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A Runner from Singapore
(12/9/2002)
"Amazing race." (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I ran the Exxonmobil Singapore marathon 2001 and vowed never to do it again - the course / organization was JUNK !! The 2002 race with new sponsors and a Professional race director and team for the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon made all the difference. - New shaded and scenic route - No traffic trying to mow you down - Water and sportaid 'Free flow' ea 2km - KM markers each KM - 6000+ Participants Great event - see you next year !!. Alex Harkess | |
A Runner from Singapore
(12/9/2002)
"A brand new course with a brand new image - fun!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The 2002 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon is the best I have seen so far. A record number of 6 thousand ran yesterday. 3 cheers to the Singapore Sports Council and Standard Chartered Bank (new key sponsor). Firstly the course took the runners by the coast and under mostly shady environment which is important in tropical climate like Singapore. This is especially so for the sub-3 hours runners as they are competing for better times. For those with running time above the 3 hours mark, it is as important for safety reason. They are the ones who have to bear with some of the most gruelling heat and humidity. A challenge for the best to break a record in such condition! As for the water points and spectators raised in previous reviews, both water and 'energy drinks' were available at every 2 km initially and 1 km towards the very end. More can be added towards the last 15 km journey. The addition of relay and cheering points at multiple points make the marathon alot more fun for both the runners and spectators. The breakfast parties was a great idea. In addition, chip tags were distributed to all runners this year. This makes the logistic for checkpoints and endpoint more efficient and accurate. Perhaps Singapore can be the first in the world to host a night marathon since the condition is very hot here in the day! An idea! I would definitely consider running again. Cheers! | |
A Runner from Singapore
(8/14/2002)
"Okay for the casual runners" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 I'm a casual participant and finished in under 5 hours. The race was my first and will run again in 2002. My take on the race in 2001: 1.Lack of spectators and little publicity. 2.Close the damn roads! I was running side by side with a bus at some stretch. As reported, a top runner got hit, but I understand that he was running at the right side of the road. In Singapore, motorists drive on the left, unlike say the USA. In fact, we were running on the pavement along the stretch of road he was hit. 3.Too hot? Definitely, but okay for people who train or live in the climate. 4.There is still plenty of water and sports drinks for slow runners like me, but the supply apparently ran out for runners who were even slower. 5.Close the damn roads! 6.Boring route, esp. from the 25km to 35km stretch, area around the nature reserves and reservoir. 7.And close the damn roads. Thanks for reading. Inspite of everything, I will run again. | |
A Runner from Bangkok
(4/7/2002)
"BOYCOTT THIS RACE" (General Comments)
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 Singapore is a country that prides itself on organization. Unfortunately this does not apply to the Singapore Marathon. You have to be half-witted to run this race. Granted, there is nothing that anyone can do about the extreme heat and humidity, but at least they can do TWO things that would make a world of difference. (1) Water, cold sponges and sports drinks, ALREADY POURED INTO CUPS, every mile. (2) CLOSE THE ROADS!!! I am a 'semi-elite' runner with a best time of 2;23 in the USA. I was leading this race for the first 10 miles (16km) in 1999, and I dropped out because I almost got hit by a bus. I was thirsty thoughout the race and became very dehydrated because when I arrived at the water stations, they did not have water poured into cups already! Can these people THINK? I ask that all runners, throughout the world, avoid this race until they get their act together. Jason | |
uk expat from singapore
(1/9/2002)
"the sad thing is I wasn't surprised" (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 Ok so i only did a half marathon. I have also ran a 10k in Singapore (I'm English and working here). I ran a horrible 10k in a very slow time, partly I think because they had no water on the course, only gatorade. Before I entered for the half marathon (and a colleague of mine the full marathon), we asked for assurances that this situation would not be repeated in the marathon. We were lied to. Come the 2nd 'water station' I actually had to go into a shop to buy water as they'd run out, and were only serving gatorade. The traffic was horrendous (as others have commented), although I found the route ok. Although I'd like to run the full marathon in 2002, I'd rather spend a bit more to go elsewhere. Don't expect the organizers to correct their mistakes. I actually feel sorry for the sponsors, exxonmobil, who now have their name associated with a poor race (for the runners) and closed(ish) roads (for the drivers). | |
