive for JustRunLah! readers: 10% OFF Promo Code!
Great news! You can now enter code: IBMJRL to enjoy 10% OFF Public Rates during registration.
Fastest male and female Singaporean runners in the 50km trail race will win a fully paid trip to Hong Kong for the Asian Skyrunning Championships in December along with cash prize and gym membership
Singapore, 26 July 2018 – To inspire and encourage Singaporean trail runners to challenge their limits and break their boundaries, a trio of National Award prizes is introduced to the MSIG Singapore Action Asia 50 for the first time this year.
Supported by MSIG Insurance, the National Award prizes will be awarded to the first male and female Singaporean runners to cross the finish line at the 50km race to be held on Saturday, 29 September 2018.
As part of the prizes, the two Singaporean winners will get the opportunity to represent Singapore at the Asian Skyrunning Championships – Lantau 50 in Hong Kong on 2 December 2018. Other than the all-expense-paid trip covering air ticket and hotel accommodation, the two winners will each receive a $300 cash prize and a 3-month gym membership at TripleFit.
Other new additions to the MSIG Singapore Action Asia 50 this year are the Zero Waste category and a 5km distance for beginners and novice trail runners.
Participants who choose to run under the Zero Waste category will voluntarily give up the event t-shirt and finisher’s medal. They will, in turn, receive a special race bib to recognize their support of the Zero Waste movement. Guest-of-Honour Mr. Baey Yam Keng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth & Transport, will also flag off and join the Zero Waste 10km race in support of a greener Singapore.
To minimise environmental damage along the route, the MSIG Singapore Action Asia 50 is operating a strict no-cup policy. Runners are advised to bring their own water bottles or hydration packs and refill them at the water checkpoints throughout the course.
The event is possible thanks to the generous support of our title sponsor MSIG Insurance and supporting partners Action X Store, Singapore Tourism Board, Outdoor Channel, Triplefit, Royale International, Run Magazine, Runsociety, JustRunLah and the Action Asia Foundation.
Race Info
Event Name
MSIG Singapore Action Asia 50
Date
29 September 2018 (Saturday)
Start Time
6:30am – 50km
7:00am – 21km
7:30am – 10km & 5km
Start and Finish Location
Hindhede Walk, Bukit Timah
(600-metre walk across the bridge from Beauty World MRT)
Distance
50km, 21km, 10km, 5km
Category
Trail Running – mostly off-road for 5km/10km/21km; 50km is a mixture of grass track, trail and road.
Know this might sound pretty straightforward. If the items are listed as mandatory, they must be brought along right? Well, apparently not all runners think so. Here I will give my personal take on the matter.
Why organisers list certain items as mandatory
? CM50
There are many reasons organisers do that, though more often than not, it is for safety reasons. If runners are expected to be on the trails into the night, a headlamp with spare batteries would be an absolute must. Some organisers might even need you to be equipped with 2 headlamps for the purpose of redundancy in case your headlamp fails you en route. If running on public road at night is expected, a reflective vest with a blinker light may be in order.
Depending on the distances between each water stations, organisers would also dictate your water carrying capacity for your hydration. They wouldn’t want you to run out of water midway.
Other items like mylar emergency blankets, whistles, waterproof jackets, a mobile phone with network are pretty standard as well. With more races going Green now, you may be required to bring along your own cup, which is usually used for you to consume hot beverages especially during cold weather. Bowls, spoon or fork may also be needed if the organisers serve hot soup or food at their water stations.
After listing down the above, it would seem logical to bring them along. So why do some runners prefer not to follow the mandatory list?
Why runners choose to leave out some ‘mandatory’ items
“I do not eat during my run, why do I need a bowl/fork/spoon?”
“I run fast enough to be back before nightfall, so I do not need headlamps.”
“I am not afraid of cold, so I will never need an emergency blanket.”
? TITI Ultra
Basically these runners find these items troublesome, cumbersome and adds on to their already heavy load. So what they usually do is to leave out what they feel they do not need. Or perhaps remove them after the mandatory gear inspection because some races do not check their gear again after the race starts. If organisers are not aware of what they had done, the runners will gladly complete their races with a lesser load than mandated.
It is smart for the runners to circumvent the rules this way right? Afterall, no harm’s done.
No. It is not right
When runners registered for races, they know what they are signing up for. From the distance, to the elevations to the terrain, and, the mandatory gear list. So to not bring along all that are mandated is akin to, cheating in my humble opinion. It is like say, I know this route has a shortcut to the next water point, so I take the shortcut. Organisers do not get to know, nobody gets hurt, I complete my race. Does that sound right? Safety aspects not withstanding, what is the difference between cutting short a route and cutting short your mandatory gear list? They both amount to the same principle of not adhering to the rules. No?
Some races conduct random checks on runners during the races and if runners are found to have lesser gear than what they are supposed to have, they will be penalized or may even get a DQ (disqualification). But from my own personal experience, such checks are far and few between (I have only been checked once in over 10 ultra trail races). Which is why some runners took the decision not to have all their gear with them because they know chances of them getting checked are low. Based on this logic, is it alright to cheat during an examination if you know chances of you getting caught is low?
Verdict – To bring all or not to bring all
All in!
There is no right or wrong as every runner is responsible for their own actions. But for me, I would rather complete a race (or DNF) knowing I had done it legitimately bringing along all that was mandated. And not complete a race knowing I only had 90% of what was required with me because for me, that is not a completion.
