The start of my participation in the 2008 Singapore Bay Run could not have been better. The morning sun, hidden behind clouds that gave no hint of rain, stayed cool after a prolonged downpour the day before. The 6-kilometre 8.30am flag-off of the Singapore Bay Run was still ten minutes away when I reached the Esplanade Bridge.
As Singapore Bay Run participants warmed up to the deejay’s banter, I managed to warm up before embarking on a journey along the Bay Run route that would take me along Esplanade Drive, part of Collyer Quay, Marina Boulevard, East Coast Parkway (ECP), Rochor Road, Temasek Boulevard, Raffles Avenue and Marina Promenade before ending at the foot of Esplanade Bridge.
Assoc Prof Koo Tsai Kee (Minister of State, Ministry of Defence) flagged off the Singapore Bay Run 6-km non-competitive runners at 8.30am on 24 August 2008. Instead of an explosive start off the start-line like I had been witnessing at the Olympic Games athletic events, the block of runners ambled along at a pace just faster than a crawl.
I joined in the fray once three quarters of the participants had started their Singapore Bay Run. Many participants were walking like a family out for a stroll in the park. The pace only picked up after about half a kilometre into the Singapore Bay Run.
Due to a sub-optimal training regime from sitting in front of the TV watching the Beijing Olympic Games, I was soon joining these walkers as well. Intermittently, I would also pause to take photographs of the many attractions along the Singapore Bay Run route.
Of note were the bands and performers that provided entertainment during the Singapore Bay Run. A percussion band played to whip the crowd into frenzy at the starting line on the Esplanade Bridge. Along the East Coast Parkway (ECP) near the Rochor exit, a jazz band from ITE performed to cheer tired runners who were unused to tackle the steep ascent up the Benjamin Sheare’s Bridge. Near the Fountain of Wealth at Suntec City, a Secondary School Band did their instrumental best to boost runners’ moods. Right where the Singapore Flyer sat, cheerleaders from NTU shouted and waved their poms poms to lift spirits of weary runners.
I did not get a chance to visit the Marina Barrage (see PUB site) as only the 21-km route took runners across the Marina Barrage. But the 6-km Singapore Bay Run route did allow us to run in front of the floating platform on Marina Bay where the recent National Day Parade 2008 was held.
While the start for me was good, the end point to the Singapore Bay Run was far from good. If only the end point could have been shifted to St Andrew’s Road (with a cheering crowd of supporters at the finishing line) like the previous editions, it would have been a satisfying Singapore Bay Run experience.
Overall, the 6km Singapore Bay Run was still a pleasant and enjoyable walk and run for me. Perhaps next year, I will try again to convince my family to come along and join in the Singapore Bay Run fun.
Read more in Seen This Scene That:
1. Marina Barrage: Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon
2. SPCA Charity Fun Run
3. Jog In Punggol Park
Do you have more running places to recommend?
scene that
2 comments:
I went for the 21.1 km, ran past the Marina Barrage, it will be a great place to view the Marina Bay Front and catch fireworks !
Seems like you all had fun watching performances along the run !
Hi jinghui, from today's newspaper report, the Marina Barrage looks like a very cool place to enjoy the sun, sea and Marina Bay sights. When the Gardens By The Bay is ready, I'm sure it'll be even better.
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