Race Review: Believe B60 Charity Run 2016

Taking place last weekend on the 3rd & 4th of September, the Believe B60 Charity Run is a small-scale event organised by the Warriors Running Club, that aims to raise funds for the beneficiaries of the CCSS (Care Community Services Society).

Group photo.

AIMS TO HELP UNDERPRIVILEGED SINGAPOREANS

The CCSS aims to help underprivileged Singaporeans such as elderly folk and children from broken families, but it is not enough to simply help them financially – according to the Warriors Running Club.

The 1-hour run is ready for flag-off.

So instead, the club had organised the running event to encourage individuals and families to transform their spirits, hearts and minds and thus become positive beacons of hope for others in the community – through running.
This is a cause that runners can resonate with. Said a runner, Heng Li Wei, 26, Marketing Assistant at Exxon Mobil, “In Singapore we are living in a fast paced world so we tend to overlook people who need help – because most of us are more fortunate than them. But by doing our small part to help them, then we should all be able to make a difference to the lives of the underprivileged.”

Posing for the camera.

TOOK PART IN THE ONE-HOUR RUN

The B60 Charity Run had three categories – a One Hour Run, a 20km Mass Run and a Relay Race.

I took part in the One Hour Run – in this category, runners had one hour to complete as many kilometres as possible. Each running loop was about 8km – 10km long.

Walkers on their way out.

My wave for the One Hour Run had flagged off at 7am last Saturday; this had also coincided with the flag off for the 20km Mass Run too.
Both of these categories flagged off at the Geylang Park Connector – this was a short walk away from the Kallang McDonald’s. As the race site had been located near one of the Zika clusters, the organisers had thoughtfully provided mosquito repellant for all of the runners.

I took the One Hour Run as a warm-up run for the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run the following day; so I focused on keeping my heart rate in the Easy zone and the low end of the Steady zone – with the aim of not stressing my body out too much.

Me at the Believe B60 Charity Run on Saturday.

The run itself had been a scenic flat city route that I have run several times at various running events, but it is still majestic and the views never fail to amaze me. We ran towards the Singapore Sports Hub, and then headed out towards Gardens by the bay East. As I was running, I had allowed myself to take in the early morning views.

Unfortunately for me, the road marshal at the Gardens by the bay east had instructed me to turn back at this point even though the 8km route was supposed to have extended one kilometre further out to the Marina Barrage area. So I had ended up running just over 6km rather than 8km.

On their way back.

Considering that this run had been for a good cause and that we are spreading awareness of the need to help the underprivileged by taking part in this event though, any amount of running or help, would be better than not participating at all, I guess.

ORGANISATION AND LOGISTICS

Striking a pose.

I thought that the organisation and the logistics were quite okay. There was a water point at the 3km mark and according to other runners, they detected water points every 2 – 3km.

Said Ailene Malon, 30, a bank officer who took part in the 20km walk, “This event was done well and there are a lot of water stops. The organising team did a good job and everyone was so friendly.”

Another group photo.

After the run, there was also some water and isotonic drinks given out to the runners. And around 8.30am, I also noticed that the organisers had decided to put a water station at the starting point, so that runners would be able to help themselves to a drink, upon the completing of their run. Unfortunately this had not been there when I had finished my own run though.

HOPES TO TELL THE UNDERPRIVILEGED THAT THERE IS HOPE

Happy post-run faces.

Ailene added “I am grateful to be able to run and support this charity run and tell the underprivileged people in Singapore that there is hope; everyone should be happy and support each other and lend a hand to one another, no matter what our background is.”

She feels that with the support, underprivileged children and elderly people will feel they are part of one big family. Said Ailene, “It will help them feel that they are not alone.”

After the run, food such as biscuits and buns were also provided for hungry runners.

A GOOD JOB DONE TO CREATE MORE AWARENESS

It was love at first sight – for me and these dogs!

Overall the Warriors Running Club had done a good job to spread the message according to many of the runners.

Said Li Wei, “They did a good job to create awareness of this charity.”

He added “But for improvements, I think that the signs could be clearer – runners who were ahead or behind the pack may have missed some signages or turning point markers.”