Fashion is creating a bridge straight from the runway to the world of sports and fitness. It all started in 2007 with the introduction of the FitBit. Since then, the company has gained over 25 million users and has paved an incredible road towards advanced fashionable technology. Other companies are now following in Fitbit’s footsteps and creating wearable technology for everyone to stay fit and healthy. Check out these cool gadgets that can help you improve your workout progress and look great doing it.
Nadi X Smart Yoga Pants for a Relaxed Session
Yoga develops inner awareness, strengthens the mind and body, improves weight loss, and lowers blood pressure. One yoga session provides many health benefits, but the right pants can help you go even further. Nadi X Smart yoga pants track its wearer’s performance and provide personalized yoga training in real time. The stylish pants have accelerometers and haptic feedback at the ankles, hips, and knees that guide the flow of yoga through the release of gentle vibrations. The vibrations pulse your body around the essential areas and encourage you to move and hold positions. You can then get additional feedback on your phone through a Bluetooth sync-up. The pants come in four assorted sizes and styles and are sold at many stores around the world.
Lumo Run for Improved Running Posture
Although running has many great benefits for your body, it can also be harmful if you’re doing it wrong. Bad posture is common in many runners and can lead to injuries such as shin splints, stress fractures, Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, and Achilles tendinosis. Therefore, a company called Lumo created smart running shorts and capris that monitor bodily metrics to improve posture. The shorts measure cadence, ground contact time, pelvic rotation, and stride length and provide feedback through your headphones. According to the company, 97 percent of runners that wear their technology improved their running form within the first three runs and 80 percent improved their pace or distance.
Polar Team Pro to Improve Team Sports Performance
For sports such as football and rugby, it can be hard to track the performance of every individual player. Therefore, Polar Team Pro has combined fashion with GPS, motion tracking technology, and heart rate monitoring to provide the ultimate solution. The trackable technology is interwoven in a compression shirt that is designed with athletics in mind. It allows each wearer to broadcast their training data so that their teammates and coaches can monitor their condition and training performance. The shirts are currently being used by over 50 professional football teams, 13 national American football teams, and 5 basketball teams.
Comfort is the new style of fashion and it’s infecting the world of fitness. You can expect wearable sports technology to take off in the next couple of years as athletes learn of its extreme benefits.
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.
Stand a Chance to Win A Free Entry To RunNUS 2018
Great news for JustRunLah! readers – 5 lucky winners will stand a chance to win a complimentary slot to RunNUS 2018, for any category they wish! Just fill in the form below to take part in the contest.
The contest has ended. Thank you.
Don’t miss the cool entitlements!
By participating, you will receive a RunNUS 2018 Race Singlet, Carnival Entry, Finisher Medal (For 5 km & 10 km only) and Finisher T-Shirt (For 10 km only). Take a closer look to their race apparel designs!
Exclusive for JustRunLah! readers: 5% OFF Public Rate
Did not plan to do a report on this initially. However I got to know there are more runners who are interested in this now, so figured I can do a short write up for interested runners to have a better idea of the run.
Pre-run
We boarded our bus on Saturday morning 0630hrs and headed over to Malaysia via Tuas Second Link. It was a long journey with a delayed lunch stop due to an accident on the expressway. We finally arrived at our hotel in Kuala Lumpur around 1700hrs.
With our large group size (2 coaches), we made arrangements with the race organiser for our race packs to be delivered to our hotels and so we collected ours directly at the hotel. Alternatively, the race pack can be collected at the race site on actual day for overseas runners.
Event T
Run day
Our bus arrived to pick us up at 0330hrs and we arrived at race site around 0410hrs. With the flag off at 0430hrs, we only had a little buffer time. So it was a good idea to have our race packs delivered to our hotel.
Start Point
Race site was a little dark and after a little talk by the race director, we were flagged off at 0430hrs sharp.
Race Director JeffReady to eat. I mean run
The Run
The route, which was all on tarmac roads, took us past the local villages. The route itself was not tough though we did have some elevations after the 11.5km mark.
Distance markers were placed at every km. However, there were no light sticks placed on the markers. So until the sun got up, the markers basically served no purpose as they cannot be seen with lights.
Route with water stations marked. Even detailing what fruits will be served at which station.
One major concern we had was with the lighting. With the flag off at 0430hrs, the sun was far from up. Thus we relied on the street lighting along the way. The problem was the street lighting was not available the whole route. Before the 11.5km water station, we were still in the villages, thus there were still some lights from those street lights that were working/turned on. Even then. there were still stretches of road that were too dark for comfort especially when there were vehicles sharing the same road as runners. We had to rely on runners with headlamps (headlamps were not mandatory) to illuminate the path ahead. Beyond the 11.5km water station it was worse as the road ahead has no street light structures at all. So it was pitch dark once runners with headlamps left us behind. It remained that way till the sun came up.
Water stations were placed just 3km apart and well stocked. Isotonic drinks were available every alternate stations though they are not chilled. There was one water station where the volunteers took their initiative to chill the isotonic drinks in a very creative way. However water was served chilled throughout.
Chilling isotonic drinks on their own accord. The only station what did this. Kudos to them.
It got interesting from the 11.5km water station onwards as that was where the fruits started to be available. The fruits were the reason we took part in this afterall. Banana, Watermelon, Jackfruit, Coconut, Rambutan, Longan and ultimately Durian were served at each of the water stations from then on. With such a wide range of fruit for runners to enjoy, no wonder the marathon has a very generous cut off time of 10hrs. So we ate and ate and ate the whole way, not forgetting to take tons of photos along the way too.
