Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 42.195km Preview

Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 42.195km Preview

On this day in December 2010, I shall put on record some of my pre-marathon race thoughts in this Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 42.195km preview on a Seen This Scene That post.

Above: Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 42.195km Preview Picture 1 - Race T-shirt and BIB.


Writing this is an exercise to prepare myself for my inaugural full marathon run on 5 December 2010.

A bit of background is in order.

I have never attempted to run 42.195km in training and certainly not in a full marathon in Singapore or anywhere else on this planet.

My marathon training for the 42 km Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS) race began with preliminary work in 2009 when I first toyed with the idea of participating in a full marathon after finishing a 10 km run.

Regular (and serious) marathon training kicked off about five months ago but disruptions due to mild training injuries and non marathon-related interferences affected my schedule of interval trainings, tempo runs, hill work, long slow runs and other necessary preparation.

My last competitive half-marathon (21km) run was at the 21-km SAFRA Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon on 12 Sep 2010. Since then, long runs of distances up to 38 km have become a regular fortnightly routine.

What do I expect to achieve at the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2010?

My main idea is to enjoy my very first full 42.195km marathon run. Hopefully from start to finish and every minute in between.

Certainly the start point of this year's full marathon promises a star-studded line up with scenes of seasonal-themed street decorations and festive lights.

A run through Orchard Road and Chinatown also offers refreshing background sceneries for full marathon runners.

The Marina Bay waterfront will add more visual features to take away the stress of a full marathon run. Away from the city, the run across Marina Barrage is expected to be another scenic highlight.

Above: Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 42.195km Preview Picture 2: Marathon Race Route.

I expect to meet a record number of full marathon participants. Competitive runners bring inspiration and encouragement. With runners surging along the full marathon route, I hope that it will raise a wave of positive energy to carry me into the final stretch and beyond.

My pre-race preview of the full marathon running route reveals that for the most part, it is generally a flat one. At about the 37km mark though, when I run up the steep Benjamin Sheares Bridge, I think that would be most challenging segment. It is the steepest incline of the entire race route and by that late phase of my run when glycogen stores are near empty and joints start to feel the heat, I think my muscles, tendons and ligaments will put in the loudest protests.

How about a marathon completion time?

For this race, a marathon completion time is irrelevant. Whatever happens, I shall be contented when I cross the finish line. The time it takes to complete the full marathon will be set in stone as my personal best full marathon record.

With a half-marathon under my belt, I could easily crunch an online marathon timing conversion calculator to come out with a timing. But with actual practice on training runs, I have found to my chagrin that a realistic completion time for the full marathon is going to be longer than the predicted one by a wide margin.

Moreover with suboptimal preparation and recent recovery from injury, it would be unwise of me to pin a time for my target so publicly. In case the pressure on my mind, heart and lungs deflate my ego.

I have extracted from friends and online sources some pitfalls to consider. During racing, emergencies, injuries and accidents are just around the corner for unwary marathon runners. "Hitting the wall", abdominal colic, plantar fasciitis, ITB syndrome, blisters, dehydration and strains / sprains are just a few of many things that could trip runners up in the race.

I hope that with proper medical screening, adequate marathon run training, sensible nutritional support, realistic race pace and a safety-first mindset, I would have reduced risks to the minimum.

As the days count down to the full marathon race, I enter my taper phase with confidence that my mental and physical preparations for the 2010 Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 42.195km race will give joy when I cross the finish line.

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My Army Half Marathon Race

My Army Half Marathon Race

I've just returned from my Army Half Marathon race, a competitive 21 km run around Marina Bay this 12 September 2010 morning.

Some reasons that made me sign up to race the 21km race of the Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon:

I had already done the 10km Singapore Bay Run on earlier attempts, thus it was time to 'upgrade'.

I wanted to experience the largest mass running race (70000 runners in 2009, 2010) in Singapore.

I wanted to experience the new race route across Marina Bay Reservoir on the Bayfront Bridge and run past the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort.

I wanted to renew my experience of running up the Sheares Bridge.

I wanted to witness all the street-side entertainment that included belly-dancers, percussionists, and cheer teams.

I wanted to experience running under the full glare of lights along the Singapore Grand Prix F1 racing route.

