Nike Human Race 10k Singapore – 1:02:09

The Nike Human Race held in Singapore was a brilliant marketing campaign. 11000 runners in Singapore all wearing a Nike Red running t-shirt and thousands more across 25 other countries around the world. Overall a great brand strengthening exercise!

I ran the distance, and I can only give them kudos for marketing. Event management wise, they get a C+ from me. Race pack collection Day 1 – under staff of support staff resulted in 3 hours long queue! Good thing they got more staff in on Day 2.

The route itself was the usual downtown route from Esplanade – Shenton Way – Clarke Quay – Robertson Quay – Parliament -Cityhall. However the human flow design was poor which resulted in human bottleneck along the way. Singapore has one of the longest average completion time among all 26 countries. Certainly, not a race if you are serious about PB. I’m gonna file this under, been there, done it.

Nike Human Race 10k – 1:02:09. Event pictures.

2008 Singapore Army Half Marathon – 2:05:19

It has been almost 8 years since I took part in the Singapore Army Half Marathon – my first long distance run event. It was in HQ 9 Div where I developed a passion for running. I can recall the immense sense of personal pride when I crossed the finish line. I also received a letter of commendation from my Div Commander for clocking the most pre-event training mileage. Those were the old army days.

2008 Singapore Half Marathon (21k) – 2:05:19

More event pictures (flickr).

Get a Taste of Singapore in Melbourne – Singapore Day 2008

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Wanna meet Singapore’s number (Legal insert: independent *) one funi-est contractor – Phua Chu Kang and family (think Singaporean Borat with a touch of class). Er, got Dick Lee too.

Wanna sample real Singaporean dishes such as – Hokkien Mee, Chilli Crab, Ice Kachang, Chendol, Roti Prata (not Roti Canai – that’s across the Causeway to Malaysia)?

Then hor, you need to head down to this year’s Singapore Day 2008 happening on 4 October 2008, where else but one of the most livable cities in the world – Melbourne, Australia. Register lah, can chope ^ free goody bag leh!

You know huh, if I’m back in AU, I will surely sign up and attend this event. Shelvia and I will have a field day enjoying our meals with all the sambal! Round up Shannon, Adam, Raf, Dhaminda, Andrea, Luke, Robert and see everyone go red with all the spicy food during a cool Melbourne spring day.

* bo pian lah, Ah Beng also need to tok law, mah. This event is organised by cheng hu (government).
^ reserve

</ Berno-Singlish-Mode>

The Running Madness Continues

After completing the Run NUS, Army Half-marathon and Nike Human Race, this September I have signed up for 3 additional events around Singapore.1. Swing KPE (10k) – An opportunity for the public to be one of the first to walk and run in the unopened portion of the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) tunnel. The KPE is  the longest underground vehicular tunnel in South East Asia. 2. Run for Hope (10k) – A charity run to raise funds for the National Cancer Centre Research. 3. Swissotel Vertical Marathon (73-storey) – A vertical stair-way climbing race to the top inside South East Asia’s tallest hotel – Swissotel – the Stamford. I can now look forward to at least 1 race event per month. - Entry made using Windows Live Writer.

Another 12 months down

- Microsoft Research Asia Sigma Centre

Getting my cue from Frank’s (12 months down – wow!) post, I involved in the University Relations role for just over 12 months now. Left Sydney, Australia and returned to Singapore. Met a few interesting people along the way, hosted Gordon Bell (Sydney), Tony Hey (Singapore), Hsiao-Wuen Hon, Lolan Song (Singapore). During this period, I also met with many senior researchers and professors in Singapore.

For the next few months, I will be involved the Microsoft Research Asia Faculty Summit (for SEA, Singapore and ANZ academics) and Computing in the 21st Century (21CCC) in 7 Nov 2008, Singapore.  Pretty big projects ahead especially being the only MSRA man in Singapore. At my first year anniversary, I think it is a good time to ask, “Am I Reaching my Potential“.

17 Aug 2008 – 2008 Run NUS (National University of Singapore)

A fornight ago, I took part in the 2008 Run NUS 10k run which takes one around the National University of Singapore campus and the surrounding neighbourhoods. It was a fairly challenging route which takes one around the university key landmarks like University Hall, University Cultural Centre, Pasir Panjang and Kent Ridge. Special mention to my Singapore running nemesis – Mt Faber. It is long hard slog uphill and a hip wrecking downhill. The race finished with a lap around the NUS Stadium.

Overall, it was a very organised event by the NUS Sports Club with plenty of road marshals along the way. At the end of the race, I also got a chance to meet and greet Prof Tan Chorh Chuan (Acting President. NUS) which was a nice bonus.

2008 Run NUS 10k – 1hr 11mins 8 secs

Official event pictures