Search Results

Team Singapore triathletes hope to qualify for this year's Asian Games with their performances Singapore, 30 July 2023 - Over a thousand athletes raced at the thirteenth edition of the TriFactor Triathlon in Singapore’s East Coast Park, Angasa Green last weekend. National athletes from Singapore, Macau, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Philippines competed in an electrifying national triathlon championships sanctioned by Triathlon Singapore. Singaporeans Luke Chua and Herlene Yu clinched top spots for Singapore in the national triathlon championships with impressive timings of 1 hour 3 minutes and 22 seconds and 1 hour 10 minutes and 28 seconds respectively. 2019 SEA Games Gold Medalist John Chicano - also known as Rambo, along with the entire came in 4th position behind his fellow Philippine National teammate Mr Pescon Maynard who took the top spot with a time of 1 hour 56 minute and 19 seconds. Hong Kong top triathlete, Leanne Szeto took the top spot for the long distance category with a formidable time of 3 hours and 4 minutes and 33 seconds for a 2.25km Swim, 42km Cycle and a 15km run. As a representative of Hong Kong, Leanne has shone in major competitions and will undoubtedly leave her mark in TriFactor Triathlon. But the excitement didn't stop there as TriFactor Triathlon announced the launch of the highly anticipated 2024 Singapore marque races. These include the TRIFACTOR Run and CycleRun 2024, TRIFACTOR Run and RunSwim 2024, and the TRIFACTOR Singapore International Triathlon 2024. These races, set to amaze and inspire, will showcase the finest athletes and push the boundaries of human performance. To top it all off, we are offering elite triathletes an amazing 3-in-1 package deal with massive discounts for booking in advance. Don't miss out on securing your spot in these remarkable races and experiencing the thrill of competing at the highest level. Hosted by the incredible Elle Adda - a top-notch triathlete and behavioral health practitioner - TriFactor Triathlon promises an unforgettable experience for athletes, spectators, and sustainability enthusiasts. With Elle's expertise in athletics and psychology, the event emphasizes holistic well-being, making it a standout in the world of sports. Beyond that TriFactor Triathlon also boasts an all-star lineup of ambassadors ready to dazzle the crowds, with Faith Garcia hailing from beautiful Philippines, a community lens and sports sustainability advocate. Faith's dedication to sports and sustainability aligns with TF's sustainability pillar, while she was also present to show the world the importance of pursuing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). TriFactor Triathlon introduced its Sports Science pillar of our Level Up System, beginning with the original Cold Water Immersion program, hosted at the TriFactor's Member's Lounge area located at the event grounds. This incredible program, rooted in cutting-edge sports science, provides athletes with valuable insights into optimising their performance and recovery. Athletes can also opt ot be a part of TriFactor's Membership Program and take their training to the next level! As a valued member, athletes can enjoy exclusive benefits, including access to specialized training resources, networking opportunities within the triathlon community, and priority registration for future events. With international triathletes from 24 different countries competing for the top spot, TriFactor Triathlon promises nail-biting races, breathtaking athleticism, and an electric atmosphere that will leave anyone buzzing with excitement. Get ready to be a part of this extraordinary event! For more information about TriFactor Triathlon 2023, the launch of the 2024 races, and the exciting initiatives introduced, please visit www.TriFactor.Asia. #Triathlon #TriFactor

Sesi Franca crowned FIBA Intercontinental Cup Champions of 2023 as six club teams set Singapore alight with a weekend of exhilarating basketball Sesi Franca were crowned FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2023 champions in a nail-biting and exhilirating final at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. From 21-24 September 2023, six of the world's best club basketball teams had set the SIngapore Sports Hub alight with mesmerizing skills and nifty footwork, as the FIBA Intercontinental Cup arrived on Singapore's shores for the first time - featuring top stars such as two-time NBA Champion Norris Cole and potential NBA draft 2024 first pick Ron Holland. Battle to be World Champions Germany’s Telekom Baskets Bonn travelled to Singapore as Basketball Champions League winners, while Egypt’s legendary Al Ahly had just won the Basketball Africa League. Al Manama from Bahrain qualified for the Intercontinental Cup on the back of winning the FIBA West Asia Super League; while eventual champions Sesi Franca, hailed from their namesake Municipality in São Paulo, Brazil and were winners of the Basketball Champions League