Just Run Lah! - Singapore's online running community | JustRunLah! - Part 188
 
TICKETS

Ride Into The Sports Hub with OCBC Cycle Singapore 2015

Team JustRunLah!
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Ride Into The Sports Hub with OCBC Cycle Singapore 2015

OCBC Cycle is back with new format!

Cycling enthusiasts at the brand new OCBC Cycle 2015 will be in for a treat, as a new high-speed, spectator-friendly race format called the OCBC Cycle Speedway Championships is unveiled. It promises to be a favourite among participants and fans alike!

Comprising the OCBC Cycle Speedway Club Championship and the OCBC Cycle Speedway SEA Championship, this new relay-format race category is part of the inaugural OCBC Cycle 2015. It will debut on Saturday, August 29th, at the Singapore Sports Hub, and will see the best riders from the region – as well as top athletes from the local cycling clubs – pit their skills against one another.

The new format will see four-cyclist teams ride a total of 10 laps in pairs around a fast 1km course. The first two cyclists will ride five laps before the second pairing finishes off the remaining laps. To derive the official race timing, a team is clocked from the start to when its third rider crosses the finish line.

The OCBC Cycle Speedway SEA Championship will see teams from Southeast Asian nations battling out in two qualifying heats, each pitting five teams against each other. The top three teams from each heat will progress to the semifinal, where the six teams will battle it out in a single round to determine the three finalists. The finalists will then face off to determine which team will be crowned the Champion of Southeast Asia, taking home a cash prize of S$6,000. The second and third-placed finishers will win S$4,000 and S$2,000 respectively.

In the OCBC Cycle Speedway Club Championship race, a total of 15 local cycling teams will compete in a similar format. There will be three qualifying heats involving five teams each, with the top two teams in each heat will progress to the semifinal. Cash prizes of S$800, S$600 and S$400, will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed teams respectively. The three winning teams will also receive Vertix Velo wireless cycling headsets worth $268 each.

Image credit: OCBC Cycle Facebook page.
Image credit: OCBC Cycle Facebook page.

The winners from both championships will be invited to ride in Sunday’s Champions Wave at the head of the mass-participation Sportive Ride.

Besides the OCBC Cycle Speedway Championships, cycling enthusiasts have a range of categories to participate in over the two days of cycling action. Kicking off the event on Saturday morning, August 29th, are the Mighty Savers® Kids Rides catering to youngsters aged 2 to 12 years old. The OCBC Cycle Speedway Championships will take place after these rides.

The action will continue on Sunday morning with the mass participation rides – The Sportive Ride (about 42km) and The Straits Times Ride (about 23km). These rides will offer individuals and corporations the priceless opportunity to be among the first to pedal across the finish line at the National Stadium on two wheels.

Mr Samuel Tsien, Group CEO, OCBC Bank said: “We are excited to officially launch OCBC Cycle 2015 today. Over the past 6 months, working closely with our 17 partners and the event organizer, we have been busy putting together what we are proud to consider a truly unique mass cycling event. Besides a new venue, this will also be the first time that participants of a sporting event in Singapore can enjoy a slew of lead-up and CSR activities. In another first, we are introducing a competitive category for the more serious cyclists here that will mirror the one for regional cycling professionals; the format for the OCBC Cycle Speedway Championships will see teams square off in knock-out rounds of intense competition. It will be a spectacle to thrill any audience.”

“From little tots to grandpas, from casual cyclists to professionals, OCBC Cycle is for everyone who loves to pedal. As the community saddles up in preparation, I too am gearing up – at least, to flag off riders at the National Stadium!”

SG50 Specials

In conjunction with the SG50 celebrations, all 50-year-old participants automatically qualify for a lucky draw. Fifty winners will each win a New Moon goodie bag worth more than S$100, consisting of New Moon New Zealand Abalone, New Moon Birds’ Nest and New Moon Essence of Chicken. These winners will also have their registration fees refunded.

Those interested can register at www.ocbccycle.com

Sports & Fitness Asia 2015 Post Show Report

Team JustRunLah!
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Sports & Fitness Asia 2015 Post Show Report

The Sports & Fitness Asia 2015 event successfully concluded after a fulfilling three days of business, exciting competitions and group fitness workouts & exercises amongst all sports enthusiasts alike.

