This 2021, Decathlon is organising their first-ever Virtual Run, where you can participate anywhere and anytime you want.

But this is not like any other virtual run that you are used to where you have to pick and enter only one category of your choice. This is a Virtual Run with a difference.

Three Legs

That’s because instead of independent categories for runners to pick and choose from, the Decathlon Virtual Run comprises of three legs of challenges for runners to complete and take ownership of their running this 2021.

Leg 1 takes place from 1st – 31st March where runners are tasked with running 21kms over 31 days.

Leg 2, from 1st – 30th April, requires runners to complete a cumulative 10kms on either track or trail terrain or both.

I am predominately a road runner rather than a trail runner, so I see Leg 2 as being the most out of my comfort zone for me. But why not challenge myself with a 5km on the track and a 5km on the trails, right?

The final leg, Leg 3, is Decathlon’s take of a ‘race’ simulation where there will be several recommended routes and runners are tasked with running 7kms at one go, ending at a Decathlon Store of their choice in Singapore.

registration is open

Registration for the virtual run is now open and closes on 28th February.

Race fees are priced at a very affordable $15 and for that price, you will receive a set of exclusive race entitlements from Decathlon, including a high quality t-shirt, a soft flask and a flask holder running belt.

So what are you waiting for? I have registered for the Decathlon Virtual Run and I hope that you will join me there.

Decathlon running gear

But if you have been sitting on the fence because you don’t have anything suitable to wear for running, why not check out the running apparels and shoes at Decathlon?

They have a good range of apparel and shoes to cater to everyone, from beginners to seasoned runners.

And as well, the prices are very affordable and reasonable at Decathlon and you will definitely not break the bank with your purchases.

After all, Decathlon aims to make sports accessible to everyone, and this is clearly seen in their low prices.

To prepare myself for the Decathlon Virtual Run, I picked out the following products from their running collection – courtesy of Decathlon Singapore. These are as follows.

1. KALENJI WOMEN’S ATHLETICS TANK TOP BLUE AND ORANGE (S$20)

An ultra-light athletics tank top for women for freedom of movement on the track. The cut is designed for free shoulder movement.

I have worn this sweet looking KALENJI tank a few times to run with, my longest run wearing the tank being about 1 hour 15 minutes.

I have found that the tank is very breathable and light and feels cool and comfortable for running. As well, the colours are attractive and I feel that the design suits me quite well. 

If you are looking for a tank top that will not hinder your movement and wicks your sweat away easily while still feeling breathable and light, then I advise you to check this out.

2. KIPRUN WOMEN’S 2-IN-1 RUNNING SHORTS WITH BUILT-IN TIGHT SHORTS – BLACK (S$25)

These running shorts with built-in tight shorts reduce rubbing of fabric between the thighs. Their lightweight, well-ventilated fabric provides excellent perspiration wicking. They also have a back zip pocket.

For running, I have tried this shorts, and they are definitely among the more comfortable shorts I have run with. They are thin, breathable and cooling for running in Singapore’s muggy climate.

I have pretty thick thighs and sometimes, I find that my thighs tend to rub against each other when I run in loose shorts, creating chafing issues.

But thanks to the built-in tights and the two-layer design of Decathlon’s shorts, that did not happen when I wore these shorts. My thighs stayed chafing-free throughout more than an hour of running in these shorts. 

As well, these shorts do not ride up during running, which is a good thing. Sometimes I have had this problem with running shorts, so it is good to know that Decathlon’s KIPRUN running shorts are free of such pressing issues.

My only gripe is that the back pocket of the shorts is rather small, so it cannot fit much. At most, it can hold my house keys and TraceTogether token. Don’t even think of squeezing a smartphone inside there. Hopefully Decathlon can produce shorts with larger pockets in the future.

3. ADJUSTABLE RUNNING BELT FOR ANY SIZE OF SMARTPHONE AND KEYS – BLACK (S$10)

This simple running belt is designed for carrying your phone, keys and documents when running or walking.

I have an issue with most running belts. I am petite, so I find that I have to use a rubber band to secure the belt in place as they are often too loose for me. While it may work, this is not glamorous and unsightly.

And as well, for the majority of running belts I have tried, tend to bounce up and down when I am running, which I find very irritating. Oftentimes, I have found myself ditching the belt and holding it uncomfortably in my hand for the remainder of my run.

As a result, I have since ditched running belts.