Americas. Meanwhile the NBA G League's representative was Team Ignite, one of the most exciting young teams in the minor league, and the Zhejiang Golden Bulls rounded up the list of stellar names, making history in Singapore as the first Chinese club to ever participate in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup. Round-up of FIBA Intercontinental Cup Action Storming their way through the group stage, Sesi Franca and Telekom Baskets Bonn were set up as the two eventual finalists, topping their respective groups. Al Ahly were runners-up in Group A after beating NBA G League Ignite and losing to the Brazilian outfit. Similarly in Group B, Zhejiang Golden Bulls had defeated Al Manama 95-78, before falling to Bonn the next day. The two teams battled for third place, where Wang Shilong’s Golden Bulls secured the last spot on the podium. Ignite and Al Manama played out a close game to determine who would finish last. It was still anyone’s game up until the final three minutes when the American team went on to win 80-60. Thrilling Finale It’s safe to say that the best was kept for last as fans got a thrilling finale to the event. Sesi Franca were up 18-13 at the end of the first quarter but both teams took turns at going ahead as the game went on, tying on several occasions. By the end of the fourth quarter, the Telekom Baskets Bonn players had their arms up in the air in jubilation as they won 69-68 but there was drama at the death. Umpires urged the players back on court. Due to a shot clock violation, the game was restarted with just 1.9 seconds to go. Fans not only in the stadium but in the municipality of Franca, held their breaths. 1.9 seconds was all they needed. Captain, Lucas Dias landed a buzzer beater fadeaway jump to end it 70-69. Jubilation turned to bitter disappointment for the German team in a matter of seconds as Sesi Franca were crowned FIBA Intercontinental Cup champions 2023, which Head Coach, Helinho Rubens hailed as the best day of his life. Entertainment Galore It wasn’t all ball at the Fanzone as members of the public were also treated to evening live band performances. Across three days, OCBC Square was treated to a lineup consisting of Leon and Band, DJ Yenn, LED Water Drummer, Fatt and Karyn as well as Anchorblanc, who performed pop hits such as Dance Monkey by Tones and I and Ed Sheeran’s Shape Of You. #SportPlusSG #FIBAICC #Basketball

The Fresh Foam X 1080v13 is at the forefront of New Balance running and the brand’s dedication to innovation and craftsmanship Singapore, 27 September 2023 – New Balance has unveiled the newest iteration in the Fresh Foam X family – the Fresh Foam X 1080v13. The Fresh Foam X 1080v13 is at the forefront of New Balance running and the brand’s dedication to innovation and craftsmanship. The Fresh Foam X 1080v13 brings a new experience with supreme soft cushioning, elevated comfort, and an improved fit for all who run. A new outsole design built off research and development from the New Balance Sports Research Lab increases forefoot stiffness and an enhanced rocker to improve transitions between strides – helping people run their way, comfortably. The Fresh Foam X 1080v13 has more cushioning for a soft and lightweight feel. The foam compound paired with increased midsole stack heights provides a comfortable run, no matter the distance. New Balance sits at the intersection between sport and culture, which comes through in the Fresh Foam X 1080v13. The Fresh Foam X 1080v13 has a new engineered mesh with reflective details and a structured fit which makes it the perfect shoe for both performance and all-day wear. “The Fresh Foam X 1080v13 truly is a manifestation of research, development, and design innovation for the brand,” said Danny Orr, General Manager for Tech Running at New Balance. “As one of the most popular running shoes New Balance has to offer, we wanted to improve the overall experience, cushioning, and style. Through these innovations, we made the Fresh Foam X 1080v13 the perfect shoe for all types of runners.” The Fresh Foam X 1080v13 will be available for purchase at newbalance.com.sg and select New Balance and running specialty stores on Oct. 13 with a suggested retail price of SGD 259. Make sure to follow @newbalancerunning for the latest updates and creative content. #NewBalanceSG #FreshFoamx1080v13

