Stan Chart 10km Run

Weekend was the Standard Charted Marathon, I entered for the 10KM event. I think among all the runs I went to this year, this has got to be the best organized. From the collection of the Race Bibs -- my only grouse with that was it was at the Singapore Expo which is way way off in the east instead of some place more central. To the end of the run, it was very well organized no wonder so many people took part in it.

There was 20,000 runners in the 10KM event, with another 15,000 for the full marathon and another 15,000 for the half marathon. Total of 50,000 people descended on the Padang and Esplanade area. The full marathon started at 5.30am and the half was at 6.30am with the 10km events starting around 7.30am for the men's while the women's had a 8.15am start. But our start was delayed by 15 minutes due to safety issues, well that was what the announcer said. Anyways what it did was to give us time to actually see the Elite runners of the Full Marathon coming in. Even before the 10km got off the runners were already coming back, I think they would have freshen up, showered and changed by the time I got back !!!

SO we finally got going at around 7.40am, the route was pretty similar to the Army 10km run over the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, there was some change to the starting run up to the bridge and after the bridge we got to run on the recently completed F1 race track, quite cool since we got to run on the starting grid. It was a relatively cool day. I enjoyed the run, did the fastest timing for a 10km this year, around 1hr 11 mins, just a minute faster than my previous best time. I was pleased. They had the runs staggered such that as you ended most of the other runners were ending too so at the finishing line all the 10km, Half and Full Marathon runners were coming in. I think that was great just that it got a little crowded at the end. I collected my finisher medal, got some freebies, had my photo taken at the Addidas booth, wolf down some bananas, enjoyed some of the carnival atmosphere and then decided to leave since I had parked at Marina (Raffles was full) and did not want to incur too much parking charges.

Over all it was a well organized run, I think I will be back next year for the half marathon !