Jackfruit!Durian!RambutanLonganCoconutsPeirce Reservoir Runners! ?: Lim Soo Khuan
Finishing Point
After some seemingly endless eating, we crossed the finishing line like, finally! However as our bus was waiting, we did not have time to explore the finishing area. We collected our finisher entitlements and quickly boarded the bus. We only got to know from friends later there were lots of food there as well! What a pity we did not get to eat them.
Finisher T with a Hawaii feelSoya bean ?: Lim Soo Khuan#justjiaklah ?: Lim Soo KhuanChendol also have. ?: Lim Soo Khuan
After thoughts
This being a fun run, we did not take it too seriously. I mean, with so much fruits, how serious can we get? Right?
Route was pretty straight forward with nary a chance for any runner to get lost. Medical support was prompt as we did see some runners struggling with cramps and help was rather quick to arrive. We ourselves encountered a runner sitting by the roadside unable to move due to cramp and once we notified the volunteers at the next water station, a medical personnel went immediately on a motorcycle to attend to him.
The highlight of the event was ultimately the fruits on offer and there were plenty to go around.
The only problem we had was with the darkness. The organiser should have made headlamps and blinker lights recommended equipment if not mandatory. He might not have wanted to make it mandatory as it may make the run feel more serious that it actually was but with safety of runners at stake here, perhaps he should. Or at least mark these 2 items as recommended equipment. I did a run last year at the same stretch and headlamp plus blinker lights were mandatory from 1900hrs to 0700hrs.
For those wondering how dark can it be, it was this dark. The little red dots are from the blinker lights of the runners ahead.
Verdict
Should you do it? Yes. This is a relaxing marathon with the chance to run in rural areas thrown in. With the local runs getting repetitive on locations, this is indeed a refreshing route. What with all the fruits.
However personally I would suggest runners to go by flight. You may be paying $50 or so more for the air tickets as compared to the bus, but you saved on the travelling time. We spent close to 20hrs on the road which is, a very long time. By paying that little bit more, you get to spend almost 2 full days in KL for eating and shopping pre/post run. The reason we had to leave the finishing area quickly was also because we need to make our way back to Singapore by 1300hrs just to get back to Singapore by 2200hrs. So we did not get to enjoy the 10hrs cut off time on offer.
This year is the 10th anniversary of the Singtel – Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer (RAC). This race aims to raise funds for various welfare schemes related to cancer, such as treatment subsidies, screenings and public education. It was held at the Angsana Green, East Coast, on the 22nd July.
I was here just 4 months ago for The Terry Fox Run, for which the objective was to raise funds for cancer research and celebrate the legacy of Terry Fox.
Race Day
I took the public transport and arrived at East Coast before 7 am. There was a slight traffic jam on the road leading to the event site, which I believe was due to the many participants driving there.
There were 3 categories to the race: 5 km fun run, 10 km and 15 km competitive runs. I was taking part in the 10 km run. This was my first run after my last race – The Force of Nature Ultra two weeks ago. I took a rest and thus, I was quite looking forward to this race to restart my training regime.
The weather was fair. RAC Goodwill Ambassador Rebecca Lim gave a short speech in support of the RAC cause. Several Mediacorp artistes – Aileen Tan, Pang Ling Ling and others were also invited to voice their support in the fight against cancer. The 15 km runners were flagged off at 7.05 am by the Guest-of-Honour, Mr. Chan Chun Sing, who is the Minister for Trade and Industry. Subsequently, the 10 km runners were flagged off in 2 waves, as there was much more runners in this category.
The race route was the familiar westbound towards the direction of Parkland Green. There were hydration points at every 2 km of the route. Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) volunteers handed out cups of Pokka isotonic drinks to the runners and encouraged us to keep going to the Finish Point. There were groups of pacers leading the race and according to RAC website, comprised of familiar names such as Jasmine Goh, Rachel See and blogger Pris Chew. Unfortunately I didn’t manage to spot them probably because I was ‘too far behind’!
The view at East Coast is always scenic, with ships anchoring in the far horizons. But it was getting hot and I kept hydrated not only by drinking but also try to keep cool with several trips to the toilets to splash water around my body. Well, this is the advantage of a park run!
I reached the Finish Point in time for the awards presentation to the podium winners. I lingered a while more before heading to the nearby hawker centre for a well-deserved coconut drink.
Comments
1) There were 3 ambulances at the event site. Perhaps one of them could have been deployed at the 5 km turning point.
2) The SCS volunteers were great and the deployment of St John’s Bridgade students along the route to provide medical coverage was re-assuring.
3) Honestly, I feel the activity level at the event site to be comparatively low.
4) The entire site was barricaded. Security was tight. I was thinking an open concept would allow the public to participate in some activities and perhaps, even make donations to the SCS.
5) I understand that the RAC had been held at the Angsana Green for the past few years. The disadvantages of holding at this location is it is not very accessible and when the sun is up, there is little shelter for the runners looking for rest after the run. Thus, many choose to leave right after taking their finisher entitlements.
Considering the large number of sponsors and participants (8,000), perhaps SCS could organize next year’s race at another location, after considering the costs factor? More activities would also have been better!
The “Pegasus” was introduced by Nike in 1983. Over its 35 years of life, it has become the company’s all-time best selling running shoe, and year after year it has been undergoing major technology shifts that brought us to the latest release, the “Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35”. Commonly referred to as “the Nike peg”, is a shoe used and loved by runners of all levels, including some of the world’s best distance runners, such as Eliud Kipchoge, Joan Benoit Samuelson, Matthew Centrowtiz, Timothy Cheruiyot, Amy Cragg, Lelisa Desisa, Evan Jager, Geoffrey Kamworor, Faith Kipyegon and Bernard Lagat.