Singapore Paralympian made her Asian Para Games bow in 2010, but only found her breakthrough in 2021 when she won a gold medal at the Fazza Dubai 2021 World Boccia Asia-Oceania Regional Championships Singapore boccia player Jeralyn Tan Yee Ting, together with coach and competition partner Yurnita Omar, ended their last game in the BC1 Female Individual event at the Póvoa de Varzim 2023 World Boccia Cup today, with an emotional 4-2 win over current world ranked number one player, Andreza Vitória De Oliveira from Brazil. Jeralyn kicked off her match with a narrow win in Round 1, ending 3-2 against Israel’s Bat-El Brightman-Ha-cohen, which gave her a BYE for Round 2. Bracing herself for Round 3, Jeralyn then pulled a strong margin, winning 9-3 against Spain’s Amagoia Arrieta. The semi-finals turned out to be yet another close shave against Argentina’s Ailen Flores, with a 3-2 win, before Jeralyn entered the finals to face off one of her strongest opponents, De Oliveira, who is currently world ranked number 1 and was World Champion in the BC1 Female Individuals category at the Rio de Janeiro 2022 World Boccia Championships. Digging her heels in, Jeralyn won a beautiful game against De Oliveira, ending 4-2 to snap up the gold. The win marks Jeralyn’s second World Cup title this year, the first at Montreal 2023 World Boccia Cup held in April, but euphoria of the win over the strong De Oliveira was evident. “Flying across the other side of the world to compete and represent and make Singapore proud was our goal, so we are over the moon! The days get tougher each day but we take one ball, one day at a time, and we’d like to thank everyone who has been supporting us,” said Jeralyn and Yurnita, after the win. Jeralyn started playing boccia, a Paralympic sport designed for persons with severe physical impairment, in 2008, as a student at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore (CPAS) School. Over the years, Jeralyn has represented Singapore at various major games, beginning from the first Asian Para Games held in 2010, and only got her breakthrough in 2021, when she won a gold medal at the Fazza Dubai 2021 World Boccia Asia-Oceania Regional Championships, and secured her first World Championships debut at the Rio de Janeiro 2022 World Boccia Championships. She is currently the only BC1 female national boccia athlete in Singapore. "Many wins are celebrated for that brief moment, but they have taken someone years of dedication to get there. This is the same for any athlete, with or without disability. We hope more people will understand that and come forward to lend a hand to this long, unglamourous but very important journey," said Kelly Fan, Executive Director of the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC). #SportPlusSG #Boccia

adidas Basketball unveils the D.O.N. Issue #5, NBA shooting guard Donovan Mitchell's fifth signature basketball shoe representing his unwavering perseverance to change and his evolution as a player Singapore, 12 October 2023 – adidas Basketball and NBA shooting guard Donovan Mitchell unveils the D.O.N. Issue #5. The fifth signature basketball shoe for adidas Basketball represents Mitchell’s unwavering perseverance to change and his evolution as a player. “I am beyond excited to release the D.O.N. Issue #5, where self-expression meets performance, symbolizing a new game-changing chapter with adidas Basketball," said Mitchell. The D.O.N. Issue #5 features the Lightstrike Strobel for improved explosiveness and a sculpted midsole for speed, with Lightstrike technology created to withstand even the toughest defenses in the league. The D.O.N. Issue #5 will debut in three distinct colourways - Blue Sapphire, Purple Bloom, and Black Widow - with two more additional colourways to follow. Retailing at $189, the D.O.N. Issue #5 and will be available to purchase from beginning October 15, 2023 via www.adidas.com.sg/donovan_mitchell, the adidas App, and at the following select adidas retail stores: • adidas Brand Centre Orchard • adidas Vivocity Performance (L1) • adidas Suntec City #Basketball #adidasSG #DONIssue5

Team Singapore's most capped netballer and World Netball's brand ambassador for Asia hopes to use her iconic status to develop the game in the community Just as the sun began to peak over the roofs of the surrounding houses, Team Singapore netballer Charmaine Soh arrived at the Kampung Siglap Lifeskills Training & Retreat Centre for a Sunday morning training session with her young proteges. After starting her students off with a warm-up routine, she laid out floor markers on the court for various drills she would set later on in training. She founded the Stellar Netball Academy in October 2020, using it as a platform to develop the sport among young girls locally. “I wanted to give back to the netball fraternity and also to grow netball in Singapore as well as Asia,” said the national athlete. “Also, I feel kids are really cute and I think netball starts from young — so we have to groom them from around 5 years old.” However, Charmaine only started playing netball at the age of 13, which she admitted was quite a late start. In fact, her netball career almost derailed at its infancy when she fractured her wrist in her first training. According to Charmaine, her mother wanted her to stop playing netball completely, but that only made her more determined to continue. “I wanted to prove her wrong, I wanted to show her I could do it,” she reminisced. Though her initial enthusiasm for Netball grew out of defiance, after making good friends and coaches, it eventually developed into a pure love for the sport. Her passion flourished rapidly in