The event saw over 6,200 visitors from 11 countries in attendance at the Singapore Expo, Hall 3. The figure represented a good 72% increase in total number of visitors as compared to 2013. Slightly above 9% of the registered visitorship came from overseas. More than 1,500 of the visitors have made at least, one return trip to SFASIA2015 over the three show days.

“We are satisfied with the outcome of Sports & Fitness Asia series in 2015, like most of our visitors, we were thrilled with the various sports competitions being held at the same time and many claimed that they were, flabbergasted to see such an unique combination of exhibition displays, sports photography challenge, real-life sports competitions and group exercises and workouts, all at the same time under one venue!!” Visitors have expressed their trips “fruitful” as they managed to catch a list of awesome displays and competitions which, they have never hear of or known to exist, till then.

FitXercise_Piloxing3

The launch of the FitXercise Singapore 2015 on the last show day attracted more than 500 participants for the 8 different group workout sessions. Troupe of regional instructors and trainers flew in to join in the awesome group workout sessions on Saturday at Hall 4A.

“I would like to thank the team for a job well done and I am also very grateful to our various partners, exhibitors and sponsors who supported us in so many different ways. We will definitely look forward to deliver a much bigger & more exciting sports competitions and event in the next series!” said Mr Jackson Yeoh, Managing Director of Vision Xpertize Pte Ltd.

The opening ceremony welcomed guest speakers, Mr Patrick Chang, VP of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, Dr Benedict Tan, Chairman of Exercise Is Medicine Singapore & Chief & Senior Consultants of Sports Medicine, Changi General Hospital and finally, Mr Spencer Low, Asst General Manager of HQ Consumer Marketing Center, Sony South East Asia.

The opening ceremony ended with amazing demonstrations from the Singapore Full Contact Karate Championships, Southeast Asia Grappling Challenge and Southeast Asia Wrestling Senior Championship 2015.

To know what’s coming for the next series, simply visit us at www.sportsnfitness.asia and follow us on our face book.

An Introduction, humble beginnings

Moses
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An Introduction, humble beginnings

Having taken running more seriously recently, I chanced upon a variety of online platforms that catered to runners. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that JustRunLah! hosted a blogging platform for those who were interested. After a little contemplation, I indicated my interest to contribute.

I began running when I was a kid. Most kids do indeed start to run by about 2 years old actually, so I’m sure this activity isn’t foreign to most of you reading this. However, I only ran to specifically get better at running back in 2012. Previously, having played competitive field hockey, I ran – but that was for the purpose of fitness. In 2012 however, I was introduced to running as an activity in itself.

I’d say my running experience started with the participation of a race…though I didn’t quite train for it. Sundown Marathon 2012 (Full Marathon). Thereafter, I actually started a running blog, just to track my experiences. It’s been about three years and it’s interesting to take a look at what got me started. Below is an excerpt from the original post in 2012 (the rest of the blog can be viewed here).

“My interest in distance running was inspired by a disappointing sporting season, accompanied with a simple suggestion by Ben, a friend from church, to participate in the Sundown Half-Marathon. The sporting season that ended abruptly left me feeling that an alternative avenue for the training to pay off came in the form of the 42.195km challenge”.

I struggled through the adventurous challenge (recall that my friend suggested a half-marathon, though I wasn’t settling for anything less than best – that was before I knew ultramarathons existed!) but nonetheless completed it. At the finish, I fought back tears as strangely, something felt amiss. I had previously visualised the moment of finishing full marathon, yet I recognised this was not the end. Undeniably, this was an accomplishment, but I had unfinished business as I realised I needed greater motivation – a facet that transcended material accomplishment but one that really hit the heart, hard.

Thus began my journey of running. There were various milestones that I set out to achieve and have attained thus far. Though often time goals, it is undeniable that the process grew me not just physically, but mentally and spiritually as well. Indeed it has been and I have faith that it will continue to be a fulfilling journey (of much more than a thousand miles).

10 Slang Words Singapore Runners Use!

Team JustRunLah!
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10 Slang Words Singapore Runners Use!

TGIF! In this light-spirited post to end your week, JustRunLah! brings you 10 slang words every true Singaporean runner should know, and the perfect occasions to use them! Can you relate?

