{"id":520,"date":"2011-12-24T11:07:13","date_gmt":"2011-12-24T03:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/?p=520"},"modified":"2016-03-05T12:52:59","modified_gmt":"2016-03-05T04:52:59","slug":"special-feature-singapore-running-clubs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/highlight\/special-feature-singapore-running-clubs\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Feature: Singapore Running Clubs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>So you\u2019ve picked up running lately, grown to love it, but you\u2019re without friends who share the same passion. Join a running club! From where we stand, registering for a race is just part of the spectrum of offerings for you to get your endorphin fix &#8211; although there are races almost every other week.<\/p>\n<p>At a club, you\u2019ll get to experience the fast growing runner-camaraderie that\u2019s gaining in lustre within Singapore\u2019s context, where a sense of belonging is ever present. Whereas alone there might be little motivation to push those endurance limits, that void could be easily filled through the many training meetings and endless encouragement by fellow like-minded runners.<\/p>\n<p>Look, we don\u2019t mean to sound like paid ambassadors. It\u2019s just that we believe you should never run alone. Our slogan, &#8216;Records are broken by bonds&#8217;, is a culmination of our conviction in this instance. In the spirit of sincerity, we\u2019ve done some groundwork on your behalf. Below, you\u2019ll find our picks. Of course, they represent RunSociety\u2019s opinion, not that of the majority at large.<\/p>\n<h2>Running Lab (Running Club)<\/h2>\n<p>When RunSociety enquired with Running Lab on their weekly running programme, they were true to their self-bestowed title. Complementing their runs have been activities associated with the \u201cscience\u201d facet of the sport such as nutrition testing. If you\u2019ve not been to any of their outlets, they are marked prominently by the presence of a treadmill test machine which shop personnel employ to judge a person\u2019s pronation and running style before they go on to recommend a suitable shoe.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_523\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-523\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/runninglab-1.jpg\" alt=\"Courtesy of Running Lab A recent nutrition testing cum night run session\" title=\"A recent nutrition testing cum night run session\" width=\"550\" height=\"326\" class=\"size-full wp-image-523\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/runninglab-1.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/runninglab-1-300x177.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/>Courtesy of Running Lab<figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-523\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A recent nutrition testing cum night run session<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The group meets twice a week: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tuesdays, 6.30pm, at #01-47 Velocity @ Novena Square (Tel: 6253 1998)<\/li>\n<li>Thursdays, 6.30pm, at #02-31 Funan DigitaLife Mall (Tel: 6336 6775)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Storage facilities for personal belongings will be provided so just come and be merry.<\/p>\n<h2>Team RunFanatics<\/h2>\n<p>They are as their name suggests: passionate runners who decided to come together in 2008 to get serious about the sport. Its founding can be said to have slight affiliations to Running Lab as the initial 15 members used to work there. (You\u2019ve got to be an avid runner to even qualify for a job at Running Lab. That\u2019s cred for you.) The club is headed up by Principal Coach Shanmugam B. who\u2019s accredited by the International Association of Athletics Federations. <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_525\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-525\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/TeamRunFanatics-2.jpg\" alt=\" Courtesy of Team Run. Fanatics Snapped at a KL run trip.\" title=\"Fanatics snapped at a KL run trip\" width=\"550\" height=\"326\" class=\"size-full wp-image-525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/TeamRunFanatics-2.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/TeamRunFanatics-2-300x177.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/>Courtesy of Team Run<figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-525\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fanatics Snapped at a KL run trip<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>What\u2019s most impressive about Team RunFanatics is their extensive line-up of training regimes which includes twice a week group trainings, one-on-one sessions and customised programmes. You can visit their website to find out more: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.teamrunfanatics.com.sg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.teamrunfanatics.com.sg <\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Team FatBird<\/h2>\n<p>How\u2019s this for putting your leg-work where your mouth is? Team FatBird undertook pacing duties for the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Just this year, they were selected to do the same at the Sundown Marathon. <\/p>\n<p>The focus of the club: group runs. Club representatives conduct weekly i-Runs for the Health Promotion Board, attracting 150 to 200 runners per session on average, as well as other FatBird Runs and Weekenders; most notably, the Weekender Run Series. Team Fat Bird recently concluded its four-leg Circle Line Weekender initiative (in conjunction with SMRT) which saw some 250 runners take part.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_524\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-524\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/team-fatbird-3.jpg\" alt=\"Courtesy of Team FatBird. The fourth leg of the Weekender Circle Line series.\" title=\"Courtesy of Team FatBird. The fourth leg of the Weekender Circle Line series.\" width=\"550\" height=\"326\" class=\"size-full wp-image-524\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/team-fatbird-3.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/team-fatbird-3-300x177.