Yesterday, 10,000 runners showed their support for ex-offenders at the 11th edition of the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run, raising more than $125,000 for the Yellow Ribbon Fund – which supports rehabilitation programmes for inmates, ex-offenders and their families.

Click here to view the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run 2019 photos.

Hope, Reconciliation and Second Chances For Ex-Offenders

The annual Yellow Ribbon Prison Run event symbolises the community’s belief in the Yellow Ribbon message of hope, reconciliation and second chances for ex-offenders, with the 2019 event seeing one of the highest participation rates since the inaugural edition in 2009.

The race was originally started as part of the Yellow Ribbon Project’s drive to reach out to the wider community and over the years, the event has gathered strong support from corporations and the public through their participation in the run as well as donations to the Yellow Ribbon Fund.

Said Superintendent of Prisons 1A, Chan Ching Ching, Chairperson of the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run 2019 Organising Committee “Each year, the run brings together people from all walks of life to show their support for the Yellow Ribbon cause.”

Continued Chan, “And it is this collective belief in second chances, that empowers ex-offenders to not only appreciate the community’s acceptance of them, but also gain confidence in their ability to transform their own lives around.”

Supporter Of The Event Since 2012

Personally, I have supported the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run each year since I first picked up running in 2012, with this event, coincidentally, having been my first-ever running race. 

And over the years, this event has become one of my must-do races on the Singapore running calendar.

Taking Part In The 10km Race

I participated again in 2019, running in the 10km competitive race as a social media advocate of the Yellow Ribbon Project.

Besides the 10km competitive event, there was also a 5km Fun Walk being held, to cater to runners of differing abilities.

The 5km Fun Walk had been the most popular category, accounting for 5,600 participants.

Haze Scare

The day before the race, there was a massive scare, because the haze in Singapore was hitting unhealthy levels, resulting in a PSI [pollutant standard index] reading of over 100 throughout the evening and night.

If the PSI reading exceeds 100, outdoor activities should be minimised, according to the guidelines from Singapore’s National Environmental Council.

The haze problem in Singapore is caused by the smog from forest fires being blown in from Indonesia by unfavourable winds.

And the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run had been canceled once before, in 2015, because of haze. So I was hoping that this year, it was not going to be deja-vu.

Blue Skies Return In Time

But fortunately for us, the haze cleared and the blue skies returned in the wee hours of last morning, in time for the race to take place. That meant our prayers had been answered.

I was so happy when I woke up – because the first thing I did was to check the Yellow Ribbon Project’s Facebook page and when I saw the confirmation they’d posted, that the race would proceed as planned, it made my day.

So I pulled myself out of bed at 5:15am and after my pre-race preparation ritual, I took a cab down to Changi Village – where the run was scheduled to flag off.

I subsequently heard that there were problems with the paid shuttle buses services which were supposed to have departed from several train stations across Singapore, with many of the buses arriving late – because of traffic congestion and road blockages.

So it is probably fortunate for me, that I did not utilise this option to get to the race site.

Getting To Changi Village

I reached the Changi Village start area in good time. So I took the chance to compose myself for the run ahead. I also caught up with a few of my running friends who were also in the start pen and we wished each other good luck prior to the race.

The event’s guest of honour this year had been President Halimah Yacob who helped to launch the run shortly after 7am by symbolically unlocking the ‘prison gates’ at the start gantry.

Also, a huge ‘yellow ribbon’ cutout was passed down by the runners from the back to the front of the start pen and I thought that this simple act, too, felt meaningful in terms of seeking the help of the participating runners to unlock the second prison for the ex-offenders.

The 10km Flags Off

The 10km category was flagged off quite punctually at 7:15am and my run started soon after that. 

I began running with the one-hour pacers at first, but I felt good so I decided to pick up the pace and speed up after about three or four kilometres.

Undulating And Hilly Race Route

The race route for the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run’s 10km event remains almost the same every year, but to me, it is a unique route nonetheless, because this race is the only chance I get, to run at Changi.

Taking place in the Changi area of Singapore, the route gives participants the chance to pass several heritage sites that represent key developments in the history of the Singapore Prison Service, including newer landmarks such as the Selarang Halfway House, as well as other facilities such as the Lloyd Leas Community Supervision Centre and the Tanah Merah Prison.

It is a challenging route with plenty of rolling hills, which begin less than two kilometres into the run and continuing throughout the entire running course.