I wanted to receive the Army Half Marathon T-shirt, goody bag, personalised certificate and a half marathon finisher medal.

I really wanted to race in an enjoyable atmosphere which was what I received the most benefit from.

Did you run in the 21km Army Half Marathon race?

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Singapore Southern Ridges Run

Singapore Southern Ridges Run

During one of my regular training runs, the Singapore Southern Ridges was the venue where I explored on foot. For a change of scenery to spice up my training run programme, I chose to go on a Singapore Southern Ridges run. On this occasion, I commenced and ended my training run at Telok Blangah Hill Park.

From the google map, you can note the red line tracing my footsteps. The line reaches westward to the edge of Kent Ridge Park and touches the outskirts of Mt Faber Park to the east.

The red line is recorded via GPS on my Garmin Forerunner 405CX wristwatch. Data recorded on the watch can be downloaded to PC and uploaded onto a Garmin site for analysis. Details of the run like the running speed, altitude and precise route can be studied later in the comforts of home before a laptop or computer.

Each kilometre traversed is recorded by a Lap marker on the map. Lap 1 indicates the point when 1 km is reached, Lap 2 is the 2 km mark, and so forth.

With this technology, my run data allows me to keep track of my training progress without going through the tedious process of measuring non-linear distances on a map as well as keeping time.

Have you tried walking or running along the entire stretch of the Singapore Southern Ridges?

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Passion Run 2010

Passion Run 2010

It takes plenty of passion for a person to push his or her body to run 10 kilometres. It takes even more passion if you try to push your body to its limit in order to better your personal best (PB) times or to set a personal 10km run record (PR). Those with the greatest passion put their legs and bodies through training programmes like interval runs, tempo runs,long distance slow runs, core training and the like, week in week out, rain or shine, and feel good at the end of each session.

I guess I must possess similar passion to have taken part in another 10-km race on 22 May 2010. This was the Passion Run 2010 held at Angsana Green in East Coast Park. The race was organized by Geylang Serai 3i Enterprise, Geylang Serai CSC and Geylang Serai Community Club.

The Passion Run 2010 was my first attempt to set a 10K personal best after having done two leisurely races of similar distances (Singapore Marathon 10 km run and 10-km Singapore Bay Run) last year. So did I manage to break a record?

Before I answer that, let me recap my version of Passion Run 2010.

The weather on 22 May 2010 was favourable. A light rain in the morning had displaced the week's hot sun that kept slapping sweat-stained skin. When the Passion Run 10-km race started at about 5.30 pm, it was cool with a little sunlight peering through thick clouds.

I lined up with the second wave of starters for the Passion Run Veteran 10-km race. The second wave of runners consisted of runners from both men and women in the Open and Veteran categories. However this mixed group of runners flagged off at a crawl. With layers of walkers before me, I was trapped in a traffic jam for several hundred metres. In bursts of running and weaving and braking, I found my pace disrupted.

By the time the field of runners opened up, it was almost near the half way point. Just when I could settle into a regular rhythm, I hit a wall. A wall of joggers who made the u-turn for the shorter 5km fun run. Again the weaving through the Passion Run crowd re-started, interspersed with periods of accelerations and decelerations. To make matters worse, many runners were slowing and stopping for drinks along the narrow route as we neared the finish line.

By this time, I stopped looking at my watch to check on my race pace for Passion Run 2010. (It was dangerous to take my eyes off the crowd to look at my watch as I could crash into other runners who stopped running suddenly). Thoughts of any record breaking attempt was not on my radar at that point in my run.

I had hoped to follow through with some faster runners before me but alas I guessed all the faster ones had already filtered their way to the end point of Passion Run 2010. I decided to make the final one-km dash and opened up my stride, all the time still weaving between other competitors.

Finally crossed the Passion Run 2010 finish line with an unofficial time below 59 minutes, which was just beyond my training times achieved in the past three months. My Garmin watch recorded a total distance of 10.1km (The extra 100 metres was probably due to the zig-zag weaving through the field).

Made one conclusion: this Passion Run 2010 at ECP route with its timing and format for 5km and 10km competitive runs using the same tracks is not conducive to setting records. Still, I am happy to create a personal best (PB) in an official racing event, despite some challenges.