A Runner from Austria
(12/15/2001)
"challenging course" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 It was my first marathon, so I have nothing to compare with. To finish it was exciting. The course was challenging because of temperature, humidity and many little hills/road crossings. The traffic was terrible and risky and they did serve less to drink and nothing to eat. Nevertheless it was a great experience. If they work on the organisation, it can become a great marathon. | |
Klaus Germer from Singapore
(12/15/2001)
"I'll do it again!" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was the second time I started (and finished!) this cruel race. True, the course is boring (at least the first 35 kms of it...), the traffic disturbing, the missing spectators depressing, but all in all this is a race against yourself, and in the end the pride to have achieved this goal outweighs all the bad things. Nobody expects world records in this extreme climate, so come off it, girls and boys, just do it! (One thing: According to my experience there is enough to drink: You get a drinking station with either water or isotonic drinks every 2.5 k - this is OK.) | |
A Runner from Dallas, Texas
(12/10/2001)
"Beautiful Course, many Volunteers, few Spectators" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 After reading the comments from prior runners, I wondered about coming from Texas to run the marathon here in Singapore. True, there were few spectators, but I found there were more than ample water and aid stations and every couple hundred yards there was a marathon volunteer with a flag enthusiastically waving me on and showing me the direction of the course. Each intersection had at least two police officers to coordinate traffic and help the runners. All in all I had a most enjoyable time and the people of Singapore were especially friendly and supportive. Needless to say an ultra clean city with no trash or graffiti around...and that was most welcome. | |
Todd Whittemore from Singapore (but proud to be American)
(12/6/2001)
"'World Class' Marathon - Hardly!" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 Let me start by saying that I generally run very good marathons like NYC, Houston, Marine Corps, etc. In fact, I ran the MCM in DC five weeks before this race. One word about Singapore: Ugh! I ran last year with a pulled hamstring and hated it. Much noise was made this year about making this race world class, so I chose to run again to see how bad my hamstring affected me the previous year. This race is HORRIBLE! The course is not bad except that their are virtually no toilets, not nearly enough water (every 3 miles), and the roads are not closed. In fact, runners must stop for traffic. Singapore will ALWAYS be at a disadvantage as a race site due to humidity (90%) and heat (30 C); thus, they must work extra hard on organization to have any chance of this being anything more than mass chaos! To the Singapore Amateur Athlectic Association: close the streets!!! Put aid stations every 2 miles for the first 18 miles and then every mile (it is HOT)!!!!! Put some snacks on the course at mile 20!!!! Attract some crowds!!!! What a joke! I have run my last Singapore Marathon until they prove that they know what they are doing. | |
A Runner from Singapore
(12/5/2001)
"Runners' safey second" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 (2001) It's obvious that a lot of effort went into organizing this race - but once again it came up short, way short on the most critical aspect of the road race - safety. A Sri Lankan who finished either 4th or 5th at a time of 2:28 was hit by a car and suffered lacerations at 36K! Ok, for those of us who do this for fun this was anything but after the first 10k. In the first 10-15k, you have cars honking (non-encouraging ones), angry drivers shouting at the cops to let them drive through...etc. In the 2nd half of the run, the cops will stop you rather than the traffic. Forget about finding your rythm to even do a respectable training run. For a race which is mapped over a city with many alternative roads, why not divert the traffic to alternative routes at least until noon on a Sunday morning?? As a resident of Singapore, I support and look forward to this once-a-year event, and this year, it was motivating to see energetic school cheerleaders shouting encouragements, but nevertheless, I'd hate to see serious accidents with fellow runners. |
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