1. Siong Ar!

When: Going up the slope. On a very hot morning, afternoon or evening. During interval trainings. Benjamin Sheares bridge at SCMS.

 

2. Bo Jio!

When: New running event in Singapore and got to know about it later. Latest sports warehouse sale. Free running clinic. Race at exotic travel destination.

 

3. Wah Lau Eh!

When: Long queue at race pack collection. Not enough water points. No finisher medals. Long queue at race site toilets. Foul smell on public transport after race.

 

4. Siao Ar!

When: Seeing runners in costume running attire. Ah Siao dragging his tire.

 

5. Pang She!

When: Wake up late for race. Never attend scheduled training / appointments. DNF (Did not finish). DNS (Did not start).

 

6. Jialat!

When: Bad weather. Bad race experience. Ambulance sirens on race day. Stomach upset during race. No toilet paper. Abrasions from running. Muscles cramps.

 

7. Sian!

When: Bottleneck during race. Wrong size for race singlet and/or finisher tee. No isotonic drinks. Alarm clock rings at 5am. MP3 battery run out during a race. No parking lot before a race.

 

8. Steady!

When: Before race registration. At the last km in every race. Running past race photographers. Selfie and Wefie! Gels station. Bananas station.

 

9. Shiok Ar!

When: Sit down after a race. Cold drinks after a race. Personal Best in a race. Free race slots at JustRunLah.com

and last but not least…

10. JustRunLah!

When: At all races, any running route in Singapore, or on your car decal!

You Won’t Believe Who That Runner Is

Team JustRunLah!
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You Won’t Believe Who That Runner Is

If you guessed Ashley Liew, you were right!

Yes, that’s one of today’s Singapore’s fastest runners, back in 2006 when he was turning 20!

Thank you. Ashley for allowing JustRunLah! to use the photo. This is by no means an embarrassment for Ashley or any other beginner. In fact, Ashley has been such an inspiration for the running community that we thought we should share this transformation.

Ashley’s journey is an epic example that all of us have dreams. But in order to make dreams come through, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort.

If you haven’t read 5 Things You Need To Know About Ashley Liew’s SEA Games 2015 Race now it’s a great time to do so!

JustRunLah! wishes a safe trip back home to Ashley flying off next Monday.

 

Let Ashley’s photo be a good reminder to all of us, the running community:

NEVER EVER LET ANYONE SAY YOU CAN’T DO IT.

Sure. It will hurt.

Sure. It will take time.

Sure. It will require dedication.

Sure. It will require willpower.

Sure. It will require sacrifice.

There will be temptations

But, whatever your goal is, when you reach it, it’s worth it.

Ashley_2

Remember Buddies, Every Accomplishment Starts With The Decision To Try!

Leg raises

Team JustRunLah!
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Leg raises

The leg raise is the perfect exercise for the somewhat neglected lower abdominals and hip flexors. Regular performance of leg raises can help to strengthen the lower back and therefore reduce the risk of injuries.

Benefits of the Leg Raises:

  1. Build abs, reduce belly fats and strengthens lower abdominal muscles.

  2. Improve flexibility and strength of hip flexors

  3. Strengthening thigh muscles

  4. Lower risk for back injuries. Supports the lower back

How to do:

  1. Lie flat on the floor (on a mat)

  2. Engage your stomach muscles.

  3. Slowly lift your legs to a 45-degree angle, keeping your legs straight, not bending at the knees and toes pointed.

  4. Pause for a second then slowly lower the legs back down.

1Dx_1_0167

Advanced level:

5 Reasons Why Triathletes in Singapore Should Sign Up For IRONMAN 70.3 Bintan

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5 Reasons Why Triathletes in Singapore Should Sign Up For IRONMAN 70.3 Bintan

1. It’s just a stone’s throw away.

Always wanted to challenge yourself to an IRONMAN event but the pre-race logistics and location has stopped you from doing it? Previously, triathletes in Singapore headed to nearby events such as IRONMAN 70.3 Putrajaya or IRONMAN Malaysia (Langkawi). This year, IRONMAN 70.3 Bintan provides a different and unique race experience.

doorstep

2. It’s accessible and stress-free.

The inaugural Ironman 70.3 Bintan is just an hour’s ferry ride from Singapore. A special check-in procedure sees the bikes handed over at the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore and delivered directly to your hotel or to the bike depot at the race headquarters, where a team of mechanics will be on hand to help with any last-minute issues.