her first year of playing the sport as she began to dream of turning it into a career. She recalled how the idea first took root when she saw a calendar from Netball Singapore which contained pictures of the then national team players. “I thought: hey they look so cool. I wanna be like them,” said Charmaine. In spite of the scepticism she faced from her teammates regarding her dream, she began to spend much of her spare time training and was eventually scouted into the national team. Since then, Charmaine has won the SEA games, Asian Netball Championships, became Singapore’s team captain and most capped netballer. Furthermore in 2021, World Netball appointed Charmaine as the athlete ambassador for Asia. “When they called me and told me about this position I was really shocked and humbled,” said Charmaine. Through her appointment, she has had the opportunity to meet international netballers and grow the sport in Asia. Though the pandemic threw a spanner in the works for their cause, Charmaine is optimistic that efforts will be redoubled now that restrictions have been relaxed in many countries. “Asia has some of the fewest participants in Netball, so I want to get more girls and boys to start playing netball,” she said emphatically. When asked what young hopefuls can do to follow in her footsteps, Charmaine said while laughing, “People can join my academy.” “But other than that, if you do want an experience outside school, there are several netball academies in Singapore that you can join to learn from different people,” she added. After becoming familiar with the sport, tournaments such as the National League or the National Super League become useful avenues for career development. Eventually, the chance to join the national programme may open up, providing chances to play international friendly competitions. As the coach of the next generation of Singapore netballers, Charmaine has a positive outlook on the future of Singapore sports. “I’m hoping for a lot, seeing the results from the recent SEA games where we claimed so many medals, I think the future of Singapore sports is very bright,” she said. #SportPlusSG #Netball #SgNetball

Since closing the chapter on her illustrious swimming career, mother-of-four Joscelin Yeo has developed a passion for nurturing future generations manifested through an outdoor children's camp she calls "Into The Wild" Most 12-year-olds would be focused on their Primary School Leaving Examinations, but not for Joscelin Yeo. At that age, she represented Singapore in her first Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, and brought back two silvers and a hat-trick of bronze medals. For the rest of her 17-year-long career, Joscelin Yeo only won gold medals in the SEA games — a record of 40 — making her the most decorated gold-medal-winning athlete in the esteemed regional competition. While some may have taken years to land on a career path, it was clear from the very beginning through the emotions it evoked in her that swimming was something she wanted to pursue. "Every time I get into the water, I feel energised, I feel excited, I love the thrill of competing," said Joscelin. And if the joy she experienced while swimming was not indicative enough, the fact that she took to the sport like fish to water sealed the deal. "I think for me just recognising that this is something I'm good at, and this isn't something everyone is good at—that made me decide this is something I really want to do." Despite her indisputable success, her career as a competitive swimmer had its fair share of ups and downs. As is the life of professional athletes, Joscelin had to keep up with a gruelling training schedule which began in the early hours of the morning and picked up again in the evenings. "There were many times where I was like: this is not for me — I'm so done, I'm too tired, I'm done waking up at 4.30 in the morning," she said. Joscelin knew that sport at a highly competitive level required fierce dedication and commitment. So, when doubts arose, she would ask herself if that fighting spirit was still within her. For 17 years, Joscelin only had one answer to that question. "I still had that fire and I still had that drive. You keep making that choice over and over again to do it when you don't feel like it," she said. Though Joscelin is grateful for the challenges that helped build her resilience over the years, she felt for the most part, she had to rely on herself and her family to overcome them. "I think elite sport was really at its infancy when I was swimming," said Joscelin, "I think the availability of funding has increased massively to help the athletes today." She cited media training and sports psychologists as examples of the greater pool of resources professional athletes now have access to, compared to the past. "Sport is not so one dimensional," noted Joscelin, "elite athletes should make full use of [the resources they can access] because that's what sport requires right now.” "I had to figure