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/>Courtesy of Team FatBird<figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-524\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The fourth leg of the Weekender Circle Line series<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>You should also know that Team FatBird organises marathon training programmes for local and overseas races. Up and coming would be Operation Kookaburra in preparation for the Gold Coast Airport Marathon. <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cWe work on the philosophy that we were all once unfit, and with the right encouragement and determination, everyone can become healthier and fitter than before. And therein lies the inspiration of our name, Team FatBird\u00ae.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The above is an interesting outlook as quoted from their blog site: <a href=\"http:\/\/teamfatbird.blogspot.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">teamfatbird.blogspot.com<\/a>. We like it. From a third party\u2019s standpoint, it exudes warmth without any hints of elitism. <\/p>\n<h2>F1 Runners<\/h2>\n<p>We\u2019ve spotted them at a couple of races dressed in their white and red attires. Frankly, they were the first to come to mind when RunSociety decided on putting this feature together. <\/p>\n<p>F1 Runners was formed in 2008 by a team of experience runners (six in total), helmed by Lexxus Tan, to impart their knowledge and vast experience in training as well as running techniques to beginners. Their goal has been to help rookies in the scene excel in performance, injury-free. Today, the club boasts some 350 members, making it one of the largest in Singapore.  <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_521\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-521\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/f1runningclub-4.jpg\" alt=\"Courtesy of David Tan. Circuit training at MacRitchie Reservoir.\" title=\"Circuit training at MacRitchie Reservoir.\" width=\"550\" height=\"326\" class=\"size-full wp-image-521\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/f1runningclub-4.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/f1runningclub-4-300x177.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/>Courtesy of David Tan<figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-521\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Circuit training at MacRitchie Reservoir<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Believe it or not, the club has gone on to organise its very own races such as the F1 Nature Run (2010\/2011), Tour de Trail (2010\/2011) and F1 Marathon Time Trial (2011). In 2012, they\u2019ll be introducing the F1 Fear Challenge Run and F1 Performance Run. <\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s the club\u2019s weekly training schedule:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tuesdays, 6.45pm to 8.30pm &#8211; mostly running distances and speed endurance<\/li>\n<li>Thursdays, 6.45pm to 8.30pm &#8211; mostly speed workouts done at the stadium<\/li>\n<li>Saturdays, 7.00am to 9.30am &#8211; may comprise circuit training, hill training, speed endurance, long slow distance, beach training<\/li>\n<li>Sundays, 7.00am to 9.30am &#8211; mostly long slow distance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To find out more, visit their website: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.f1runnersteam.blogspot.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.f1runnersteam.blogspot.com<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>MacRitchie Runners25 (Singapore)<\/h2>\n<p>Some of us weren\u2019t even born when MacRitchie Runners25 (MR25) came into existence more than 30 years back. Pioneers of the MacRitchie Reservoir route many of us are familiar with, these were the very people who laid the original planks down for the loops which were before, swampy areas. <\/p>\n<p>MR25 has a stringent enrolment standards. You have to do a sub 25-minute five-kilometre time trial before you\u2019re accepted. Most of the club\u2019s members are way ahead of the cut-off time though. Take for example, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/2011\/11\/06\/mr25-elite-10k-race-indie-respect\/\">MR25 Elite 10K Race<\/a> some weeks back.  The average finishing time for both Men and Women (Open and Veteran) was 52min 32 sec. That\u2019s 10 kilometres on trail terrain. <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_522\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-522\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/mr25-5.jpg\" alt=\"The yellow analogue: symbolic at any MR25 race\" title=\"The yellow analogue: symbolic at any MR25 race \" width=\"550\" height=\"326\" class=\"size-full wp-image-522\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/mr25-5.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/mr25-5-300x177.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-522\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The yellow analogue: symbolic at any MR25 race <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Ask around and you\u2019ll find that MR25 is highly rated for their Tuesday Track Session and Thursday Graveyard Run. They work. And we can prove it. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/2011\/11\/08\/twin-potential-an-interview-with-dana-nena-fritz\/\">Dana and Nena Fritz<\/a>, phenomenal American twin runners, shed an estimated three minutes off their five-kilometre times within nine months of joining the club. <\/p>\n<p>Topping it off, for all their prowess in the speed endurance circle, they are a bunch of friendly and down-to-earth individuals. You\u2019ll be able to find them at: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mr25.org.sg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.mr25.org.sg<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>There are other clubs in Singapore that undoubtedly deserve to have themselves heard. Should you belong to any one of them and feel compelled to give a shout out, please feel free to do so in the comment box below. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>So you\u2019ve picked up running lately, grown to love it, but you\u2019re without friends who share the same passion. Join a running club! From where we stand, registering for a race is just part of the spectrum of offerings for you to get your endorphin fix &#8211; although there are races almost every other week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3949,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[67],"class_list":{"0":"post-520","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-highlight","8":"tag-running-club"},"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/runningclub-thumb.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb2Hix-8o","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=520"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3949"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}