I am very glad to get the opportunity and try on this year’s upgrade, the Air Zoom Pegasus 35; here are my first thoughts after taking them out for a run.
Comfortable Fit and Run that “pops”
The Air Zoom Pegasus 35 fits true to size. The fit is snug through the midfoot, but roomy in the forefoot. The arch support is evident, and the responsive Cushlon foam cushioning provides a comfortable but solid grip. The shoe is equipped with new full-length Zoom Air “airbags” that smooth out the transition from heel to toe as you go through your stride and facilitates energy return. This is the first time that Nike places such a full-length airbag in a running shoe, following feedback from elite runners around the world, including Mo Farah.
Running in the Air Zoom Pegasus 35 is stable and smooth. I could feel the firm grip that the responsive cushioning provides, as well as a “pop” towards the transition to the next stride. I personally love the upper; not only it looks cool, but it is breathable (a huge plus for Singapore’s climate) as well as soft, and seam-free. You could easily go sockless if you want.
Modern, minimal design
The Air Zoom Pegasus 35 comes in 12 color combinations; I was given the gray with crimson red one, which I find very stylish not only for running, but for everyday use as well.
There are two prominent features: First, the long high tongue. It didn’t seem to interfere with anything during the run – if anything, it helps the show to stay in place. It also allows for a quick on and off.
Second, the back is pointy and rigid. The collar is tall, but it is turned away so it doesn’t rub against your Achilles tendon. This is a welcome upgrade to the series, cause it minimizes the friction.
All in all, the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35 will give you a nice, smooth ride and should work for the majority of runners. The fit is comfortable as the mesh hugs the foot but isn’t constricting. The upturned collar and pointed heel add to the aesthetic and give these shoes their own identity.
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35 is available in Singapore via www.nike.com for S$199
Before I go, here are 6 facts and figures about the Pegasus that I found interesting (taken from nike.com).
It’s Nike’s all-time best-selling running shoe.
The Pegasus was the first shoe to feature an Air Wedge, a heel-only Air unit that, according to an October 1982 Nike catalog, “improves shock absorption by 12 percent over an EVA wedge” (which it replaced). In fact, it’s why the shoe was originally called the Air Wedge Trainer.
A children’s model became part of the line-up in 1987.
NIKE, Inc. founder, Phil Knight, may be wearing a Pegasus (in black) right now. He’s been spotted in Peg at black-tie events, public speaking appearances and between meetings at Nike’s World Campus in Beaverton, Oregon.
The franchise was temporarily dropped from the line in 1997. In 1998, it was renamed the Arma, and the technology (essentially) remained in the line. It made its official return to the line in 2000 as the Air Pegasus 2000, which was designed by Air Max Plus designer Sean McDowell as part of the newly created Bowerman Series (a collection dedicated to making consistent, dependable footwear for runners by runners).
In 2004 and for the first time in Pegasus history, the women’s version was adapted specifically for the anatomy of the female foot. The women’s saddle was made more “curvaceous,” and the medial support was increased. It wasn’t until 2006 that it became completely gender specific. And for 2018, if offers responsive Cushlon foam specifically tuned for women for the first time.
* Disclaimer: This review represents the genuine, unbiased views of the author. The author was provided with a free unit. Nike’s products have been and might currently be advertised on JustRunLah! via different channels, however, these relationships do not influence the editorial content of reviews.
Congratulations to the organiser of Gold Coast Marathon on your 40th edition.
Congratulations to all finishers from all categories. Thank you to all the volunteers who have made the event possible. Appreciate all race day supports who have made this event memorable!
Record-breaking 4,307 international participants from 51 countries
PB race
Gold Coast Marathon, which was held during the winter in Australia, consists of a flat route which is indeed a favorable and an ideal setting for most runners who are gunning for their PB. In 2018, 32.3% of the participants finished their marathon under 4 hours.
Special mention for Joe Clark-Murphy (M70-74) finishing with a net time of 03:56:08 and Kenichi Koike (M70-74) finishing with a net time of 03:59:03. Huge respect to these two seniors!
Great Race Experience
Then, there are lots who just wanted a great race experience. Well, the event can’t go wrong when you have kids waking up early and still be in their pyjamas, lined the streets and high-fiving every participant which provides a boost of motivation for the runners. Additionally, crowds filled the streets with foods that spurred you on. To end it off, hundreds waited at a 100m grandstand for the arrival of the runners to cheer you past the finishing line.
Stay for the fun
Factory outlet, theme parks, helicopter tour, jet boating, whale watching awaits you pre/post-race. Not only that, warm sunshine and clear blue sky greeting you daily and the perfect temperature hovering around 20-degree Celsius, fun times are almost guaranteed every day!
Personal Thoughts
I strongly believed in enjoying the process (training) and the rest will eventually follow. As the saying goes, you reap what you sow. Therefore, adjust your expectations accordingly.
For all sorts of reasons, it has taken me 5 years to get back into marathon racing. GCM18 has provided me an opportunity to witness again the community’s deep passion for running and thus excelling in it. Almost pain-free from two slipped discs in 2017 and I’m gladly looking forward to exploring the world on my legs.
With so many races in Asia to choose from, take this opportunity to ask yourself, what kind of race experience are you after? This is because every race provides a unique experience for each individual. If PB and fun form an integral part of your selection, see you next year at Gold Coast Marathon 2019!