The rewards for completing Passion Run 2010? A keepsake medal (plus other goodies) and a valuable learning experience for my racing. I did not stay for the Passion Run 2010 concert and soon found myself stuck in another race: the race to get out of the East Coast Park car park that was jammed with an unbelievable number of vehicles. That story, however, could be another long post.

Photograph: Passion Run 2010 10-KM finisher medal and runner's T-shirt.

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16-KM North East Run Review

16-KM North East Run Review

I brought a camera along for the inaugural 16-kilometre North East Run 2010 on 14 March 2010. The camera was to be used partly to take photographs for my Seen This Scene That site and partly to give myself a legitimate excuse to stop and rest along the 16-km long route (ha ha).

16-KM North East Run Review Photograph 1

By the time I reached Pasir Ris Park carpark C at 6.30am, the compere had started the ball rolling. Later I could barely make out the silhouette of three instructors leading our warm up routine on a low stage. You can see the glare of bright spotlights in the photograph which were pointing into all the runners' eyes.

In the Sunday morning darkness, the 16-km North East Run kicked off as scheduled. The running route snaked through Pasir Ris, slid past the Pasir Ris fishing ponds and would later cut through Tampines estate all the way to Temasek Polytechnic near Bedok Reservoir before bringing us back to Pasir Ris Park again.

On the positive side, the 16-km route was truly a neighbourhood kind of run. I could enjoy the scenes at the Pasir Ris Town Park and the Tampines Park Connector network, witness the amenities available at one of our local polytechnic and enjoy the shelter of overhead bridges scattered across Tampines estate. I liked the challenge posed by the multiple overhead bridges that was part of the running course. The water points appeared adequate and there were no queues for water and isotonic drinks.

On the flip side, the 16-km North East Run exposed some barriers to a smooth running experience.

I was particularly shocked to experience the 'bouncing bridge' across Sungei Tampines near Block 123 of Pasir Ris estate. It reminded me of my last experience decades ago during National Service days when our company marched in step across a bridge that swayed dangerously close to collapse.

16-KM North East Run Review Photograph 2: This bridge bounces when too many runners run across it in sync.

The other negative point I wish to highlight was that my run was stopped by traffic along Pasir Ris Drive 1. We had to wait for the traffic police to stop the vehicles before I could cross from Pasir Ris Town Park to race towards the Tampines Expressway bridge.

A minor point of irritation is the human traffic jam at the entrances to the overhead bridges. When too many runners slow down to climb the stairs, a bottleneck ensues. But then again, on the return leg of the race, the earlier irritation gives way to blessing as I could slow down and take the steps one at a time to rest and recharge.

The route could be improved too if there was no overlap along some points of the run like along Tampines Avenue 8 and the overhead bridge along Tampines Ave 5.

16-KM North East Run Review Photograph 3

When I crossed the finishing line, I was pleased that I had arrived in good shape without injury in a pleasantly fast time. This made me wonder if the route was marked accurately in the first place. (I remember the route map showed one more overhead bridge to tackle along Pasir Ris Drive 1 on the return journey but which was bypassed.)

In any case, every participant who completed the 16-km North East Run took the same route, got the the same goody bag and the same 16-km North East Run finisher medal.

Overall, this North East Run 2010 was an enjoyable one-of-a-kind neighbourhood run for me, with plenty of memories that will not bounce off for some time to come.

16-KM North East Run Review Photograph 4

In case you were wondering about the lack of photographs showing the actual route in between the start point and end point, I had an inspired run that was made pleasant by the sights and sounds along the route that distracted me from taking any photos. Another way to look at it: there was nothing in terms of entertainment like band performance, supporters or cheerleaders to spice up my run.

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Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon Certification

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon Certification

In this fast-paced country where skills and knowledge upgrading are recognized with some sort of certification, it is little wonder that even a simple run in the competitive 10-KM event of the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon is recognized with its own certification. There is also a finisher medal that you get immediately upon completing your 10-km Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon Run which I have written earlier.

I sat for my Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 'certification' examination run on 6 December 2009 and this piece of certification came in the mail around the end of January 2010 as a formal endorsement of my Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 10-KM run results.

Here are snapshots of my Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon certification (with the vital ID & timing bits cropped out).

