New 5km category, 2-day format for Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon

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                                      (Sports Today Saturday 14 April 2018)

                     New 5km category, 2-day format

          for Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon

Minister Grace Fu (in green) finishes her run alongside other participants of the SCSM 2018 4km

community run on April 14, 2018.

Updated 14 April, 2018

SINGAPORE – To encourage more new runners to enjoy the race, the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) will be introducing a new 5km category for the first time in the event’s history.

This was announced at a community launch on Saturday (April 14) morning at the MBS Waterfront Promenade, where Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Grace Fu, led more than 1,000 representatives from over 20 running clubs on a 4km community run.

“Sport has the power to bring people together,” said Minister Fu. “The SCSM is a great opportunity for Singaporeans to come together to challenge our limits, and encourage one another in our journey to stay active.”

On top of the new 5km category, organisers of Singapore’s marquee annual run also introduced a new two-day format, along with other measures, to provide an improved race experience to over 50,000 participants across six categories.

To be held on Dec 8-9, participants in the 5km and 10km categories will be the first to flag off at the F1 Pit Building and end by The Float at Marina Bay on the morning of Dec 8, a day before their Marathon and Half-Marathon counterparts.

Organisers have also set up a wider start point that promises to offer better access and more space for runners within the start pens.

This year’s route will see dedicated lanes for runners in the Marathon and Half-Marathon categories, eliminating lane crossing and merging for a smoother race experience.

It was also revealed that this year’s Kids Dash for children will be held at the Universal Studios Singapore in Sentosa.

“Over the years, we have seen SCSM grow from a single-day event for a few thousand (runners), to now, a weekend full of running and lifestyle activities,” said Sport Singapore CEO, Lim Teck Yin.

“We look forward to Singaporeans lacing up their running shoes to be part of Singapore’s signature running event.”

^{(Above) Registration fees for the respective race categories of this year's SCSM.}

Race organisers Ironman Asia said while it focuses on helping SCSM attain the coveted status of becoming a World Marathon Major (WMM), it remains dedicated to bringing all runners a “holistic race experience regardless of level”.

The WMM is an international series featuring the largest and most well-known marathons in the world. It comprises races in Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York, and Tokyo.

“While we focus on the World Marathon Majors goal, we are dedicated to continually developing all aspects of the race through by creating new experiences to grow the running community,” said Mr Geoff Meyer, the managing director for Ironman Asia.

*To register for the race and for more information, visit www.singaporemarathon.com