And, to the disappointed runner, let’s train harder and return to challenge the course in 2019! Just a heads-up, the event is scheduled for 6-7 July 2019.
It’s been over 2 years since I reviewed SONY’s Smart B-Trainer™ an all-in-one device for running and fitness. This time, I get to try the WF-SP700Ns; the new noise-canceling, truly wireless earbuds from SONY, designed especially for fitness. I had never owned a pair of “truly wireless” earbuds before, so I jumped at the opportunity of taking up this review, even more so cause of their promise for “Extra Bass“.
Out the box
I was given the black version of the WF-SP700Ns, while White, Pink and Yellow finishings are also available in the market. The earbuds are lightweight, and there is only one button on each of them. The button on the right-side earbud controls play / pause, skipping of tracks, picking up calls and activating Siri or Google Assistant, while the one on the left toggles between noise cancellation and ambient sound modes, as well as turns on/off the device. As usual, a number of differently-sized ear tips and rubber wings are included, to ensure a good fit for everybody.
The earbuds come with a charging case, which looks sleek and stylish (I love the way it opens), but feels rather fragile; we’ll have to see how it stands the test of time. The case itself charges over Micro USB.
Great fit once you find the right sizing
Never having used wireless buds before, my biggest concern was if they would stay on for my run! I always run outdoors, and the last thing I’d want is to have them fall out of ears. For my first run, I used the default-sized eartips and supporting arches. The fit wasn’t spectacular; even though they stayed on, I could feel them budging a bit. Before my second run, I did a bit of testing with the different set of tips and arches until I found my perfect fit. The experience has been great ever since, so, don’t give up on them if they don’t feel right out of the box!
The WF-SP700Ns are IPX4 water resistant and they handled my excessive sweating with no problems during several 10km runs in crazy-humid Singapore. Even when wet, the fitting and sound quality was not compromised.
Crisp sound, superb bass, but occasional cutouts and delays
The frequency response is very satisfactory for earbuds in the fitness category. I really enjoy listening to all types of music on them, equally when commuting to work, or during exercising. The mobile app comes with an equalizer that lets you choose from a few presets like bright, excited, relaxed, or treble boost. There is no option to edit or create your own presets, however. In any case, I left that setting to the default, flat, response, which is more than good enough.
SONY promised “Extra Bass” and they really delivered! If rumbling bass is what you are looking for, you have to look no further – WF-SP700Ns are the earbuds for you. The lower-end frequencies are powerful and ideal for workout playlists; loud enough to give you a boost, yet not too much to tire your ears.
The digital noise cancellation is an interesting feature; while the difference is not very noticeable during my runs, it does improve the listening experience during exercise as well as in other everyday settings. Ambient Sound Mode is preferred for running outdoors, while Noise Cancelling mode is better to be used for exercising indoors or running on the treadmill. The noise cancellation mode can be easily adjusted through the Headphone Connect App, as well as by pressing the button on the left earbud.
The only hiccup in the listening experience is some brief cutouts and audio skips that occur every few minutes or so (they last for 1-2 seconds). Similarly, when watching videos the audio is lagging, leading to sync issues. Even though there is a toggle on the app that lets you prioritise either a stable connection with fewer interrupts or best sound, it didn’t seem to help much. The issues are not really unbearable – the buds are meant for outdoors / fitness usage anyway – but I do hope that these problems will be addressed in future versions. One possible improvement would be using Bluetooth 5 instead of the 4.1 that is currently implemented, hopefully making the connection faster and supporting longer-range pairing.
Subpar battery life
Fully charged, the WF-SP700Ns will give you up to three hours of music playback. The charging case holds two additional full charging cycles, giving you a total allowance of 9 hours playback while you are on the go – assuming you can bring the (rather bulky) case with you.
Granted, the 3-hour per charge lifetime will be sufficient for your daily workout – or even for your half-marathon, but, unless you are an elite runner, forget about finishing a marathon while listening to your favorite tunes on these headphones. Frankly speaking, the battery life is overall disappointing, especially when compared to other “truly wireless” earbuds, or even older SONY’s products (for example, Smart B-Trainer™ has a batter life of 10 hours, XB80BS EXTRA BASS™ up to 7 hours, and so on).
The verdict
SONY’s WF-SP700Ns are marketed as “Truly wireless, totally active” earbuds with “Extra bass“, and this is exactly what you’ll find them to be. Their fit is great, their design stylish and their sound performance and bass boosting makes ideal for working out or running. Improvements in the battery life and connectivity will be welcome in the next models, while the add-on features such as digital noise cancellation, Siri / Google Assistant, call pick-up etc are great to have. If you are looking for a solid pair of workout earbuds that fit well, sound good and feel comfortable, and you don’t mind the nuisances from infrequent audio cutouts or video syncing, the WF-SP700Ns are a great option for your next gear purchase.
* Disclaimer: This review represents the genuine, unbiased views of the author. The author was provided with a free unit. SONY’s products have been and might currently be advertised on JustRunLah! via different channels, however, these relationships do not influence the editorial content of reviews.
A triathlon is probably one of the most difficult sporting events known to man. A triathlon event includes running/sprinting, biking and swimming. It’s a test of physical and mental endurance, where a triathlete goes head to head with a lot of adversaries like Mother Nature. Your body needs to endure scorching hot temperatures, uneven terrain and probably the wrath of a cold lake.