Snapshot of Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon Certification part 1:

Snapshot of Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon Certification part 2:

Did you receive your laminated copy of Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon certification, with your timing and name correctly written?

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North East Run

North East Run

(Latest: My 16-km North East Run experience)

What is the North East Run 2010? It is a new running competition for competitive and non-competitive runners organised by the NorthEast Community Development Council (Northeast CDC) in support of Go Red for Women. Singapore Heart Foundation and Family Life Champion are the other partners of the North East Run.

Google Map of Pasir Ris Park, Singapore: Venue of North East Run 2010

This inaugural run takes place on 14 March 2010 (Sunday) in the north east part of Singapore. The start point and end point of North East Run are one and the same: at carpark C of Pasir Ris Park, within walking distance from Pasir Ris MRT station.

At the time of my writing, the route details were not available. Looking at the length of Pasir Ris Park (which is about 3 km long from one end to another) I wonder where the space to run will be found for the 16 km competitive run.

Every participant of the North East Run will receive one dry-fit running tee, goodie bag and a lucky draw ticket. Competitive runners who complete their run get to take home a North East Run completion medal.

All North East Run Entry Pack must be collected during the Race Expo on Saturday 6 Mar 2010 and Sunday 7 Mar 2010 between 1100hrs to 2000 hrs, at White Sands 1 Pasir Ris Central Street 3 Singapore 518457.

North East Run Registration Fees
Men’s 16 km
= $30.40 (Passion card member) $38.00 (Non-member)

Women's 16 km
= $30.40 (Passion card member) $38.00 (Non-member)

Go Red For Women (Men's)
= 5 km $21.60 (Passion card member) $27.00 (Non-member)

Go Red For Women (Women's)
= 5 km $21.60 (Passion card member) $27.00 (Non-member)

Fun Run
= 2 km $12.00 (Passion card member) $15.00 (Non-member)

Passion card membership details at www.passioncard.com.sg.

Closing date for North East Run registration is 12 February 2010.

North East Run Website = www.northeastrun.com

For those looking for the thrill of a novel competitive run in a suburban part of Singapore, the North East Run 2010 may well provide that oomph.

See more places. Live more life.

Seen This Scene That

Read about my North East Run 2010 experience:

1. 16-KM NorthEast Run 2010 Review

[... read more inside Seen This Scene That...]

Jurong Park Connector IPPT Route

Jurong Park Connector IPPT Route

If you wander around Jurong Central Park, you can't miss the new futuristic-looking SAFRA Jurong Club house. Along the Jurong Park Connector that lines the canal, you will find this IPPT (individual physical proficiency test) 2.4-km run route marked out on the park connector track.

There is a sign board displaying the various test stations of IPPT with a map of this route. Fit NSmen who perform the annual pilgrimage to IPPT test centres throughout Singapore now have a new training ground at SAFRA Jurong to work out.

This Jurong Park Connector IPPT route starts and ends along part of the Jurong Park Connector network. The route takes runners into a maze-like run within the Jurong Central Park.

After your run along the IPPT track, you can cool off at the Jurong Shopping Centre
across the road.

Photograph 1, Jurong Park Connector IPPT Route, next to SAFRA Jurong.

Photograph 2, Jurong Park Connector IPPT Route Map.

Photograph 3, Jurong Park Connector IPPT Route, at entrance to Jurong Central Park car park.

Have you cleared your IPPT this year?

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Seen This Scene That

Related posts:
1.  Jurong Central Park
2.  Ludo Garden, Jurong Central Park

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Run Singapore 2009

Run Singapore 2009

Run Singapore 2009 is organised by Singapore Cares (SG Cares), a new initiative from the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre, providing flexible volunteer opportunities for community service. President S R Nathan will be the Guest-of-Honour at Run Singapore 2009.

What is this new running event called Run Singapore 2009? In Run Singapore 2009, participants get to run / walk or do both along the entire 2009 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix circuit. This is the same Marina Bay street circuit that Fernando Alonso raced to victory last year in the world's first ever F1 night race. The Run Singapore 2009 race distance is slightly more than 5 km long.

Runners at Run Singapore 2009 will get a unique experience to see the majestic sights around Singapore's Marina Bay. Included in these sights are some of the famous old places in Singapore which I highlighted in an earlier post.

