Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

May 17, 2024

Singapore International Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Singapore International Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 3.6

Organization 3.7

Spectators 2.5

Number of comments: 87 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 > ]

W. S. from Ft Walton Beach, FL (12/8/2011) "Scenic, overcrowded race with poor finish support" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Singapore International Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I picked this race for my 50th marathon and it was my slowest because of the heat/humidity and overcrowding. I would give the course 5 stars if it had less runners and the other races did merge with the marathon. The flow slowed down to a jog many times in the first 6 mi and other points later. Having the 1/2 marathon merge with 3-4 mi to go created more congestion at a time you really don't need it. Be prepared for a hot, humid race(75 with 100% humidity at the start and mid 80s by 0900) and dodging 1/2 marathon walkers late in the race. The support after the finish is abysmal. I finished 3900 out of 15000 and they only had XXXL finisher shirts left. I got 1 bottle of water, 1 can of sports drink and a granola bar, that was it. If there was more food/drink available, it was impossible to find because the sea of humanity milling about. Singapore is a beautiful city and the course shows you much of it. The race would be much better if they limited the runners or had a rolling start like the rock n roll marathon series and completely separated the other races from the marathon. Need to fix the support at the end as well. Not many fans along the course but I don't really care about that.
Z. A. from Brunei (5/2/2010) "WELL ORGANIZED" (about: 2009) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 It was my first-ever marathon and I enjoyed it! This certainly wouldn't be the last. I thought that, as a beginner, I'd be the worst among the women in the 10K. But to my surprise, before the 1K mark, some ladies had started walking. And I said to myself, "I wasn't that bad after all." I'm looking forward to the SCSM 2010 this year. The race kit was nice.
W. M. from Melbourne, Australia (2/18/2010) "Scenic course, good organization - recommended!" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Singapore International Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 For anyone wishing to combine their running with a short break, this is a fantastic destination. Well organized event from registration right through to the end of the race - very friendly and helpful volunteers. The course is flat and takes you past many of Singapore's major attractions before heading out/back along the parks lining the foreshore. Plenty of shade, frequent aid stations and heaps of spectators to give you a lift. There was a bit of convergence in the latter stages with the other events, but it didn't affect my time. The course was 3-4 lanes wide, so passing (or being passed) wasn't an issue. The last couple of kilometers take you past the Singapore Flyer and the Formulae 1 pit straight, offering a welcome distraction in the final stages. Plenty of good quality and affordable accommodation within walking distance of the start/finish line. Highly recommend this event.
Stopthe Merge from Australia (12/9/2008) "Well organized event but one drawback" (about: 2008) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Singapore International Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Generally, this was a well organized event, and the course is well setup and adapts to the climate well by offering plenty of shade in the 10-30 KM section, which was great. Extremely flat. Self seeding at start was far better then I had expected. Merging of the 10K, half and marathon groups needs to be addressed. For marathoners in the 3:15-3:30 range, it was frustrating to lose momentum twice. First, when meeting the mid-to-back-of-the-pack half-marathon group at about the 32K mark (for 2K before splitting off) and then again at about the 39K mark meeting the half runners and the 90-minute group of the 10K runners. I am all for the partipation of everyone in these associated events, and the congestion is not the fault of those runners, but the organizer needs to find a medium where all participants are satisfied. Even from a safety perspective, I don't think it makes sense to require exhausted marathon runners at 40K mark to have to duck an weave through 9-minute-per-kilometer pace 10K runners/walkers to maintain their pace. However, it was still a good event overall, and I would go back, but I really hope they find a solution to the merge issue.
S. H. from Minneapolis, Minnesota (12/8/2008) "Cut down the race numbers; don't merge the events" (about: 2008) 50+ previous marathons \| 2 Singapore International Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I don't know whether to blast the race organizers or sing their praises. I suppose it depends on who you are and where you finished. Specifically, I ran the marathon, and when I hit 31K (2:18), I merged with the half-marathoners who started an hour after the marathon. There were about 12,000 half-marathoners and I had to weave my way through many of them for 3K. Then I was back with just marathoners until 39K. Then we merged again with the half-marathoners for the last 3K. However, we also merged with the 10K runners at about 39.5K and there were about 10,000 of those runners. Their race started at 8:15. I met up with them at about 8:35, and being only 7K into their race, I was running with all of the back-of-the-packers - UGH!!! I slowed from running 4:30/KM to 7:00/KM!!! Miserable planning. Yet the flip side is that the organizers did many things right in organizing three overlapping events, requiring extraordinary numbers of volunteers, etc. So while I am disappointed at having a much slower time due to having to weave through and around slower runners, I don't think it would have been an issue for people who typically runs 3:30 or slower for a marathon. And for those runners, I think the race would have been as enjoyable as a hot and humid marathon can be. Just as an FYI, the runner amenities they provide are very good - technical running singlet, shoe bag, nice finisher's medal and a short-sleeve, technical finisher's t-shirt.
