Yesterday, 6,000 participants were gathered at Tanjong Pagar Rail Station for Singapore’s first Green Corridor Run presented by BlackBerry. I was amongst the crowd to enjoy this scenic run from Tanjong Pagar Rail Station to Bukit Timah Rail Station.
The run was organized in three waves, 7:15am, 7:45am, 8:15am. Before the start of the 2nd wave, we were told that someone cleared the finish line for first wave. That person is Samson Tenai from Kenya and he finished the 10.5 km run in 34.11 minutes. That was fast.
My only gross for the run is the lack of waterpoint to wash away the mud from the trail. I can see many people went home together with the mud on their shoes. And as the race started near residential area, it was very quiet. There was no music at all. Nevertheless, the scenic view make up for it.
Many people took the opportunity to take pictures along the way. Kudos to the organizers to place planks along the way to cover the mud. Although everyone knows that they will get dirty with this trail, not many are willing to dip their shoes into the thick mud (me included). That is why there was a bottle-neck at the first few kilometers of the run as there was no planks for the first muddy area and many chose to walk through the area slowly.
Here is a shot from the finishing point (Bukit Timah old Rail Station).
Here is the “reward”.
Here is a shot of the winners.
6,000 people participate in Singapore’s first ‘Green Corridor Run’ presented by BlackBerry
Samson Tenai, aged 32 and Rosie Clarke, aged 26, clock the fastest male and female time in 10.5km run that took participants through a green oasis within the heart of the city
Singapore, 27 January 2013: At 7am today, approximately 6,000 people, representing 71 different nationalities, gathered at Tanjong Pagar Rail Station to participate in the inaugural‘Green Corridor Run’ presented by BlackBerry.
Guest of honor Acting Minister for Manpower and Senior Minister of State for National Development, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, joined runners at the starting line to flag off the race. Samson Tenai, 32, from Kenya and Rosie Clarke, 26, from the UK, were the overall winners for the male and female category, completing the race in 34 minutes 11 seconds and 41 minutes 42 seconds, respectively.
“When the opportunity to participate in a run along our old Rail Corridor came about, I jumped at the opportunity. I think it’s important to raise awareness of this historical stretch of land for future generations,” said Rosie Clarke. Samson Tenai commented; “It was definitely an interesting route and the terrain was different to most of the other runs that I have done in the past.” Both winners walked away from the race with a cash prize of S$1,500, a BlackBerry Bold 9900 and expressed their interest in participating in next year’s run.
“2013 marks BlackBerry’s ten year anniversary in Singapore so we’re delighted to be the lead supporter for an event that celebrates a unique part of the island’s history. The number of participants that ran the route and showed their support for the cause was overwhelming and fantastic to see,” said Charles Dufourq, Country Director, Research In Motion Singapore.
Amongst the runners was Class 95FM Cartunes DJ Mike Kasem. Co-host Jean Danker supported her colleague from the side lines, and was joined by a cheerleading squad of loyal listeners to provide encouragement to the radio personality and the other runners.
The ‘Green Corridor Run’ presented by BlackBerry is the first race to be held entirely on the ‘Rail Corridor’, with the course spanning the section from the Tanjong Pagar Rail Station to the old Bukit Timah Rail Station. The event aims to raise public awareness of this green pathway officially known as the ‘Rail Corridor’. The route allowed runners to experience one of Singapore’s least known natural wonders and show their support for keeping the area as natural as possible, benefiting generations to come.
The Green Corridor Run follows the course of the old rail line, starting at the historic Tanjong Pagar Rail Station. It runs parallel to the AYE before heading North via Buona Vista, passing near Holland Village and through the lush Clementi Woodlands, before finishing at the old Bukit Timah Rail Station.
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