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A Runner from Ohio
(12/3/2001)
"you get exactely what you pay for.$6=0" (General Comments)
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 I just returned from Singapore. I expected the heat and humidity, but I did not expect to run in the direction of the traffic on Orchard Rd, THE shopping street, or to wait for the green to cross the road, and to have this constant stopping enforced by the police. Clearly the runners were merely a hindrance to everyday commerce. No distance markers until 20km, no pins with the bib, there was sufficient water never more than every 5k, but some of the latter stations only had gatorade?? The traffic was awful, and quite dangerous in places, the race is not really a bargain for $6, also I think the course was longer than 42.2k!!!! | |
Gavin Bong (bearpit at visto.com) from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
(12/3/2001)
"Bad course management" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 This is probably the only marathon where the policemen may stop you while you are in full running flight. And the rebel in me, refused to stop at two junctions - obviously earning the wrath of the policemen and motorists. I tried running on the pedestrian walkways beside some of the more dangerous roads and was ushered back onto the route by race marshalls/volunteers. I had no problems with the humidity or heat - I love sweating. The organizers anticipated my initial thoughts to run naked from the waist up - and added a clause about disqualification of bare-bodied runners. Incidentally, with all the mismanagement of the traffic, I ran a personal best of 3h 36m. I will be back in 2002 to aim for a sub 3h finish. | |
A Runner from Singapore
(12/3/2001)
"These guys just don't learn" (General Comments)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 - difficult to get registration information - a mile long re-registration line at race start - a top athlete hit by a car - several near misses of my own - demoralization as relay runners pass at a 5k clip - abuse from traffic police - punishing humidity - minimal support from public - Cheap at SG$11 but I would be willing to pay more to guarantee personal safety - great support from runners and friends | |
A Runner from Thailand
(11/22/2001)
"A unique marathoning experience" (General Comments)
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 - Is this the cheapest marathon in the world, at $10? And still you get a quality gift pack at the end. - Is this the only marathon where you can decide 'during the race' whether to run 1/4 marathon, 1/2 marathon, 3/4 marathon, or the full thing? - What have spectators got to do with marathon running? I though it was a very personal thing. - The humidity is high, but if you live and train in the tropics, it's no problem. - I ran in 1999 & 2000 and met and chatted with several local runners who were extremely friendly. | |
A Runner from Singapore
(11/19/2001)
"sadly, the buzz is true - it's a terrible event" (General Comments)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 - how do you run a race on the equator with water only every 5K????!! - don't send people down the heart of the shopping district if you're not going to stop the traffic - second half totally isolated and boring - no spectators - wear your own MP3 player! - no online registration - no publicity - hard to find out about it | |
A Runner from Singapore
(8/3/2001)
"Sure to win race for elite athletes" (about: 2000)
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 I did the 10 km in 2000 as I had not yet commenced training.(You can do a 10 km or half-marathon as well) I found out less than 2 months earlier about the marathon. Throughout the year there were rumours that there was not going to be a marathon held. When we eventually found out there WAS going to be one, it was too late for me to embark on a training programme anyway. Don't expect any fun or even good scenery for this marathon. There is zero encouragement from anyone except your own friends. There were no spectators, it was extremely humid and all you get is plain water and isotonic drinks, perhaps every 5 km. Because of the small number of participants, any elite athlete capable of sub 3.00 time should be able to walk home with a prize. And the drivers and traffic police have no sympathy for slow runners, not even for fast runners. There was a near collision with a bus experienced by an international elite woman runner. I think she came in 2nd or 3rd in the race. Let's hope the organisers learn from their mistakes. | |
A Runner from Bangkok
(7/3/2001)
"THIS RACE Su---!!!!!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 I ran this race in 1999. Here is why you do not want to run this race. (1) Over 26.2 mile in one of the densely populated cities in the world, I saw maybe 10 spectators, mainly people who just happened to be waiting for a bus....which brings me to my next comment... (2) The course is not completely closed to traffic. YES, you have to share the road with buses, taxis, etc. (3) EXTREME Humidity. The race starts at 5am, and I was already sweating like a pig. (4) VERY POOR race organization. Upon arriving at the first aid-stop, they still did not have water poured into cups. There were not enough water stations. They should have water every mile due to the extreme humidity. To give you some example about the low quality of this race, the course record is 2;28, which was set by a Japanese guy who ran 2:11 the previous year. I would only advise you to run this race if you are one of those crazies who wants to run in the most countries possible. Enjoy the sweating.... |
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