So it is quite refreshing to have discovered and tried out Decathlon’s running belt, and I found that after over an hour of running, this actually stayed in place quite well, without the usage of any rubber bands. 

It also did not bounce around and the part where the belt rubs against the singlet remained chafing-free too.

The best thing is that the size is adjustable and that the belt itself is stretchable, so it can actually fit an enormous phone such as my iPhone XS Max, clad in its heavy drop-proof protective casing.

I have found that my phone is too big for most running belts out there in the market so this is quite refreshing that there is a running belt that fits, after all. 

So oftentimes I have to take my phone out of its protective casing in order to squeeze it into a running belt. But then this defeats the purpose of using the protective casing in the first place.

This belt, together with the KIPRUN WOMEN’S 2-IN-1 RUNNING SHORTS WITH BUILT-IN TIGHT SHORTS, I found that this is a combination that works quite well when I am running, and I need to carry both my phone and my house keys along. 

The phone goes neatly inside the running belt while the house keys and my TraceTogether token fit neatly into the shorts pocket.

4. 5-TOE RUNNING SOCK – WHITE (S$6)

Finely knitted with anti-friction thread, these running socks are described at protecting your toes and preventing them from irritating each other during your running outings.

I generally prefer toe socks as compared to standard running socks because they keep the toes apart, thereby reducing the chance of blisters. I have the tendency to blister easily, so keeping my toes separated is quite important to me.

I have taken the Decathlon toe socks out on runs of about 30 to 75 minutes, and so far I have not had any blisters when wearing them. So far so good.

In terms of the fitting, the Decathlon 5-TOE RUNNING SOCK provides a snug fit, and it wraps nearly around the foot and lower leg, ending around the mid-calf. 

The elastic also stays in place when I am running and it does not ride up, which is great, as I don’t need to keep tugging the socks back up to keep them in place. Therefore I can actually concentrate on my running.

5. WOMEN’S RUNNING SHOE KIPRUN KS LIGHT – GREY LIGHT PINK (S$120)

Last but not least, this road-running shoe from Decathlon is described as being lightweight, cushioned and stable and suitable for training runs and races up to marathon distance.

According to Decathlon, the two key features of the shoes are (1) the K-Ring – a ring located in the heel to improve rear cushioning and disperses the shockwave to protect the body effectively and (2) the Kalensole – an exclusive foam, developed to improve cushioning and to deliver more energy response than traditional foam.

My usual size in shoes is a Women’s US 7 but for the Decathlon KIPRUN KS LIGHT, I took a Women’s US 7.5 instead. So I recommend sizing up by at least half a size from your normal shoe size.

Slipping my feet into the KIPRUN KS LIGHT, they are comfortable to wear, with a breathable polyester mesh upper and plenty of tongue cushioning and heel padding to protect the achilles.  

To try out the versatility and range of these shoes, I have done several runs in these shoes ranging from shorter, faster tempo sessions, to a 21km long run.

While running in the KIPRUN KS LIGHT at first, I found there to be a bit of heel slippage but I managed to solve this problem by tying the shoelaces really tight and then double-knotting them. This helped tremendously.

I feel that they are a decent daily trainer for slow recovery runs lasting about an hour, as well as for the slightly faster tempo sessions. Though they are advertised as lightweight, I personally find that they would be a tad heavy for my speed work sessions.

The ride is firm, yet at the same time, I can feel that there is just enough support and cushioning to absorb the impact of the concrete when I am pounding on the park connectors and roads. 

These shoes are most suitable for seasoned runners who are light on their feet and who don’t require a whole lot of cushioning.

In terms of the responsiveness and energy return, I found the shoes are a bit lacking. As a result, towards the end of my longer runs in these shoes, I could feel a bit of strain on the balls of my feet.

But I have to add that the shoes have great grip though so I can feel fully confident taking them out in wet weather, knowing that I will not slip, fall and lose my balance.

Conclusion

You are indeed spoilt for choice at Decathlon. Besides the gear that I picked out, there is a wide range of gear suitable to runners of all ages and abilities. 

Whether you want to get hot weather or cold weather running gear, tank tops or running tees, shorts or tights, road running or trail running shoes, cushioned, stability or neutral running shoes, Decathlon Singapore has them all.

To prepare yourself and gear up for the Decathlon Virtual Run, you can check out their comprehensive and complete running range either online, or at any one of their outlets here. 

And registrations for the Decathlon Virtual Run 2021 are available here.

Click here for my review of Decathlon in-person Race, which happened pre-covid.