[ot-video type=”youtube” url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=42&v=KrhZ0Ir6yro”]

3. It’s beautiful.

Staged at Lagoi Bay – a prime tropical beach resort – the location promises a race experience such as quiet country roads, golden beaches, luxury hotels, lush green landscape and a laid-back vibe. The swim will entail a single 1.9km lap in crystal clear waters, while the 90km bike course will be based largely on the scenic route through northwestern Bintan. The athlete and spectator friendly run leg will comprise of three laps of a flat 7km circuit that skirts a lake dominating the resort, plus swathes of pristine rainforest and the triathlon village.

paradise

4. You can get support from your family and friends.

Since Bintan is usually a preferred tourist destination for most Singaporeans, this is a race where your whole family and close friends can gather to cheer you on! There is no better feeling than to complete a gruelling race in front of your loved ones, who will have the possibility to make a day trip if they don’t want to stay over.

8687_1-41

5. You can qualify for 2016 Ironman 70.3 World Champs.

Ironman 70.3 Bintan not only offers 40 spots, but it will be one of the first qualifiers for the 2016 Ironman 70.3 World Champs happening in Australia. The World Champs rotate and might not be so close to home for a few years!

world-championship

IRONMAN triathlon is widely recognised as one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world. This year, MetaSport brings it closer to all Singaporeans to once again try, experience and challenge themselves!

Mark your calendar; 23rd August, Anything is Possible.

For registration and more information visit: www.ironmanbintan.com

JustRunLah! is an Official Partner of Ironman 70.3 Bintan

Why am I running? Why am I blogging?

Kent
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Why am I running? Why am I blogging?

I am a running newbie and have never ever ran in my life. Back in UK in my schooling days,  I was always last in the cross country race where I walked the whole race. I was the slowest in the sprint at sports day. In team sports, I was either a reserve substitute or the goalkeeper. I had never ran in my life.

But that is all changing now !!
And the reason – I want to become a better me. A better father, a better husband, a better son, a better friend, a better team member, a better manager, a better leader and a better me. And I recently realized that to achieve any of my goals – I must first ensure I have my body and health.
Running is one way I will build my body and my health, and this blog will help me stay focused on my goal. This is somewhere for me to communicate my goals, my progress and my experience. By stating and writing down each of my goals (5km by September and 10km by end of 2015), and communicating to anyone and everyone – I will be keeping pressure on me to make progress, to meet the goal, and to continuously improve.

Dad: Work. Family. Run. Repeat.

Pushing Forward
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Dad: Work. Family. Run. Repeat.

My life has always evolve around the following mantra: Work. Family. Run. Repeat.

I constantly tackle the challenge of balancing career, family, my running and triathlon passion. I list my work first since most daily hours are spent in front of the laptop. I squeeze every minute of family time that I can out of the remainder of the day. Therefore, running gets the shortest remaining time, but that doesn’t stop me from accumulating as many kilometers as I can.

I started running competitively in 2007. Since then I have ran numerous 10km, half marathons and full marathons. My running dad journey started in 2010 when Jerrell is born. Two years later in 2012, Janelle challenges myself even further to keep a healthy and active lifestyle.

On 21st June, I believe every dad out there recalls the tales of success, defeat, frustration and elation as we tackle new goals, greater distances and increased speed. In my opinion, the most important is to set a right example for my kids to follow. What you have set out to do, never stop till you finish it. After than that, to illustrate the importance of maintain a healthy lifestyle to the kids.

Running dads in Singapore could celebrate today by joining Mileage Father’s Day Run. In view of the recent Nepal earthquake, all profits of the event went to aid affected victims. Awesome job!

Planks

Team JustRunLah!
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Planks

Planks work your back, chest, shoulders, and neck in addition to your abs. Strengthening these muscles allows you to keep your shoulders back and your chest high. Planks also develop isometric strength in your core, which helps you stand up straight or sit up straight for long periods of time.

4 benefits of doing Planks:

  1. A toned belly

  2. Reduced back pain

  3. Flexibility

  4. Improve Your Balance and Posture

How to do:

Hold the trunk of your body off the ground in a straight line.