Apart from picking out which marathon apparel to wear, there are five important things that people, who are new to triathlons, need to know about:
Never overtrain:
Over training leads to injuries and as a beginner, you’re probably excited in pushing your body to the limits on the first day of training. Admirable as it may be, it’s ill-advised to train till you puke. Start at a slow and steady pace so your body can adjust to the stresses. Train hard, train right and train safe.
Never overeat:
Overeating is your worst enemy; after a day of training, your body will crave for nutrients to help it recover faster. Just because you burn many calories in running, it doesn’t entitle you to a binge-eating pass. A balanced diet of protein, healthy carbohydrates and fiber can help maintain your body’s physical peak without depriving yourself of nutrients.
Know your weakness:
A triathlon is composed of running, swimming and biking for a certain distance. You need to determine which aspect is your weakness so you will be able to focus on eliminating that weakness and turn it into one of your greatest strengths. If you feel that your cardio is not enough for swimming and biking, then a few laps at the swimming pool or a few miles in a bike can help you.
Never hesitate to ask questions:
Every triathlon athlete was a beginner once and it’s OK to seek the advice of seasoned athletes and coaches to help you train. Whether it’s a question about where to shop for cool clothes, or what diet plan is good for your body, you should never be ashamed of asking those questions because the answers just might be able to help you survive your first triathlon.
Enjoy your first triathlon:
Despite the intensity and insanity of the event, don’t forget to enjoy the entire triathlon. Win or lose, you need to pat yourself on the back for a job well done in training yourself and pushing yourself. Remember, you are still new so don’t expect too much or you’ll only end up frustrated. After all, not everybody can do a tri gear and run, swim and bike for miles.
It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to train for the triathlon so make sure you commit yourself.
Guest author: Christine Bourne is a writer, consultant and author of many posts. Now she works as a content manager in essay writer help service. She focuses not only on consulting tips about writing to help but also on creating interesting content for other topics.
Before you started running, you probably thought it was one of the cheapest sports. Now you realize how the costs add up, with the average runner spending $300 a year on running shoes. Sneakers, which regularly need replacing, can cost over $150 a pair; specialist clothing can cost up to $200; and fitness trackers can be in the region of $300-$500. Sure, you could throw on some old shoes and forget the tech, but you won’t be able to track your mileage, times and progress. Don’t be disheartened though. It is possible to use some of the best running equipment, without breaking the bank.
Wait For the Sales
When it comes to maintaining healthy personal finances, you need to be able to track your spending and take advantage of special offers. Some items, such as sneakers and clothing, can be hard to find second hand. You need the highest quality items, which haven’t been worn down by previous use. Midsole cushioning and arch support ensure good posture, preventing injury through straining.
If you need high quality clothing and accessories, but don’t have the finances to purchase it, then wait for the sales. It can be tempting to buy an item as soon as you spot it, but when new products enter the store, they are overpriced. Wait a few weeks for stocks to die down and watch the prices get slashed as stores try to shift their last products. You can also wait for holiday sales such as Black Friday or search online for discount codes. The same sneaker at 50% off is still just as good as when it was full price.
Buy Tech Second Hand
One area where it is possible to search the second hand market is in tech. Fitness tracking devices are often bought as gifts for people who never use them or people looking to workout, but find they don’t have the time. For this reason, the internet is flooded with lightly used or unused fitness tech at reduced prices.
Make sure the item you’re buying is listed as fully functional and you shouldn’t have a problem. The price of technology depreciates rapidly, so don’t be afraid of buying a version which is a couple of years old. It will still work well, but be much better value than the brand new alternative.
Use Your Smartphone
If the specialized technology is still out of your budget, then there is another option. Fitness apps for your smartphone do pretty much the same thing. The app developers make money from advertising and in app purchasing, meaning that you can often use their service for free. It might not be as detailed as specially made trackers, but you can still track your times and distances, so you have the opportunity to set new personal bests.
As with any hobby, running requires specialist equipment which can be expensive. However, there are steps you can take to limit the damage to your bank account. Resist the urge to buy products immediately, waiting for sales offering large savings. Buy technology second hand or use your smartphone as a cheap alternative to continue to improve as a runner.
Your back pain can be caused by other factors. But did you know that it can be due to the selection of a wrong footwear? If has been determined that the pain in you back is caused by a flimsy running shoes, you need to make a move now. Know how to choose running shoes for lower back pain in this guide!
Your back and feet are distant to one another. However, they are somehow interrelated, especially in the aspect of running and walking. For instance, people who experience lower back pain might be the ones that are not wearing the appropriate footwear.
How to choose running shoes for lower back pain? It is quite a peculiar question, but it is certainly a justified one. Accordingly, back pain is among the prevalent reasons why runners and ordinary folks go to their attending physicians and doctor. Of course, there are a plethora of possible causes for this condition. But if the diagnosis is right, your back pain could be caused by your shoes.
Back Pain Caused by the Wrong Footwear
Just like I said, back pain is a typical condition that a person can feel in his/ her lifetime. One way or another, he/ she will experience it. But if you ask a lot of people, there’s a good chance that none of them will say that a back pain can be due to a strain or injury in your feet.
In the preface, back pain can be a result of a person wearing extremely high heels. After all, this kind of footwear puts a lot of strain in the legs and going to the back. The act of balancing and supporting the high heels put your posterior part to a great stress. Over time, this would cause mild to severe pain in your back.
However, it is not only high heel shoes that can cause back pain. Even casual and running shoes can become potential perpetrators for this condition. When you choose shoes for the style and design alone, you are compromising yourself. If you don’t mind factors like support and comfort, things would be bad for your feet and back.