R. C. from Singapore (12/8/2008) "To many non-runners running" (about: 2008) 3 previous marathons \| 2 Singapore International Marathons COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 My second time running the half in Singapore. The organization is very good, considering that there are 50,000 competitors across all of the events. It is an incredibly hot and humid race. Drinks stations are very well placed, so rehydration is not a problem. Medical attendants were numerous and easily spotted, which was excellent. I think more than half of the people who participate are not runners, nor have the same number trained for their events. There are no running manners at all, with people stopping without warning, cutting across your track, and at times walking 6 abreast over a narrow course, many as if they are out for a Sunday stroll. The poor marathon runners join this mass of humanity at the 35K - just what you need to do at 35K!! The last kilometer is almost impossible to run due to so many runners crossing the line at the same time, and this is even more shocking as the sub-3-hour marathon runners are coming in at the same time as the 2-plus-hour half-marathon walkers, who have no idea of what is going on. Great city, and fantastic for a stopover... to another event.
P. R. from Singapore (12/7/2008) "Not an exciting course" (about: 2008) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Singapore International Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Having run the Great Ocean Road Marathon earlier in the year, with only a few hundred runners, I decided to try a "big" run. Living in Singapore, I opted for the SCSM 2008. I've lived in Singapore for 8 years and really thought they must have been able to do better with the route, which was terminally dull at times with mindless straights and U-turns in the middle of nowhere. Maybe I was spoiled with the Great Ocean Road experience. It just seemed as if the route had been put together to merely add up to 42.195 rather than a route for runners to enjoy. Having said that, the Fullerton Hotel start and Padang finish were nice touches. The F1 pit lane section was a nice idea, but with the full morning sun and no shade, it didn't work for me. There were a few enthusiastic supporters dotted around the route. Race day organization was good, with plenty of water stops, but pack collection on day 1 was ridiculous, which dragged the overall impression down. Roads weren't fully closed, so those of us in the 5-hour bracket got to run (or walk!) alongside morning traffic jams toward the last 10K - that's not nice. I don't think I'll be doing this one again.
D. S. from Singapore (12/10/2007) "Very Well Organized and a Nice, Flat Course" (about: 2007) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Singapore International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Very well organized. Packet pick up was apparently congested on the first day, but much better subsequently. Shuttle service to the start point was convenient, and the bag drop was smooth. Race start at 5.30 a.m. helps a lot with the heat. Plenty of drink stations. Quite a congested run for the first 10K or so, but the field spreads out after that. It gets hot about 3 hours into the run. There were lots of supporters and volunteers helping out. End-point management was good, but having to climb up and down stairs AFTER the race to retrieve your bag (and we had to use an underpass across a busy street to get to bag collection) was pure torture. Otherwise, a wonderful event.
Chen Ting Wei from Singapore (12/7/2007) "Getting better and better!" (about: 2007) 4-5 previous marathons \| 3 Singapore International Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This is my 3rd Singapore Marathon and I must say that it is improving every year. The running route is the same as last year. The marathon started at 5:30 a.m., which is very good in the hot weather of Singapore. The drink stations are plentiful with tons of "elite" drinks and water. The school bands played very good music to encourage the runners, especially during the running route at East Coast Park. Great marathon!
Mike Cartwright from Hong Kong (8/6/2007) "Great run but a bit congested at the end" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Singapore International Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Enjoyed the organization and start. Most of the race was fun and well within my time. But near the end... about 8 KM from the finish, all the runners seemed to converge at a narrow point making it difficult to maintain a good pace in several sections. Finish point was good, though. I liked the atmosphere.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 > ]

Quick Links

Marathon Search
Upcoming US Marathons
Upcoming International Marathons
Search Marathon Results
Latest Running News
Recent Newsletters
Race Director Tools

Become an Advertiser

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Become an Advertiser

© 2000-2024, All Rights Reserved by MarathonGuide.com LLC

Privacy Policy Refund Policy Terms of Use