Last Sunday, I took part in the 10km category of the SingTel – Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer. 

An annual event organised by the Singapore Cancer Society, this race aims to rally the community together in the fight against cancer. Patients, caregivers, loved ones, family members and close friends, you’ll never walk alone in the fight against cancer. 

The race comprised of 10km and 15km competitive categories as well as 2km and 5km fun run categories. 

I took part in the 10km event. This was flagged off at 7:45am, in my opinion considered to be pretty late for a 10km start in the tropics.

The sun was already burning relentlessly when I arrived just before 7:20am. It was going to be a scorcher. 

We queued up at 7:30am for the start pens. I managed to get into the first wave. I later heard that there were four waves for the 10km.

Due to the weather and partly due to pre-race buzz and adrenaline, I think I may have started running a bit too fast. So I backed off the pace a bit after 1.5km. If the weather has been better, I’d originally been hoping to maintain 4:40 min kilometres, but with the sun burning so strongly, this would be too ambitious of a target. So I decided to try and aim for a sub 50 min 10km instead. 

The route was a very straightforward out-and-back route from Angsana Green to the Coastal PlayGrove and back. It is pancake-flat and very familiar to me because I live nearby. It is not possible get lost because there is only one running path and the u-turn point at 5km was well marked out.

It was great fun seeing a few running friends such as Benjamin and Daniel amongst others, who had come out to support the race and cheer on runners. Thanks too Jacqueline for the running video as well!

There were drink stations roughly at 3km intervals apart. These were serving cold water.

By the halfway point, the heat was beginning to get to me. I think I slowed down a bit within the next couple kms before I was able to pick up the pace again.

When I saw the 7km marker, I told myself there was not long left to go, and to just grit my teeth and try my best to hold the pace. 

I saw the 8km and 9km markers, my watch buzzed 10km, but I still didn’t see the finish line. There was still another 200m out-and-back section before crossing the finish line. 

When my watch buzzed at 10km, the time that it recorded was 49 mins 15 seconds.

I ran across the finish line in an official race time of 50 mins 03 seconds. My watch had recorded a total distance of 10.2km. 

I’m still going to consider it as a sub 50 timing based on my watch 10km distance! 

Our finisher entitlements were Yakult, 100PLUS isotonic drink and a finisher medal. The Yakult tasted so good that I gulped down four bottles at one go.

It was nice catching up with familiar faces and socialising after the run. Plenty of friends were also out to take part and support this cause and it was great saying hello. And because it was a charity run, everyone was so laid back and chill, simply soaking up the vibes and having a great time. 

There were a few booths by event sponsors and supporting organisations at the finish line including a basketball hoops shooting game which looked interesting. I picked up a small plush toy keychain which was extremely cute! 

On the stage, performances included Zumba and dancing amongst others, by volunteers and cancer survivors. It was a very fun, informal and laid-back vibe that resembled that of a heartland carnival.  

With the race having a fancy dress costume category, there were plenty of runners dressed up in costume.

My friend Chelsea was an Egyptian queen with her hubby Kelver dressed as an Egyptian king. 

As well, the Avengers had come out in full force; I recognised SpiderMan and Fantastic Four’s Invisible Girl. 

Also, Darth Vader had also made the journey to Earth from A Galaxy Far Far Away to run in support and raise funds for cancer – it’s great knowing that the Dark Lord of the Sith has a good heart after all, despite his actions of mass genocides and heinous war crimes against the Rebel Alliance.

Thanks again to the SingTel – Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer for putting together another well-organised race and wonderful race experience. This is one of the races in Singapore that I try to support every year and I definitely hope to be back again to take part next year. 

Race Video