Aside from getting feet-related injuries and wounds, wearing the wrong running shoes can also affect other parts of your body. For instance, they can strain your thighs and calves, too. It can cause muscle sores on those areas, which would automatically affect your performance and put you into the bench.
Image credit: Intheloop.com.sg
All of the parts of your body is interconnected, one way or another. Of course, it is pretty easy to deduce that your back is directly connected to your legs and feet. If the feet are taking a lot of load and pressure, the stress would immediately escalate up to the back. The pain that you can experience will range from mild to severe.
Furthermore, take into account that age comes as a huge factor here. Old people are more susceptible to back pains caused by feet injury than those that are still young. So if you are already in the middle age, you might want to be careful on the shoes that you are wearing, especially if it is a pair of running shoes.
How to Choose Running Shoes for Lower Back Pain
Well, this part is on the borderline of intrigue and facts. You see, there is an ongoing misconception that the best running shoes that can solve your lower back pain problems are those that have chunky construction. Furthermore, a significant number of people even suggest that these shoes should only be available on the orthopedic part of the market.
These conceptions may appear factual at first, but they only hold half of the truth. For a runner, a shoe has to be ergonomic and functional. The shoes that you are going to wear may not even be among the recommendations of your doctor. As long as the footwear can accommodate your feet with support, comfort, and stability, it is already a good choice. And the best of all, it can prevent you from experiencing harsh injuries.
If you worry too much about back pain, here are some of the specific factors that you should look out for a running shoe.
Arch
Just like other specialty shoes, the arch of shoes remains a vital factor in its performance. Specifically, the shoe should be able to blend with the original shape of the arch of your feet. Always take into account that every people have different arch shapes. Therefore, a particular shoe may be useful for some people but not for you. It should serve as a go signal for you to look for a pair of shoes that can fit your arches well.
Fit
Another consideration that you have to take is the fit of the shoes. If you are trying to avoid back pain and other potential related injuries, the shoes that you wear must be compatible with the size of your feet. Specifically, you have to decide if a particular footwear is too big or too small for you. This decision alone can determine the functionality and comfort that you can feel on the shoes.
Image credit: Gear Patrol
However, some runners are still prone to choosing shoes that do not fit their feet. One reason for this is their persistence in getting a pair of shoes just because of its design. Some would dare to wear wrongly sized shoes because it has been given to them. Others would just settle for the inappropriate one because it is cheap. Regardless of the purpose, wearing a shoe that doesn’t fit your feet can cause strain in your body, especially on your back.
If you are not comfortable enough in using the shoe, negative implications can take place. You cannot practice the proper gait if the footwear is distracting you with its stiffness or looseness.
APMA Seal of Acceptance
The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance is good proof that a shoe can foster support and stability to your feet. Any footwear that has this seal is capable of protecting your feet and body from injuries caused by running or doing rigid exercises.
This particular approval can also be given to socks, insoles, and other shoe materials that can improve the health of your feet. If the footwear that you see has this seal, then it is certainly worth buying. Somewhere along the line, the shoes would provide optimal protection and care to your feet.
However, always remember that not all footwear is submitted to the APMA. After all, it is not mandatory for manufacturers to submit their creations to APMA, as they are not a federal-operated testing agency. Because of this, you should never skip all the potential options that you see, even if the seal is not around.
Rigidness
When choosing a running shoe for back pain, a person must consider the stiffness of the footwear. Some shoes are made to rigid to protect your feet from potential physical dangers such as getting stabbed by stray branches or bitten by snakes. However, you don’t need this feature when it comes to running shoes. After all, you need the latter to have a balanced flexibility to enable mobility and breathability. If you insist on wearing a stiff shoe, then your feet and back will experience nasty stings and aches.
Conclusion
These are some of the factors that would help you decide which shoe to choose to prevent injuries while you are running. You have to take them into account if you want to protect your feet and other parts of your body from muscle aches and straining. If you are runner, you are really required to know how to choose a pair of shoes that can prevent hazards like back pain.
Guest Author:Bella Williams – She is passionate about running. She would like to share her knowledge and experience at her personal blog www.savitarsfoot.com
Did you learn from this guide? If you have questions and other suggestions, feel free to ask me in the comment section below.
URDANETA CITY – Veteran runner Christabel Martes showed that she still has the speed and power by taking home the crown in the 42nd National MILO Marathon Urdaneta City qualifying race Sunday morning at the Urdaneta Sports and Cultural Center. This marks the first of 10 races that will find participants for the National Finals set for December 9 in Laoag City.
The four-time MILO Marathon Queen Martes finished the basically flat 21-kilometer course in 1:31:25, much slower than her winning time of 1:23:45 in the same event last year. “I am coming from an injury so I planned to join 10 kilometers only but I was advised by the organizers that I could be disqualified from competing in succeeding legs if I win or finish high so I decided to enter and defend my title even if I lacked training,” explained Martes.
She also admitted that she started quite slow and only made her move to overtake the early leaders by the one-kilometer mark as the pack entered MacArthur Highway and she never looked back from there. Coming in a far second was Rowena Valdez of Sante Barley (1:40:19) followed by Jocelyn Elijeran (1:46:53).
Meanwhile, a new name emerged in the Men’s Division in the person of Kurt Jomar Lamparas, a member of the Arellano University Athletics varsity in a time of 1:14:26. This is the first time the Dagupan City native participated in the 21-kilometer distance and he managed to upset the likes of last year’s Laoag champion Cesar Castaneto by a mere five seconds (1:14:31) and multi-titled national Duathlon team member Robeno Javier (1:16:48) who is from Urdaneta.