Runners who part with $25 each will also be doing their part for charity by contributing to the President's Challenge. The President’s Challenge is an annual series of community-based activities initiated by President S R Nathan in 2000. The aims of President’s Challenge are firstly, to increase awareness about how the community can get involved in helping the less fortunate and secondly, to raise funds for the social service sector.


Run Singapore 2009 details:
Date: 6 September 2009
Flag off time: 5.15pm
Venue: Padang
Race Route: Marina Bay Street Circuit
Run Attire: Your brightest colours
Registration fee: $25 per runner
Free for children below 12 years old and Seniors above 55 years old
website: Run Singapore http://www.runsingapore.com/


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Changi Coastal Park Connector

Changi Coastal Park Connector

As part of my training to attempt the 10-kilometre run at the SAFRA Singapore Bay Run 2009, I have been training along sections of the Changi Coastal Park Connector.

My usual running route takes me from East Coast Park Area H eastwards along the Changi Coastal Park Connector, past Tanah Merah Coast Road, to a section of the Coastal Park Connector along Changi Coast Road. Thereafter, I will make a U-turn back along the same route to return to my car.

Changi Coastal Park Connector Photo 1:


My favourite section of the Changi Coastal Park Connector is that part behind the Changi Coast Adventure Centre where the Park Connector hugs the sea and a canal. This peaceful stretch of pathway for joggers and cyclists is dotted with shelters, tables, chairs and blessed with natural scenic sea views.

Changi Coastal Park Connector Photo 2:


As I run along the Coastal Park Connector here, I can hear the waves roaring and the sea breeze cheering me on. If you long for a place that's short on crowds and long on almost-natural tranquility, this is the place to be.

Changi Coastal Park Connector Photo 3:


I see many others who have found this heavenly stretch of Singapore at the Changi Coastal Park Connector. Long distance runners and serious cyclists have made this piece of real estate their own. For a casual runner like me, I'm glad I was able to visit stretches of this Park Connector to enjoy a slice of natural heaven.

Have you been to the Changi Coastal Park Connector? How was your experience?

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Singapore Bay Run Review

Singapore Bay Run Review

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?

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East Coast Park: Eastern Coastal End Walk

East Coast Park: Eastern Coastal End Walk

Like the rest of Singaporeans who make East Coast Park the most popular park in Singapore, we come to the eastern coastal end for quiet walks often. For a sensory feast of sandy beaches, bright open spaces and tall Casuarina trees sashaying to the rhythm of sea breeze, this coastal end of East Coast Park near Changi is the best place to be.

While you would expect plenty of leisure park activities like picnics, jogging, in-line skating and cycling, the human traffic is surprising lower. One good feature is the absence of BBQ pits along the eastern end of East Coast Park to pollute East Coast Park's fresh air.

Our family's favourite all-time activity at East Coast Park, however, is to sit along the beaches. There are plenty of grass patches that allow a poncho to be used for seating arrangements along this end of East Coast Park. We like to stare at the mesmerizing foam patterns as they wash up to shore, watch distant ocean-going ships cross paths in the horizon and read patterns in the ever-changing clouds as they drift by.

The eastern coastal end of East Coast Park in Singapore starts where the National Service Resort and Country Club (NSRCC) is situated at the end of East Coast Walk. From there, it is a short leisurely walk along tree-lined paths that display markings for bicycle and jogging lanes.

Walk past the chalets of the National Service Resort and Country Club (NSRCC) and be greeted by manicured greens of the NSRCC golf course.

This section will end at the mouth of Sungei Bedok where a canal leads out to sea. There are two concrete promontories on either side of this canal where friends have revealed that angling at these spots can be very successful. Even if your fishing does not turn out as expected, the glorious sunsets over East Coast Park should melt a frown into a smile.

Do you have places to recommend for a visit?

Read more about East Coast Park in Seen This Scene That:

1. East Coast Park's Castle Beach

2. Camping at East Coast Park

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Marina Barrage: Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon 2008

Marina Barrage: Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon 2008

2008 will see Asia's first competitive run to use the iconic Marina Barrage as part of its route for the Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon. This annual SAFRA and Army event will be held on Sunday 24th August 2008. For runners participating in the 21km route of the Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon 2008, the opportunity to make history will be memorable.