it out on my own, or my parents had to pay for it, or I had to find sponsors to pay for it," she added. Since closing that chapter of her life, Joscelin has become a mother of four and developed a passion for nurturing future generations. This has manifested itself in the outdoor children's camp she currently runs called "Into The Wild". "Sports and the outdoors has the capacity to teach kids the grit and resilience and the strength that you don’t necessarily get from other kinds of activities, "said Joscelin, emphasising these as key values children need as they grow up. “For me, when I look back at my career, what I’ve taken away from sport isn’t the medals, it’s not the records, it’s not all that,” said Joscelin. “What I've taken from sport and what it has enabled me to do in my life after that has really been that mental strength, that resilience, that strength from within. To be able to deal with different personalities I have to work with, learning teamwork, learning how to deal with a situation that’s tough. “And that’s something I wish to impart to the kids at the kids camps.” Even though her current occupation may not appear to be linked to her sporting career, Joscelin sees it as an extension of her role as an ex-national athlete, saying, “Being a national athlete comes with certain responsibilities that we have to society, that we have to the community, because people do look up to us, people do see us as role models. “We are representing the country and it’s not something to take lightly. And I think that we can use everything that sport has taught us as well as the influence that we have to enable future generations, to enable whatever passions there might be." #SportPlusSG #Swimming #JoscelinYeo

As a doctor specialising in Haematology-Oncology, Vanessa Chong's love for running has taught her many valuable life lessons Her running journey only began in 2018. Despite starting at a relatively later age than most of her peers, Vanessa Chong's rapid rise and progression in the sport has undoubtedly made the running community take notice of her God-given talent for the sport. It all began from taking sunset photos. As someone who loves sunsets, she was at Punggol beach one day when a group of runners ran past. Prior to that, she never knew running groups existed, so she asked if there was a competition that was actually taking place. It was then that she found out they were from SAFRA Running Club Punggol (SRCPG). "They taught me what pace was, to get a running watch and introduced me to races. In my first 10km race I surprised myself to come in on the podium and the SRCPG runners spurred me on to keep running. They saw my progression as a runner and celebrated my little wins along the way. I’m so grateful for them," Vanessa shared. Her running journey since 2018 has seen her go through a roller-coaster ride, and hasn't been without its fair share of challenges in her efforts to go beyond. She shared: "As a new runner in 2018, every race was a personal best time, because most improvement are made when people first start running. A newbie then, I didn’t know anything about prehab, strength training etc and got my first running injury in October 2018." "From then on, I’ve come to learn that injuries are part of the sport. It’s not easy to handle then especially mentally when something you love is taken away, albeit temporarily. It has also made me realise that a lot in life is out of my control, and whatever we have are truly blessings." Bouncing back from her setback, Vanessa said the down time has taught her about life. To let go of control, be thankful of good days and to trust in God's timing during the hard times. Outside of running, Vanessa treats patients with Leukemia and Lymphoma and continues to draw strength from her patients, who serve as a constant reminder for her to count her blessings more often. To find out more about her life, you can read our first interview with Vanessa on SportPlus.sg here. While she has only competed in one Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon event back in 2018, it was a memorable and unforgettable experience and somewhat surprising for her as she placed third for the half marathon local category. She felt it wasn’t a super fast time but had done enough as she had just recovered from her first running injury to achieve the feat. In a typically given week, Vanessa usually runs six days with one rest day where she would just walk, or if her legs felt good, she would just be outside in nature. She runs easy most of the time at a pace where she can talk, with one faster run workout during midweek and a long run above 20km on the weekends. As someone who stays in the north, it is little doubt that her favourite running route is the northern running route along the stretch of tarmac road from Marina Country Club, Northshore to the Punggol settlement. "It’s so beautiful to run there with a sea view especially at sunset. It’s also nice to observe families spending time