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More fun for all as Safra Run marks NS50

SINGAPORE — Participants in this year’s Safra Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon (SSBR & AHM) will be in for a special treat at the event on August 20, as organisers pull out all the stops to commemorate 50 years of National Service (NS).

SINGAPORE — Participants in this year’s Safra Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon (SSBR & AHM) will be in for a special treat at the event on August 20, as organisers pull out all the stops to commemorate 50 years of National Service (NS).

In its 25th edition this year, the annual race will feature a slew of new initiatives to get past and present operationally ready National Servicemen (NSmen), as well as their families, involved in the various activities at the Padang.

A new category, the NS50 Team Run, will be introduced to commemorate NS50, with a team of 10 NSmen running 5km each to chalk up 50km. A special contingent of 50 runners comprising National Cadet Corps students and their NSmen fathers will also be involved in the Team Run, which takes the total number of race categories to 15.

More than 27,000 participants have signed up for the event, with close to 200 entered for the Team Run. The running routes around Marina Bay have also been fine-tuned to ensure an optimal experience on race day.

“We have enhanced the route to make the whole running experience a very positive and meaningful one,” said Colonel (NS) Simon Lim, the chairman of the SSBR & AHM executive committee at a preview event at Safra Toa Payoh yesterday.

“As part of the positive running experience, we have looked at areas of potential bottlenecks and tried to minimise some of the congestion.

“We will take the participants to various iconic places in Singapore (such as the Esplanade), and they are going to run through a short stretch of East Coast Parkway, and right through the Sports Hub and end at the Padang.”

Runners will also get to go on a trip down memory lane, with nostalgic images of Singapore’s NS50 journey to be displayed along the routes. Belly dancers and stilt-walkers will entertain participants as they pound the streets.

NSmen and their families will also be able to enjoy various activities together. Inspired by the army’s Standard Obstacle Course, the “stepping stones” inflatable will be part of the 5km route, while another 22m-long inflatable featuring the Ditch, Window, Dodging Panels and Tunnel will be at the post-run carnival at the Padang.

Participants can also flip tires of the army’s three-tonne and five-tonne trucks, or race in a special 800m course in which children will don army-themed attire.

National marathon runner Ashley Liew, who will race in the 21km category this time, said: “I’ve always appreciated how this event focuses on the culture of bringing the family in … So all these initiatives to weave and tie everything together to adopt this culture of inclusiveness will, at the end of the day, inculcate appreciation for all the NSmen out there.”

Col Lim added: “It’s really a year where we want to recognise all our servicemen … where we build strong bonds, unity and camaraderie among our people, and at the same time come down to have a bit of fitness (workout) in a fun, exciting and meaningful way.”

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