“At first, Coach Paul Coloma did not allow me to join because I am only 19 years old but he eventually agreed to do so,” said Lamparas, who is on his third year of Sports Management. “I would run alone from the school to Luneta via Malacanang as my training but I will have to change that for the National Finals and I will ask my coach for tips.”
Other winners for the day included Jelsie Sabado (40-:43) of the national Triathlon team and Rey Mark Quezada (34:52) in the 10 kilometers and Ira Mae Gali (20:38) and James Darrell Orduna (16:47) in the five kilometers. Jena Valdez (13:55) and Glenn Cunanan (12:24) were victorious in the special three-kilometer race for children aged 12 and under.
Ran also and took home this MILO medal and hoodie for finishing under 2:30.
The next MILO qualifier will be the highly-anticipated Metro Manila qualifier at the SM Mall of Asia on July 29. After that, the remaining races in Luzon will be hosted by the cities of Tarlac (August 26), Batangas (September 16) and Lucena (September 30).
Woohooo! Finally Hello Kitty Run is back again this year! ? Don’t know how come last year don’t have Hello Kitty Run but this is my second Hello Kitty run ? Had participated in the first Hello Kitty run in Singapore back in 2014 which was held in Sentosa. I could still remember it rained so heavily that day and my friends and I were all drenched, at the same time fearing that the run was cancelled halfway but we didn’t know as it only started raining after flagged off.
I didn’t even watched any episode of the Hello Kitty cartoon at all but the meow meow is just so cute! ? In love with it since I was a kid and still remembered those crazy days in 2000, when I was still in primary school my friends and I queued overnight outside of McDonald’s just for the meow meow plush toys ? Many people just went so crazy for the meow meows and I remembered there were very ridiculous news on the newspapers that period in regards to those Hello Kitty plush toys which I think pretty much is like collecting dust in everyone else’s storeroom ?
Collected the race pack on the second day of REPC with not much of a wait and there’s a adoption drive for the cute kitties by the Cat Welfare Society at one corner which attracted quite a huge crowd. Super sad as my race pack don’t have any Free Liho’s fruit tea voucher which some runners did find it in their race pack ?
On the event day I was awakened by the sound of rain or was it thunder that woke me? ? It was raining super heavily and I thought this time hoseh liao, gonna walk in rain already like the one I participated a few years back ? Luckily by the time I got ready, the heavy rain became light drizzle ?
I meet my friend, Yi Jing directly at the event site at The Pomontory at 7.30am because I thought that the flag off was at 8am but it’s actually at 8.30am. I thought that the flag off time was quite late, usually it would be super hot and sunny by then but luckily it was rainy weather on that day. By 8am the place was already people mountain people sea and waiting to start the run.
There were no baggage deposit available so I didn’t bring much stuff along with me. Since I ran long distance the day before and my friend doesn’t really run so I guess it would be a walk for us, so I put on some make up and at the same time hoping it won’t melt or rain big big again if not I’ll become 花猫 ?
Almost didn’t want to wear the event tee but my friend convinced me that fun run should wear event tee to be in the fun. I’m glad I did if not I would be the odd few who didn’t. I was actually hoping that we could get something cute like this instead of a normal event tee: (Credit source: Hello Kitty Run Singapore Facebook page)
Once the start pen opens, I machiam no need to walk at all as I was pushed into the start pen ? The volunteers were giving out ponchos which was pretty good! Good planning by the organisers ? But it was just super light drizzle so we didn’t put on the poncho. And we felt lucky that we didn’t put on the poncho as we were already super hot with no air because of the human wall from all direction ?
Saw a few cosplayers and many participants wore Hello Kitty’s accessories. Like the glasses and hairband I brought for my friend and me were from McDonald’s Happy Meal a few weeks back ? There’s only the 5km category and we were flagged off in waves which was about 5 minutes apart. Most of the people walked and only a few ran. I felt that it would be great if there’s another competitive category such as the timed 5km run ?
There’s 2 hydration points along the way offering different Pokka flavours drinks and water. Though I don’t feel thirsty at all but the portion of Pokka drink is really “stingy”. The cup is just like 5cm tall ? Pokka isn’t really stingy lah, a 500ml bottle was given during REPC and another bottle given at the finisher entitlement collection point. It’s my first time trying the strawberry flavour tea and it’s super nice! ?
The medal this year is so cute! But I preferred the one I gotten in 2014 as it’s coloured and like the only practical medal I’ve gotten so far as it can be used as a landyard
(Left medal gotten in 2014, Right medal gotten at this run)
![Race Review: Singtel – Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer 2018 [10 km] (by stargazer)](https://www.justrunlah.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/IMG_20180722_094147-768x521.jpg "Race Review: Singtel – Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer 2018 [10 km] (by stargazer)")
URDANETA CITY – Veteran runner Christabel Martes showed that she still has the speed and power by taking home the crown in the 42nd National MILO Marathon Urdaneta City qualifying race Sunday morning at the Urdaneta Sports and Cultural Center. This marks the first of 10 races that will find participants for the National Finals set for December 9 in Laoag City.
![My Hello Kitty Run 2018 [5km] (by Lingderella)](https://www.justrunlah.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/IMG_20180715_161829-768x766.jpg "My Hello Kitty Run 2018 [5km] (by Lingderella)")