together or people walking their dogs. It’s special to me because it has such a different vibe from the hectic pace of my working life," she pondered. And what does she do on her runs usually, one might ask? "I really do enjoy that time listening to music or a good podcast but after a while it did get quite monotonous. So once (Covid) restrictions were lifted I would try to join SRCPG or other friends for group runs. It’s honestly easier to continue running long term in community rather than alone. Time flies while chit chatting!" she said with a laugh. As the most popular individual sport in Singapore, running has come along in leaps and bounds in popularity even through the Covid years, and Vanessa hopes to see the community thrive for years to come. "I hope the running community keeps growing because running changes lives. It helps us to stay physically active while giving us a different perspective beyond the four walls of our concrete jungle lives," she said. "Running in the community also helps widen our social circle with like-minded individuals. Ultimately running is humbling because we learn the limitations of our bodies, and hopefully through that we grow in mercy and kindness to ourselves and those around us." Vanessa will be taking part in the marathon race distance at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon. You can still make a date with Singapore’s marquee running event 2-4 December by registering here if you haven’t! Registration closes on 25 Nov 2022, 2359hrs. #Running #SgMarathon #SCSM2022 #GoBeyond

This expat fell in love with Singapore in more ways than one, marrying a Singaporean woman, making friends with the local community and exploring hidden gems and trails through his running journey Growing up he avoided running because he was born with club feet, a condition where the tissues connecting the muscles to the bone (tendons) are shorter than usual, and doctors told him that any kind of long distance running would be negative and damage his ankles and knees. It wasn't till he moved to Singapore and became close friends with his physio that Tycen Bungaard was convinced that he could run and that was when he decided to take the plunge. It has been a long journey for the father of five to slowly increase his mileage and to get comfortable and confident enough that his body could take the distance and regular running. In fact, his daily runs now are nothing short of being an inspiration for those who aspire towards greater consistency and showing up better for themselves. When asked how he manages to still keep the discipline in spite of having to manage family duties and work, Tycen shared that it was being a father that actually helped him with the discipline. He said: "When I was younger it was only myself, so the schedule was what I wanted it to be. Now with kids they have to have a schedule, so running has been able to be filled into the schedule, and the routine of running every single morning has helped me have that consistency that is needed for running." Clocking an average of 80 to 90km a week, with an average of four easy runs a week, his typical weekly routine would involve a speed workout on the track on Mondays (1,000m, 800m and sometimes down to 400m repeats), followed by tempo runs on Wednesdays with his running group, and ending off the weekend with a 20-25 km long run on the weekend. A self-proclaimed creature of habit, Tycen admitted that his routine is usually quite set. His favourite running route would be along the pipelines, with the entrance right behind his house and goes through Dempsey and the Holland area stretching all the way up to MacRitchie Reservoir. "It's a very beautiful kind of unknown terrain but a somewhat technical run, so those who run there should be careful," he shared. And does any of his five kids share his same love for running? "They will," Tycen said with a laugh. "My kids are still young, so the oldest is only still 9. I have been trying to foster a love of running in them, but without being overbearing or push them too hard. Recently I did give my son a pair of spikes though, and he is excited now to go out on the tracks to see how fast he can run. I'm quite thrilled about that." Having only began his running journey four to five years ago, Tycen hasn't had many opportunities to run in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon due to Covid restrictions, but his maiden experience in 2019 was an unforgettable one for more reasons than one. "So back in 2019 I hadn't been running for long, but I was doing the 10km and I have never broken the 40 minute mark before, so it was at the StanChart 10km that I broke 40 minutes for the first time and I was thrilled and excited," he said. "My dad was in town and so it was special that he was watching his now adult son who is also a father run a race, and I was able to achieve that special moment with him watching." Breaking the 40-minute barrier for 10km may already be an impressive feat for many, but he hopes to do one better and has set himself more running goals, namely going under 17 minutes for a 5km race. Married to a Singaporean, Tycen loves the local running community and feels there is a lot of camaraderie and a lot of positive elements to it although there are areas he feel he could be improved in providing opportunities for kids. "What I wish could be expanded upon are activities for kids. I see lots of races and groups getting together which I think is great. Maybe I'm just not as plugged into it, but growing up overseas I saw a lot more things for kids and involvements in athletics and running and that is something I would love to see happen here." #Running #SgMarathon #SCSM2022 #GoBeyond

