Put together by Orange Room events company, FatCat is a new running buddy that rewards you as you run. 

It brings you hybrid experiences of virtual and physical racing events that enable you to redeem rewards through collecting Paws or taking part in events.

Like Pokemon Go

The collecting of the Paws will be somewhat familiar with those who like Pokemon Go. 

Basically when you see a Paw up ahead, you head to the point in real life as fast as you can in order to catch it before it goes away.

It is just like Pokemon Go in that regard.

However some of the positions of the Paws generated may have been too randomised and not in line with public locations; there were some Paws located in restricted areas such as private condos.

While the catching paws earn you some points that count towards the redemption of attractive rewards, participating their organised running events earn you even more points.

First Running Race by FatCat

And last Sunday morning, I took part in FatCat’s first running race. Here are my thoughts and comments on the event.

Four races to choose 

The running event had four different race routes for runners to choose from – at East Coast Park, Punggol, Pandan Reservoir and Marina Bay. 

These comprised varying distances and lengths and was termed as a phytigal event: this is a physical-digital hybrid race.

Prior to the event, we selected a running slot of our choice – these come in 15 minute intervals running from 7am to 9am. 

7:15am at East Coast Park

I picked the 7.15am wave for the East Coast Park event; several of my friends were also running in this particular event.

Each wave consisted of five runners, in line with social distancing measures. 

Once we arrived at the start area, which was at the Aloha Sea Sports Centre located opposite the East Coast Lagoon hawker center, we were asked to enter the race. We can only enter the race if we are right at the start point.

So for me, my race can only start at 7.15am sharp. If I try to start early, it will mean an immediate disqualification according to the organisers.

Counting down the timing and flag-off

The moment we entered, the app counted us down and at 7.15am sharp, the race was auto started in the app. There was no button for us to manually press. This is the virtual part of the event.

I suppose that the start had a slight semblance to a race. 

While there were no flags to mark out the start area because these were not allowed due to Covid-19 safe distancing, at least there was a mini flag-off party present albeit without the music and all the bling. 

I didn’t expect there to be a flag—off party so it was a pleasant surprise to have one.

Easy Out-and-back route

The East Coast Park route is quite simple. It is an out-and-back course from the Aloha Sea Sports centre to Marine Cove and back.

There was a marshal waiting for us at the Marine Cove junction to ensure that we all did not miss the turn.

What a phytigal race entails

Being a half-virtual race, there were no aid stations along the course and runners are expected to manage their own hydration, if necessary.

Unlike true physical races, there were also no port-a-loos at the start and finish area, as well as on the route. And there was no official baggage deposit. 

According to the organisers, these restrictions are all in line with Singapore’s Covid safe measures.

Running the route felt like I was doing my own run at the park, considering that we had to dodge many park users along the way and the paths were quite congested with both runners and cyclists out on their morning activity. 

So it didn’t really have the race feel to it. I guess that the road or lane closures we used to get in the past, were not really allowed to happen.

To make matters worse, a few groups of people were also not courteous, walking about four or five abreast and blocking the whole path as a result. We had to tell them to move aside to make way.

Finishing the run

 There was no clear marking at where the finish line was; we had to estimate roughly where according to our app. 

My app worked fine and I was automatically finished when I crossed the finish area, as I should have been, but there were issues with some of my friends’ app, even though we may have started and ended at around the same time. 

They had been either disqualified or else their timings were recorded very inaccurately. 

So I guess that there were still bugs that needed to be ironed out with regards to the technology.

Upon finishing, we received a bottle of water from a race volunteer to recharge ourselves.

Great to see many familiar faces

After the race, the fun of catching up with friends and sharing about how each other’s experience went.

While it was great to see familiar faces again, both in the running and the race organising community, I am still looking forward to the day when the big sports events as we used to know them, can make a comeback here in Singapore.