The Marina Barrage is the first reservoir to be built in the city. This dam built across the Marina Channel forms Singapore’s 15th reservoir. A project by the Public Utilities Board (PUB), the national water agency, the Marina Barrage will bring a new source of water supply to Singapore, provide flood control and offer a unique lifestyle attraction with a host of recreational opportunities.

Participants in the 21-km competitive event of the Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon 2008 can run across the 350 metre wide Marina Channel on the Marina Barrage to enjoy the sea on one side and the future fresh water reservoir on the other. I believe that may also be the first time the Marina Barrage will be open to the public for use.

Non-competitive runners and walkers can also take the shorter 6 or 10 kilometre routes over the Sheares Bridge to enjoy scenic CBD and Marina Bay views.

Non-runners can also visit to soak in the carnival atmosphere that will feature games, sports and entertainment. These will be designed to celebrate the spirit of the Olympics as well as the closing of the 2008 Olympic Games. Representatives from Special Olympics Singapore will also be present to join in the fun.

Mr Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Defence will be the guest of honour. Participants will start the run from Esplanade Drive, up the Benjamin Sheares Bridge and continue through the Central Business District. Runners will finish their races at the Padang.

I ran (and walked) in the non-competitive 6-kilometre race during previous editions and must say I enjoyed a different dawn view of the CBD and Marina Bay area of this SAFRA National Service Association and Army organised event. I saw many other walkers of different ages, with some as young as their new baby prams who were brought along by their enthusiastic parents. If you like nature trails, wide spaces and sunrises, give this concrete trail a chance to enchant you.

Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon 2008

Event Date: 24 August 2008
Start Point: Esplanade Drive
End Point: Padang

For details and on-line registration, sign up at SAFRA online.

For the running route map, click Bay Run Route Map.

Competitive Categories
21km Army Half Marathon
10km Singapore Bay Run

Non-Competitive Categories
10km Singapore Bay Run
6km Singapore Bay Run

Registration closing date: 15 July 2008 (normal charges)
Final registration closing date: 31 July 2008 (higher charges)

Read more about Singapore Bay Run on Seen This Scene That:

1. Singapore Bay Run 2008 Review

[... read more inside Seen This Scene That...]

Riverside Greenery At Anchorvale Street Bridge, Sengkang Singapore

above: click on image for larger view

Riverside Greenery At Anchorvale Street Bridge, Sengkang, Singapore

This recent photograph was taken on Anchorvale Street Bridge in Singapore’s Sengkang estate as it crosses Sungei Punggol. In the picture above, I tried to capture the sense of natural spaces dwarfing concrete places at Anchorvale in Sengkang. The riverside greenery towards Lorong Buangkok on the south side of the bridge, in my opinion, is better than the other side facing the Tampines Expressway.

The Anchorvale Street Bridge is used for pedestrian and vehicular crossing with a LRT track running above it. Cyclists, joggers, drivers and opportunistic passers-by like me have been spotted using this bridge for different agendas. Those with two wheels or two feet would line up at the extreme lanes that double up as foot and bicycle pathways, while four-wheel owners would take to the four carriageways near the road divider.

Seats are available at the walkways for couples to cuddle or for tired joggers to catch their breaths in sight of river views. I have seen anglers on fishing assignments reel in an afternoon catch while cyclists would stop to admire the scenery. I think passengers in LRT trains get the best views as they can check out the horizon on either side of the bridge from the elevated position of the train track, although I have yet to test out my theory.

The design of the bridge seems to be a fuss-free functional one with little attempt to impress users. River scenery and lots of greenery that pleasure the heart go the distance to compensate for a bridge long on utility and short on aesthetics.

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Southern Ridges Singapore: Forest Walk At Telok Blangah Hill

Southern Ridges Singapore: Forest Walk At Telok Blangah Hill

The Forest Walk, a part of the 9-kilometre long Southern Ridges of Singapore, is accessible at its eastern entrance at Telok Blangah Hill at the end of Telok Blangah Green near the Telok Blangah Service Reservoir. The Forest Walk consists of raised walking platforms made of steel that stretches westward for 1.3 kilometres to Alexandra Road. Through the Alexandra Arch Bridge, the Southern Ridges continues to Hort Park all the way to West Coast Park.