Students' participation a part of the school’s commitment to a mindset of “fitness for life” SINGAPORE, 20 November 2022 - While most teenagers during the school holidays may still be in bed at nine in the morning, 99 students from the Singapore Chinese Girls School (SCGS) rose before dawn to take part in the 5km race at last Sunday’s Great Eastern Women’s Run. Rachel See took the win in a highly competitive elite race, which saw her beat her winning time from last year by over a minute (1:22:07), ahead of Jasmine Teo (1:24:02) and Vanessa Lee (1:25:30). However, for the SCGS participants, the event was simply an opportunity to come together to promote their motto of “fitness for life” and to bond with each other. The school fielded over 100 participants in this year’s race and have been active participants in the Great Eastern Women’s Run since it was first staged in 2005. Even after their run, the girls were still filled with energy and chatted excitedly about their experiences. “For us it was really fun and heartening to run together even though it’s the holidays now,” said Sarah Kum, 14. The physical education (PE) department in SCGS has aimed in the past decade to link their students up to events outside of the school which they continue to participate in even after graduation. “It’s nice to see our old girls here as well, who sign up on their own after they have left SCGS, because they know we have a booth every year. We hope the girls, when they leave SCGS, will continue to keep up with their fitness and be role models to everybody else,” said teacher Mrs Caruna Yogeeswaran. In preparation for the race, the teachers provided a training programme on the Google Classroom platform to help the students acclimatise to a distance over twice the length of a usual National Physical Fitness Award (NAPFA) run. But for the students, it was also the camaraderie they built during the run which made it even more enjoyable. “Even though it was tiring, I was very happy that I was able to enjoy this moment with my friends and that we were able to push each other on even though we were having a hard time,” said Nikita Basant, 14. Secondary two student Amanda Boh, 14, said that she foresees future runs as opportunities to stay connected with friends and teachers. She also noted, “I think it’s great that this is on a national scale. With the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, we’re able to run with everyone. Especially since it’s a women’s run, it feels more comfortable.” Though the SCGS participants may not have finished in the top spots of the run, they had a different objective. Mrs Linda Lee, Head of Department for PE and Co-curricular Activities (CCA), said, “It’s not about perfection. It’s about the whole process. If you can’t run, walk. It’s about keeping fit for life in whatever form that fits you best, and to enjoy it.” #Running #GEWR2022 #ReachForGreat #SCGS

This 85 year-old engineering consultant will be competing in his 31st physical Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon event come December He is a 300km club member for Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon. Come this December, 85 year-old engineering consultant Dr C. K. Murthy will be competing in his 31st Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, and doing it together with his son. In fact, running together with his four sons - Arun, Abishek, Ashvin and Anil - is an activity that has helped the family bond and been a staple for the longest time, something which Dr Murthy himself enjoyed while growing up as a child, a time where he first fell in love with running. He is also a firm believer that running helps to impart important life lessons and values and a level of resilience towards challenges and obstacles that cannot be learnt anywhere else. "I love running because it keeps me healthy, happy, fit and mentally alert," he shared. "I have never shunned from difficult tasks. When you train yourself to do extremely difficult things, difficult things become normal to you and they are no more difficult. What looks difficult to many will look easy for you." He added: "While people of my age find it difficult to walk and climb stairs, I can climb 100 stories without much difficulty. By keeping fit, I am able to travel