Like with any form of exercise, you will still need to have consistency, a balanced diet and carryout other forms of cardio vascular exercise to complement your plank exercise for the best results.

Advance level:

lo and behold

Bindy
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lo and behold

A ho-hum week thus far: an unproductive day of modern day distractions, followed by absolute drudgery of paper shuffling. Where’s the midweek pick-me-up when you need one?

To reinstate the sense of purpose, I set out to complete a ten kilometer run. I wasn’t certain if my body could handle another long run as my mileage this week has been climbing steadily. If the plan is to run till my sunset years, I have to be smart about my training. Granted, it’s unrealistic to think I could still run with the same intensity when I hit my golden years; at the very least, I hope to keep running and stay nimble.

Having been sidelined due to overused injuries, I tread with caution – push hard but be cognizant of the body’s limitation. With that in mind, I have since cross trained and rest adequately to condition the body for the long haul.

Today, armed with a conservative training plan, I started slow and plough on. At about the half way mark, I was light on my feet and beaming. Half the battle and I feel strong to go all the way. A lull breeze propelled me and I surged with a renewed dose of energy. A runner’s high. All the hard work and discipline paid off in the end – I finished strong and pain-free.

Upon reaching the doorway,  a lovely bloom on one of the okra plants stopped me in my tracks. The delicate yellow flower with deep purplish throat greeted me, full of possibilities. For a grower and a lover of nature, this is a joy to behold. A delightful run capped off by one of the many marvels of Mother Nature.

What you least expect can throw you off guard or make your day. In this instance, the latter happens. I lingered outside a bit longer than usual, admiring the pretty sight before the self-pollinating flower is replaced by the pod tomorrow. Double happiness in every sense of the word.

16 Years of Singapore’s Most Established Triathlon Event

Team JustRunLah!
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16 Years of Singapore’s Most Established Triathlon Event

Every avid cyclist in Singapore would have already marked down on their calendars the important dates of the annual OCBC Cycle. Likewise, marathoners are starting to gear up and train for their big day on the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore. And of course, for all triathletes and everyone who loves the adrenaline rush and satisfaction from competing in a combination of swimming, cycling and running all at once, Singapore’s most established and biggest triathlon event, Singapore International Triathlon 2015, is back for its 16th year on 25th July 2015, at the East Coast Park!

Photo credits: Singapore Sports Council
Photo credits: Singapore Sports Council

16 years of running, biking and swimming

Throughout the 16 years of the Singapore International Triathlon event, many outstanding triathletes from Singapore and other parts of the world gather each year to challenge their physical limits and mental endurance. With increasing demands from participants of all demographics, race categories catered to youths, kids and newbies have also been created across the years. Therefore, this race is organised to bring all active personnel from a swimmer/cyclist/runner to proudly declared triathlete.

New additions to triathlon experience this year

In addition to the traditional triple sports format of a triathlon, SIT has added 2 new exciting races this year: SuperSprint Relay and Scoot-Athlon! No matter what athletic background you have, young or old, individual, group of friend or a family, the Singapore International Triathlon on 25th July 2015 is definitely a sports event not to be missed as you overcome and surpass your physical and mental barriers.

So hurry and register for this mega sports in your respective race categories before the normal period ends on 1st July 2015! Just Try Lah!

Supplements, are they important for runners?

Team JustRunLah!
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Supplements, are they important for runners?

Midway through your long-run, signs of energy running low start to show as you find every stride getting heavier, slower, and pausing your run seems to be the most probable decision you would make as the water or isotonic drink you had is insufficient. Besides time wasted from stopping for a mid-run snack, time is also required for carbohydrates and fats to be broken down into glycogen for absorption. Thanks to constant development and innovation of sports nutrition, runners are spoilt for choices over sports supplements such as energy gels, capsules and drink mixes for effective and efficient energy refuelling.

What happens when you run?

2 primary sources of fuel in your body are being depleted as you run: Carbohydrates and fats. Although our body contain higher percentage of fats than carbohydrates, fats require a longer time to break down into usable energy as compared to carbohydrates. As such, carbohydrates are more efficient and stored as glycogen for easy usage. However, this energy supply has its limitations: it lasts from 30 to 90 minutes or more depending on the length and intensity of exercise. (Source: Sports Medicine) In addition, essential electrolytes such as Sodium are lost in the form of sweat when we exercise.