Under a late afternoon drizzle, I arrived at the carpark of Telok Blangah Hill Park to find vacant lots for convenient parking. This was out of my expectation as the week before I had encountered long queues of vehicles waiting at fully filled carparks. A short walk to the end of Telok Blangah Green with the aid of umbrellas brought my family to the start point of the Forest Walk.

The best views of the entire Forest Walkway is at the highest point as you step off Telok Blangah Hill to commence your journey. The zigzag configuration of the walkway has a very dramatic impact. Coupled with the distant views from the hill and the depth of the secondary forest far below, there was a definite “wow” sensation for me. The hairs on my skin rose to new heights as I lingered to savour the ambience.

The Forest Walk of the Southern Ridges is also not a place to visit for those who fear heights. The steel platforms are made of strips of steel bars that form a triangle, mimicking the “Mile-A-Minute” plant. Conspicuous gaps in these steel platforms leave the faint hearted no room to hide from the “walking on air” feeling within the first ten steps that you take. I was able to peer through these gaps to see the bottom 18-metres below at its highest point. As I walked along the Forest Walk and looked at the floor of the secondary forest under my feet, irrational thoughts of the platform gaps widening to swallow my body flashed briefly to mind. The platform gaps seemed wider at the Forest Walk compared to the Canopy Walk that I visited earlier.

As I descended from Telok Blangah Hill Park towards Alexandra Arch, the steel platforms of the Forest Walk formed a smooth walkway without any steps. There were some stairways to the side of the walkway for shortcuts across the platforms. Some of these stairways led directly to the forest floor.

In the rain, the Forest Walk’s sloping steel walkway did not feel slippery and there was little need to utilize the railings for further support. However, there were only two shelters near both ends of the Forest Walk. No seats were sighted throughout the 1.3-kilometre long walkway.

Many plaques with details of the local flora were scattered along the Southern Ridges’ Forest Walk. These provided useful information on the various plants and trees in this part of the Southern Ridges. Names like Dillenia suffruticosa, Adenantina pavonina, Ficus benjamina and Morinda umbellate were unfamiliar names to a botanically-challenged Singaporean like me.

Near the middle of Singapore’s Forest Walk at Preston Road, I could see a banner displaying the National Parks Board Plant-A-Tree programme. At a large clearing, newly planted trees with short trunks and small foliages were spotted. For a $200 donation to the Garden City Fund, sponsors receive an opportunity to plant a tree in selected parks of Singapore, including this spot.

For visitors who wish to learn more about nature, you can take the path through Telok Blangah Hill via Earthwalk. This path is more down to earth as you get closer to nature by hiking through the vegetation on unpaved paths beneath the steel walkways.

I found the return hike from Alexandra Arch up the slopes of Telok Blangah Hill to be more physically challenging. If you stick to the steel walkways, even a small child can tackle it if you pace yourself. My advice is to bring plenty of water, raincoat (for wet weather), sunscreen (for hot weather) and good hiking shoes.

The Southern Ridges’ Forest Walk certainly provides the most dramatic views, the best walking-on-air experience and the longest walkway challenge for acrophobic visitors in Singapore.

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Southern Ridges Singapore: Canopy Walk Near Kent Ridge Park

Southern Ridges Singapore: Canopy Walk Near Kent Ridge Park

The Canopy Walk, a part of the Southern Ridges of Singapore, is located at the end of Pepys Road near the Reflections At Bukit Chandu heritage museum at Kent Ridge Park. The Canopy Walk consists of a raised walkway made of wooden materials that stretches 300 metres through a secondary forest and is elevated 16 metres at the center. It connects Singapore’s Kent Ridge Park on the west to the new Hort Park on the east.

I arrived at the 25-lot carpark C along Pepys Road and made my way through the property of the Reflections At Bukit Chandu to the start point. As expected, the weekend crowd of Singapore was already in action at around mid-morning.

The Canopy Walk of the Southern Ridges engaged visitors with its close-up views of a secondary forest’s canopy. Through rather narrow walkways that cut across tall trees like the Tembusu and rubber tree, one could reach out to touch the leaves and tree trunks at the top of the forest. Along the Canopy Walk were large plaques detailing the natural species of trees and plants in this forest. Tiup Tiup, Simpor Air, Tembusu and Rubber Wood were some of the native species described for visitors to the Canopy Walk to learn. My children were particularly thrilled at the sight of Staghorn Ferns that they recognized and learnt in school.