worldwide and go running through cities, go hiking and climb mountains. I enjoy moving around with youngsters and behave like one. All this is possible because of my fitness through running." Beyond active aging and using running as a means to keep healthy and fit, running has also given the Chairman of CKM Consultants an avenue to problem-solve without the distractions and noise of the working environment. It is his go to place to find peace and solitude, an activity he refers to as "moving meditation". "Often I am asked how I feel when I am running long distances for long hours, whether I find it boring. In fact, they are very productive hours for me," he said with a chuckle. "While running, I am doing calculations, planning and finding solutions to various problems. Also, many beautiful thoughts come to my mind which keep me happy. Sometimes, I meditate while I am running which I call running meditation." So how can one stay the course and be able to run for so many years without physical issues and side effects? Dr Murthy shared some useful insights. "In order to avoid side effects of running like knee pain, a runner should also engage in exercises for flexibility, balance and strength. Importance of staying fit with good and nutritious food cannot be overemphasized," he shared. Having not set himself any specific targets for this year's SCSM other than to finish happily and effortlessly as he has done before in previous editions, Dr Murthy added that the one thing he looks forward to the most in the first full-scale physical Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon event since 2019 is to feel the buzz of the event - the fellowship with other runners, and to feeland hear the cheers, applause and encouragement from spectators and volunteers. #Running #SgMarathon #SCSM2022 #GoBeyond

We next turn the spotlight on local teacher Sharon Tan, 2019 SCSM national champion in our Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2022 Go Beyond series In 2019, she pipped Jasmine Goh in the race to be crowned as Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon local female champion. That win, coupled with success in a host of other local races since 2016 makes it easy to forget that teacher Sharon Tan struggled to even complete 3km when she first began running in 2008. That year she came together with two of her friends from junior college to challenge themselves to go beyond by taking part in mass participation events. Starting with a 10km race, she got hooked and eventually took on a half marathon and full marathon before the year ended, and has not looked back since. Her running journey has not been without its fair share of challenges however. For Sharon, the biggest drawback and battles she's had to face has been with injuries, a reality she had to face once she became a competitive athlete and started training at a much higher intensity. "In 2016, I fractured my left distal fibula (ankle). I was out of the sport and couldn’t run for about three months. Since I couldn’t run, my lifestyle suddenly became very sedentary. Gaining weight was inevitable as I struggled through periods of emotional eating. To be honest, it was probably the darkest time of my life," she shared. "What got me through was my love for running, which kept me going when things got tough. To get back up on my feet, I joined a running group and trained under a coach. In the process, I managed to rectify some unhealthy habits, refocus and set goals for the future. It was a whole process of rebuilding. But the friendship and camaraderie that I share with my running mates made everything easier much more bearable." In any given week, Sharon would clock three (3) key workouts, with two faster workouts at above race pace as well as a long run ranging from 20km - 36km. On other days, she would run easy or rest and does little cross training as she doesn't really cycle or swim well. While she prefers to run solo, Sharon finds occasional group runs enjoyable too as it allows her to catch up with friends. Outside of running the educator finds great fulfillment in her work interacting with her colleagues and students, which she terms "heart-work" and "hard work", making the school a home for her. "Witnessing the growth in students as they mature over their school years is very gratifying," she shares. "Teaching is not a bed of roses. Challenges would be things like meeting deadlines for marking and setting papers, collecting homework from students… but they are all part of the job." While Sharon has competed in over 10 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathons, her favourite memory is the 2019 evening edition which she emerged as local champion. She hopes that more people will pick up running in the local community, with less comparison and more encouragement. Who knows? You may just bump into her along some of her favourite running routes around the Yishun, Seletar and Yio Chu Kang neighbourhood. #Running #SgMarathon #SCSM2022 #GoBeyond