As such, the demand for easily digestible, convenient and efficient energy supplements has been increasing over the past decade, with many global athletes seen consuming them during their races to enhance their performance.

black man runner tired

Energy gels wakes your brain up

For glycogen to be used by muscles, it first needs to be digested, absorbed via the intestinal wall and then finally reach its destination. Energy gels compensates for this long process by acting as an alternative source of carbohydrates besides the glucose stored in our blood. When our brain receives reduced amounts of glucose as a result of usage by our muscles during exercise, our brain automatically goes into a ‘zone-out’ phase where you feel lethargic and sleepy. As such, the extra boost from energy gels gives our brain a ‘wake-up call’, resulting in a energized mind to complete the rest of the journey.

Energy gels such as those from GU Energy provide energy-dense calories in a portable packet which is convenient for runners to consume during a run. Besides containing carbohydrates (maltodextrin and fructose) for easy absorption without causing major stomach distress, GU Energy gels hydrates your body with Sodium and reduces mental fatigue and reduces muscle damange with Amino Acids.

Timing is the key

Since supplements do not provide one-for-one replacement of the essential nutrients due to necessary metabolic processes in out body, runners should decide the appropriate time to consume these energy boosters. Everyone absorbs and utilizes carbohydrates at different rates; some  feel the effect within a few minutes, while others up to 10 minutes. Also, our stomachs react to these supplements in a variety of ways depending on the state of digestion activity; inactive stomach due to lack of blood flow after running for a long time might result in rejection of the energy gel by the body and cause some runners to throw up.

As such, consumers have been advised to take a single dosage at approximately 15-30 minutes before and at the 1 hour mark of a full marathon, when the body is not too exhausted and is able to process the carbs efficiently without stomach issues. (Source: Energy Gel Central)

Besides energy gels, GU Energy has also developed supplements in alternative and creative packaging such as Energy Chews, Electrolyte Capsules and Hydration Drink Mixes that deliver similar energy and hydration boosting effects, thereby catering to a variety of consumer needs.

Something new from GU

For the first time in 20 years, GU has updated the original formula in sync with the latest nutrition science.

New GU Energy Gel formulation is vegan and no longer contains antioxidants which have been found to inhibit training adaptations. Still taste great!

New GU Energy Chews are now exclusively available as a single serving packet (four chews), Chews are now easier to carry and consume with less waste.

GU Hydration Drink Tab new formulation is sorbitol free (easy on your gut), contains xylitol for oral health (does not decay teeth like other sweeteners) and dissolves faster

gu-new-product-line

Created for athletes to refuel after a demanding activity, GU Recovery Drink Mix packs energy-dense whey protein isolate to promote protein synthesis and reduce muscle protein breakdown.

GU Roctane Energy Gel has been reformulated to replace histidine, which the body already has in abundance, with beta alanine, which the body needs. Antioxidants have been removed which are found to inhibit training adaptations. Same great taste!

Created to supplement additional electrolyte replacement needs, GU Roctane Electolyte Capsules provide added electrolyte support on top of the hydration-drink products. Take GU Roctane Electrolyte Capsules before, during, or after exercise to replenish electrolyte levels from any energy-demanding activity resulting in sweat loss.

Stories of cancer warriors, running for a cause against cancer

Team JustRunLah!
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Stories of cancer warriors, running for a cause against cancer

No one should fight cancer alone. Anyone can be impacted by cancer be it as a patient, survivor, family member or caregiver. Here we have two inspiring stories of Singaporeans who had personal experiences going the battle against cancer in their respective roles.

May Chen, runs for her sister: “They are not alone, we are fighting cancer together with them!”

Photo credits: Race Against Cancer
Photo credits: Race Against Cancer

3 years ago, May’s sister was diagnosed with Stage 3 stomach cancer and had to remove her whole stomach. This period of treatment and recovery was a difficult time for the whole family and spurred May, an avid runner, to join the SCS Race Against Cancer in 2013 to raise awareness and funds to help others who have cancer. Her sister has recently relapsed with cancer and had her ovaries and uterus removed and will be undergoing chemotherapy treatment in the coming weeks and months. As a visible show of support to her sister, and to highlight the realities of cancer, May will be running the SCS RAC 2015 in September and hopes that her sister will recover by then.

