The 2023 edition of the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon featured a new route and new finish line
As the dust finally settled on the weekend's largest sporting event and spectacle, SportPlus.sg asked runners about their race experience in this year's Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, back as a World Athletics Gold Label Race for the first time since 2019, before Covid-19 hit our shores.
Sebastian Cheong, a run leader and co-founder of Superhero Runners who completed a Double-up Challenge by running in the 10km on Saturday followed by the 21.1km Half-Marathon on Sunday, shared: " I loved the route of the Half-Marathon where we got to head down all the way to West Coast highway and finish off in the iconic National Stadium."
"There were also amazing cheers received from friends, supporters, mascots and performers, which was a huge bonus," he added.
Chester Seow, who ran the 10km event with Sebastian, echoed his sentiments saying: "I was thrilled by the electrifying ambience, incredible energy all around, and of course that unbeatable rush of crossing the finish line! Finishing inside the iconic National Stadium added so much more value, making this an absolutely unforgettable experience! I will definitely be back for more."
Triathlete Kharshan, who recently completed his first IRONMAN 70.3 in Langkawi, signed up for the 42KM Full Marathon but had to call in a DNF for fear of aggravating an injury and completed the half-marathon instead.
"Personally, I wasn’t prepared for this marathon," he admitted. "I enjoyed a little too hard after the IRONMAN and didn’t get a proper training block in to make sure I crushed this race. My body actually felt better during the marathon leg of the IRONMAN as compared to the attempt today so I knew I couldn’t get a PB and it wasn’t worth it to aggravate the existing injuries in my legs."
Despite the disappointment, Kharshan hopes to take this as a learning lesson and will bounce back again. "This was what I needed; a strong lesson to make sure I never let this happen again. The marathon distance will always be daunting and this humility is something I need to accept before tackling bigger challenges."
Despite not completing his Full Marathon as originally planned, Kharshan joined up with his friends to cheer on runners at East Coast Park, something which helped other runners and was a major highlight of this year's race - with several run clubs volunteering on their own to bring down cheer squads and throw in their support for runners along various stretches of the Marathon and Half-Marathon course.
John Yeong, an avid running content creator and founder of Sport Plus Media who did the 21.1km Half Marathon and crossed the finish line together with his girlfriend Chermaine, felt the West Coast Highway stretch and new finish line experience inside the National Stadium helped underline the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon's status as a national event.
"To finish at the national stadium would not have been possible in previous years, but this iconic finish line underlines the event's status as a national marathon. I also liked the new West Coast Highways stretch, which hasn't been experienced for many many years."
Running enthusiast and social media host Haw Jia Xuan thoroughly enjoyed her experience with Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, and got a new found appreciation of the work put behind the event.
"This year’s Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon will always be a special one because I got to go behind the scenes thanks to SportPlus.sg Special thanks to John, Hanida, Hana and Keafey for bringing this together."
"Thanks to everyone who supported me along my run journey. Thank you all for rooting for me and believing in me."
There was also plenty of joy for Ziyi Kuek, model and skate coach, who participated in her first ever running event - taking part in the 5km run on Saturday.
Brimming with excitement, she shared post race: "What an experience! I joined the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon for my very first race experience! It was so fun with all the people and the mascots, plus supporters along the way!"
"I managed to complete the 5km in 31 minutes inclusive of all my content creation, water stops and people dodging along the way so I would say I am pretty proud of my timing, with it being my first time and also just 40 days post surgery."