According to the event organisers, the undulating terrain is symbolic of the struggles that inmates and ex-offenders go through in their journey to acceptance.

Pacing Myself

But having run this race many times now, I knew what to expect and how to pace myself accordingly, slowing down a little at the uphills and catching up on my speed again when I went downhill.

My heart rate hit the high end of my Steady zone during the uphill segments but for the first two thirds of the run, I was usually able to get it down again, at least to my mid-Steady zone, after conquering each slope. 

So I have to thank Coached for the heart rate training and weekly hill running sessions.

Kilometre Markings Accurate

Along the way, there were also motivational kilometre markings, with each one printed with a generic image of an inmate in prison clothing, alongside a message to encourage runners to keep on going. 

And I thought that these were great, with each one bringing a smile to my face as I ran.

As well, these distance markings were also accurately positioned according to my watch, so this was quite good.

No Bottlenecks

I noted that there were no bottlenecks along the run, even though some of the running paths had been quite narrow at times – because lanes, rather than whole roads, had been closed off for the runners. So I was able to run throughout the course.

I think that this was probably because the number of runners taking part in this event was still manageable though, for the organisers to handle adequately.

Race Hydration

I thought that the hydration points along the run were adequate too, for a race held in Singapore’s muggy weather. 

Along the 10km route, I counted three drinking points, but I did not stop and take any fluids at any of these, because I do not require any for a 10km run.

Cooling Station

As well, I noted that there was a cooling station too, but this was, unfortunately, located slightly off-route, and I did not want to make a detour and clock extra mileage to keep myself cool. So I decided not to run through this.

Race Entertainment 

But I felt that the entertainment zones positioned along the route this year, appeared to be a bit lacking.

This is because for previous editions of this race, I recalled there had been cosplayers and drummers to spice up the race and bring a smile to the faces of runners, but none of these caught my eye at this year’s race. 

However, there were some cheerleaders along the way and they did an admirable job, to encourage runners to keep going, with the use of huge signs and clappers.

Race Ends At Changi Prison

The run ended at the Changi Prison Complex, where runners pass through the gates of the iconic old Changi Prison Wall, which had been gazetted as a national monument in 2016.

Said Superintendent 1A Ng Kailin, 36, Co-Chairman of the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run 2019 Organising Committee, “Last year, we were not able to have the participants go through the Changi Prison wall, so now that the wall is back up again, we could incorporate it into the race route again.”

I have to admit that the final couple of kilometres through the prison was a bit monotonous though, with the slopes at the section seeming to be never-ending, and I felt like I was barely moving, because the entire stretch of prison wall looked almost the same to me.

Reaching The Finish 

But after what had felt like forever, I eventually saw the finish line right ahead, crossing it in 57 minutes and 11 seconds.

This is a timing that I am happy with, considering that this is one of the more challenging running races in Singapore.

However, I think that the weather had really helped. When the haze cleared in time for this morning’s race, it also gave way to cooling and sunless weather. 

As a result, I did not feel the mugginess of the Singapore humidity – until the last couple of kilometres into the race, when I had reached the Changi Prison grounds.

The Milo Van

Immediately upon finishing the race, I quickly made a bee-line for the bright green Milo van – which I had spied, parked in the distance when I had been about to reach the end point.

There was already a short queue there as everyone seemed to have the same idea as me. The wait was definitely worth it though.

And that’s because the cold Milo was refreshing and delicious and the chocolate-malt beverage was the perfect drink to cool my body down after the a humid and muggy 10km run. 

Ever since I had been introduced to the Milo van during my primary school Sports Day events when I was young, this iconic green truck never fails to bring a smile to my face.

So I took my fill of Milo and then I headed to the goodie bag area, where I collected my race medal, as well as my finisher entitlements, which were a deliciously crunchy Finisher Cookie specially baked by the inmates, as well as a carbohydrate-filled banana.

Exploring The Rehabilitation Fair

After that, I walked to the Yellow Ribbon Project’s annual Rehabilitation Fair. There was a lot to see and do at the Rehabilitation Fair after the race. 

Held within the Changi Prison complex, the displays featured the prison inmates’ talents through various events, such as the Songwriting and Culinary competitions, as well as some of their contributions, such as a painting by the inmates commemorating Singapore’s bicentennial year.