Eugene Aw, charity athlete: “Run along with me, in making your steps count for those in the cancer journey”

Photo credits: Race Against Cancer
Photo credits: Race Against Cancer

Eugene first got in touch with the Singapore Cancer Society when he ran his first Race Against Cancer in 2013. As a caregiver of his mother who had won the battle over breast cancer, he became a SCS Charity Athlete to raise awareness and funds for the cancer cause. Since then, he has participated in 13 different races, clocked over 500km, and raised close to $2,000 in the fight against cancer. While most athletes typically use medals as a measure of their progress, as a charity athlete, Eugene determines his success by the amount of a difference he has made in the lives of cancer patients and their families. In addition, Eugene actively finds opportunities to share with his friends and colleagues about how SCS is working to minimise cancer, maximise life, how his runs contribute to this effort and regularly keeps up with other charity athletes to stay focused and motivated.

Race to Save Lives Poster

For more information and to register for RAC2015 please click here.
JustRunLah! is the Official Running Portal of RAC2015.

6 Things JustRunLah remembers from SEA GAMES 2015

Team JustRunLah!
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6 Things JustRunLah remembers from SEA GAMES 2015

The 28th SEA Games 2015 Singapore are closing tonight, the 16th of June 2015, after hosting a total of 6 sports and 402 events over the past 12 days. Regardless of watching the SEA Games events as a live spectator or from the broadcast channels wherever we are, many athletes have displayed outstanding and admirable acts of sportmanship, teamwork, resilience and talent. As we celebrate the victories and achievements of our Singapore athletes, here are 6 memorable moments from the SEA Games 2015 that JustRunLah! has selected among the many historic events that had occurred:

1. Respect for marathoner, Ashley Liew

Marathon runner, Ashley Liew displayed world-class sportsmanship by pausing his run during the race when he realised that his rivals took the wrong path instead of taking advantage of the situation. It was a decision that might have cost him a SEA Games medal but the values and attitude that Ashley uphold are priceless and truly deserves the respect and admirable of all athletes and Singaporeans.

[ot-video type=”youtube” url=”iW_7snTfeB8″]

2. United as one voice, one Singapore: Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay Victory Ceremony

On Day 3 of 28th SEA Games Singapore 2015 (8 June 2015), the PA system malfunctioned when Singapore’s National Anthem was playing and resulted in a few seconds of silence. However, Singaporeans in the spectator stands remained standing  and continued singing the National Anthem with our swimming medalists beaming with pride and glory. The entire stadium was roaring with a united Singaporean voice and spirit.

[ot-video type=”youtube” url=”MR-ufovi7V0″]

3. Follow Your Dreams: Soh Rui Yong

Soh Rui Yong is in only his second competitive marathon ever and managed to bag a SEA Games marathon gold medal for Singapore with an impressive timing of  2 hours 34 minutes and 56 seconds. The 23-year old now has set bigger dreams for himself to represent Singapore and qualify in the 2016 Olympics.

[ot-video type=”youtube” url=”vUEf9zrQRZw”]

4. Never Give Up: Bi Qi.

Singapore’s only representative for the 5000M Women race, Qua Bi Qi, gave her all as she completed the race with a taped knee as a result of an overuse injury. Most would have given up after being lapped several times by rivals, however, Bi Qi showed no signs of giving up and displayed commendable determination and resilience.

Image source: David Ash
Image source: David Ash

5. Race for Love; Lance Tan

Singapore’s Decathlon athlete, Lance Tan surprised the spectators and his girlfriend with an unexpected wedding proposal after completing his 1,500M event. Lance removed his proposal ring which was tied to his racing shoe lace and got ‘yes’ from his girlfriend, ending his race day on a sweet note.

[ot-video type=”youtube” url=”3C6aEgQTuQI”]

6. Nila Run: A run of rain and resilience

The heavy downpour on 7 June 2015 did not stop enthusiastic and determined Nila Run participants from completing the 10km race. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for runners to experience running on a SEA Games marathon route.