The National Park Board’s website on the Southern Ridges’ Canopy Walk mentioned that a rich wildlife could be found at the Canopy Walk, such as squirrels, sunbirds, doves, lizards and white-crested laughing thrushes. But I did not catch a glimpse of them during this walk. I guessed with the din raised by a noisy crowd along the walk-way, native wildlife at Canopy Walk would have preferred to seek privacy elsewhere. Fortunately a palm-sized spider sun-tanning on its huge web a few metres away from my nose ignored curious visitors who ogled at its curves without shame.

There were park benches provided along scenic sections of the Canopy Walk to allow visitors to soak in the wide spaces of greenery and sky. I would probably return to these benches on a quieter and cooler month and really feel at peace with nature at the Southern Ridges’ Canopy Walk.

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Punggol Park Is A Scenic Place To Visit For A Jog

Punggol Park Is A Scenic Place To Visit For A Jog

You would think that a park named “Punggol” ought to be located somewhere in Punggol neighbourhood estate, rather than its present address at the junction of Hougang Avenue 10 and Hougang Avenue 8. This surprise surfaced when I tried to search for this place on a street map for my maiden visit there for a recent walk and jog.

If you drive to this park, you will likely choose to park at the park’s carpark. Near the small coupon-paying carpark with less than twenty lots along Hougang Ave 8 is a restaurant that allows diners a choice of al-fresco dining by the water’s edge or air-conditioned meals at sit-down tables.

This 16-hectare park has a lovely 5-hectare lake as its centerpiece of attraction. Around this scenic lake, visitors can complete a circuit on a purpose-built track. The beautiful landscaped greenery, interspersed with large boulders, appreciably enhanced my jogging experience.

When a photograph-worthy scene presented itself, I could easily find an open bench or sheltered seats to provide non-shake support for my digital camera. These resting points allowed appreciation of Punggol Park’s moderate flow of park users who seemed to respect its scenic tranquility very well. The seats also served as a convenient excuse to spare my lungs and limbs from excessive strain.

Kids from the surrounding neighbourhood populate a children’s playground, while adults occupy themselves at exercise stations in a fitness corner. A small knoll allows park users to organize a quiet family picnic on the slopes, away from unwanted stares of joggers and other passers-by.

Punggol Park is a family-friendly place to visit. There are areas for a bring-your-own-pit barbecue, remote-controlled sail and powerboat activities on the pond and in-line skating on the tracks. With enough amenities to satisfy most neighbourhood residents, I enjoyed my visit to this place despite puffing my lungs out during this trip to Punggol Park

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SPCA Charity Fun Run At Bedok Reservoir

SPCA Charity Fun Run At Bedok Reservoir

The Society For The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) will be holding a Charity Fun Run at Bedok Reservoir on Sunday, 8 June 2008. This 4 km run will start at 7 am sharp. Those who prefer lesser exertions can choose to walk the route too.

Registration for the SPCA Charity Fun Run at Bedok Reservoir is now open. Your registration fee of $30 will entitle you to a T-shirt and a chance to win a Tudor Prince Date Hydronaut Watch. You can also collect pledge cards to raise funds for SPCA. Registration centers for the charity fun run include SPCA reception at 31, Mount Vernon Road and BigO Café Restaurant at 2nd level, Wheelock Place. Click here for details at SPCA website.

If you are joining the run, you will get the opportunity to appreciate the 41.7-hectare public park that has a track encircling a picturesque body of water. Bedok Reservoir is a popular destination for walkathons, jogathons and running races for schools, national sports associations and many other organizations. Activities that are frequently performed at Bedok Reservoir are in-line blade sports, cycling, dragon boating, kayaking and wake-boarding.

Public bus services provide convenient access through Services 18, 21, 22, 28, 65, 66, 67, 69 and 228 to Bedok Reservoir Road. Carparks are available at entrance of the park although there are too few lots to support the crowd that will be expected on that day.
Enjoy your training for the run and remind your family to keep this appointment.

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