Listening to some of the songs through the iPods that were loaded and set up for this purpose, I thought that these songs were really touching, with many of the inmates expressing their innermost feelings and desires through the lyrics. 

Though I may not have known any of the songwriters personally, the way that they had injected their innermost feelings and desires into their lyrics, struck me and touched the core of my emotions.

Added Ng, “This year, during the carnival, we showcased all the Yellow Ribbon Project initiatives that we thought the public may not have known about, such as the art, culinary and songwriting competitions, in order to give people a new insight into what we do.”

‘Letters From Behind The Wall’

Additionally, we also had the chance to ‘meet’ some ex-offenders and hear their personal stories of acceptance and change, through a section called ‘Letters From Behind The Wall.’ 

These letters are penned by inmates currently serving their sentences, and race participants were invited to pen down their responses to these letters.

And reading through these letters was very emotional and sentimental. 

I feel that these letters really drills home the message very strongly, that these inmates who are behind bars, are ordinary human beings who have families, hopes, dreams and aspirations of their own and they should not be shunned away from society simple because of some careless mistakes they have made in the past.

As a whole, I thought that the Rehabilitation Fair was very informative and educational and I would say that I always enjoy going through the various exhibits in this section.

Each year, I feel that the Yellow Ribbon Project organising committee seems to out-do themselves with the Rehabilitation Fair, with this exhibition becoming more interesting and engaging each time.

Carnival Games

Besides the Rehabilitation Fair, there were also games to be played at the race village. If we were able to complete four different games, we would be entitled to  a mystery gift. 

The games, which had been themed around second chances, were simple enough to play and complete. 

These had included a quiz question game, a word-search puzzle, a game testing our speed and reflexes and a cooking ingredients game.

I managed to finish all four games before the queues got too long, and my mystery gift was a transparent 500ml Yellow Ribbon Project plastic water bottle.

Stage Performances

As well, stage performances were also put on to entertain the runners after the run, with the performers being inmates and ex-offenders who had an aptitude for music and the performing arts. And, talented indeed, I would have to say they were.

Ben & Jerry’s

And of course, not forgetting the free Ben & Jerry ice cream, that the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run generously gives out every year to runners, as well.

This well-earned scoop of delicious ice cream is something that I always look forward to when I run at this event. In fact, thinking about the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream waiting for me, might have even made me run faster, to some extent!

And this year, the ice cream flavours available, were chocolate and coconut, and I picked the chocolate one, which tasted really good. I thought that it tasted cold, refreshing and addictive – all at the same time.

A Key Fundraising Event

One of the key fundraising events by the Yellow Ribbon Project, the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run has raised over $1,180,000 since its inception in 2009.

And as part of this year’s fundraising efforts, a mosaic artwork of an image symbolising family support, made out of LEGO bricks, was crated.

Members of the public, corporations and sponsors were all invited to donate $5 for each LEGO brick used to create the artwork and the artwork raised over $125,000.

Said Lesa Gan, the Second Vice District Governor of the Lions Club in Singapore – the largest donors to this year’s event, with a donation of $30,000 “We are honoured to contribute to the Yellow Ribbon Project and the effort to support ex-offenders through such a unique and creative outlet.”

And this morning, President Halimah placed the final LEGO brick to complete the artwork on stage, before the presentation of the cheque.

The Event Is Significant For Ex-Offenders

For the ex-offenders themselves, the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run is hugely significant. Said Azmi Bin Rahman, a recovering drug addict and Peer Leader with the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, which provides support and motivation to help ex-drug offenders to stay drug-free, “Ex-offenders face many uncertainties in their journey of reintegration into society.”

And continued Azmi, “So when we see thousands showing their support for the Yellow Ribbon Project by taking part in this run, it means a lot to us, to know that we are not alone in our journey and that the larger society is rooting for us.”

Azmi himself had taken part in the 2019 event too, alongside all the other runners.

Committee Are Pleased

The event committee are pleased with how this year’s event went by seamlessly and without a hitch, but when pressed for future aspirations to the event, Ng added that the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run can reach out more to the regular runners.

She said, “Perhaps we can increase the reach to the masses who are actually running in this race. A lot of runners these days do not just want to do 5km and 10km. Maybe they want to challenge themselves with longer distances. The integration of ex-offenders is all about challenges, so a longer route may be in the cards for future editions.”