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Race Review: The Great Relay Sinapore 2015 [100k] (by SinaiStrider)

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Race Review: The Great Relay Sinapore 2015 [100k] (by SinaiStrider)

When Scouse Pete, Shug and I invented Mount Sinai Striders 18 months ago, it was just a joke. A non-running club of three mates who did a bit of training together and entered a few races. Over time, we’ve added friends, created a Strava Group and recently a Facebook page – but still, we weren’t exactly sure what the point was, other than a bit of fun.

Until 2015, when Singapore suddenly went Relay crazy! From nowhere, this year we have three relay events already (The Great Relay, The Mizuno Ekiden and ASICS Relay). All of a sudden Mount Sinai Striders makes sense – it’s a Relay Team! And so it was that through a rigorous (not) selection process, we chose the first ever Mount Sinai Striders Team to enter the 100k Great Relay as a mens team of six.

The team selected itself in truth and until last week we were in good shape.

Strider Down!

Then disaster struck as Strider Big Rob stuck his foot in a drainage ditch on Sentosa and broke a bone in his foot.

A few frantic calls later, we had enlisted the services of local Ultra King Paviter Singh to step in and take Rob’s place. So far, so good.

Another Strider Down!

Then two days before the race, Strider Jezza gets an MRI scan on his troublesome left leg only to find he has been training on a hairline stress fracture (and probably had it when he did Ironman 70.3 Vietnam last month!).

Even more frantic calls and Eleete Pete finally comes up trumps with his neighbour and fellow liverpudlian Jason. The team is now 1/3rd Scouse! Apart from that all is good, we are ready to go.

Talking to running friends, there has been an air of anticipation about this event since it was announced earlier in the year. Lexus and the F1 gang ran the inaugural Great Relay in Hong Kong in January and the elite combo emerged victorious in the Mixed Team of 4 category and gave the local Mizuno Athletes (Mens Team of 8) a good run for their money overall.

Then Vlad and Eti came over from HK for their running clinics in April and the anticipation rose again.

The concept is simple. 50k or 100k, Teams of 2, 4 or 6. A loop of 4km from each member of the team in order, repeared until the distance is complete.

We entered the 100k category and settled on a running order. Ben to set things off, Pav to follow, Jason & Pete in the middle section, then Neil (aka The Claw) and me last. One extra loop is required to get to 100k and we elected Ben to run that one.

Runners in the 4 and 6 person teams doing the 100k will run between 16 and 24k each, but the long gaps in between each effort mean that all competitors are onsite all day. This is unusual for a running event, where usually you see people for a quick ‘good luck’ before the race and then a (usually) slightly longer ‘well done’ afterwards.

At The Great Relay you can catch up with old buddies and get into the action and the spirit of the event. Since this sort of event is few and far between, I think this format makes a nice change up from usual races and based on my interactions during the day, most agreed.

I finally set off for my first loop at around 0900 (having arrived onsite at 5.30!), a short flat starting section, then a short, steep climb, followed by a long technical downhill before things get more straightforward with an out and back to the quarry along a closed road. This second section had a combination of rolling hills that was both tough (uphill towards the end of the event) and rewarding (downhills to build speed) so personally I thought the course overall was decent. It wasn’t as much on the trail as Vlad and Eti would have liked, but it was demanding enough to make everyone work hard.

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My second and third loops were tough, in the heat of the day, I slowed slightly on each, but still maintained a decent pace. The heat of the day and the waiting around took it’s toll a bit….

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Finally at around 2.30, Neil came round the bend and I set off for my final loop. It was pouring with rain, which meant cooler temperatures, but also demanded careful footing on the downhill trail section in particular. I pulled a few seconds back on my lap 3 time and caught a few runners on the way in, then Ben set of for our 25th and final lap.

A nice tradition in this event is assembling the whole team to run the last 100m with the final runner. We did this, complete with a can of tiger each and then managed to grab a quick photo with Vlad (and injured Jezza, who came down with the beer!). We’re all done, 100k in 7 hours 58. 3rd place in our Category and 11th overall.

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In summary a great day out, everyone had a blast. Struck the right balance between competition and camaraderie.

Well done Eti and Vlad and good luck with the next Hong Kong and Taiwan editions.

Mount Sinai Striders will be out again in team formation for the Mizuno Ekiden. ‘Ave it!

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