This morning, more than 7,600 participants ran in the Singtel – Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer 2019, raising over S$1.1 million for cancer patients and their families.

Funds will support the Singapore Cancer Society’s services

The Race Against Cancer is one of the longest standing and largest charity runs in Singapore since its inception in 2009, and the funds raised from the event will go towards supporting Singapore Cancer Society’s programmes and services including the Cancer Care Fund, Cancer Support Groups, Hospice Home Care, Cancer Rehabilitation Centre, and Help the Children and Youths, just to name a few.

The event’s Guest Of Honour, Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Education, witnessed a cheque preservation of S$250,000 from Singtel to Singapore Cancer Society before flagging off the 15km competitive run category.

Photo by: Singtel – Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer.

Besides the 15km competitive run, the event had also featured a 10km competitive run and a 5.5km fun run, in order to cater to runners with differing preferences.

Took part in the 10km race

As for me, I had participated in the 10km event at the Singtel – Singapore Cancer Society this year, running as a 70 Minute pacer for this category.

Ever since my mum’s brain cancer diagnosis in 2014 and my grandfather’s passing from lung cancer during the same year, the annual Race Against Cancer is an event that I have been supporting every year – because I strongly identity with the cause behind it.

Arriving at Angsana Green

I reached the race site at Angsana Green at 6:30am – with plenty of time to spare for me to tie my pacer balloons and prepare my other race bling, before my 7:40am flag off.

We then watched the 15km competitive event, which was due to flag off at 7:15am, and hung around taking photos and chatting to each other before our 10km event began.

10km Event Begins

The 10km event was flagged off promptly at 7:40am which was good. However, during the first few hundred metres though, the GPS had been playing up a little and my pace appeared a bit erratic, so it was a little hard to get settled into our pace in this regard, but fortunately when we reached the seafood centre, my GPS seemed to be working again.

Race Route

The race route had been very straightforward, taking us from Angsana Green all the way along the coastline, running towards Carpark B1 for 5km and then after that, u-turning back the same way that we had come.

With no hills in sight, the running route is pancake-flat and it is one that is very familiar to me too – because I do my training sessions at East Coast Park most of the time.

Some Breeze

For the first half of the run, there had been some breeze, which had helped to cool me down a little when I was running, and that was good.

Kilometre and Directional Signs

The kilometre markings were very large and based on my GPS watch, these had been positioned accurately at each kilometre – which made it easy for both the pacers and runners to gauge their pace and run timings. This was good.

And as well, I thought that the directional signages were also good, especially with the signage indicating the u-turn point at 5km being very clear too. This too, was good on the part of the organisers as it greatly minimises the possibility of runners getting lost or else running off-course. Though in the first place, I would say that East Coast Park is a rather difficult location to get lost at!

Sun Comes Out

However, after the halfway mark, the sun came out and from that point on, it began to get significantly warmer and the humidity levels were rising substantially.

I had felt that if the start time had been about half an hour earlier instead, then that would definitely have helped in terms of combating the heat during the run.

Hydration 

At least there had been adequate hydration stations, though – to cool down the runners. Altogether I counted four water points along the 10km route, and the water and isotonic drinks being served at the points were ice-cold and as such, had tasted very refreshing to my delight.

Route Gets Crowded

Due to the staggering of the flag-off timings, the route also became quite crowded during the second half of the 10km run – we had to constantly weave around the slower 15km runners, some of whom were blocking the running path by walking in groups in the centre of the path. This had been rather irritating, especially when they had brushed so closely against me with their sweaty bodies as I was trying to overtake and pass them.

Perhaps it could have helped in this case, to have had both the 10km and the 15km categories flag off at the same time, in order to reduce such congestion issues. It also does not help too, that the paths are East Coast Park are not exactly wide.

Last Couple Kilometres

We were maintaining at a good pace as we passed the 8km and the 9km markers, constantly checking that our pace remained on target, and then with 1km more to go, when we passed by the Singapore Wake Park, we constantly encouraged the runners who were around us to pick up the pace into order to finish their run in under 70 Minutes.

Finishing Within Target

My group finished our run in 1 hour and 09 minutes, which was within our target range, so I am happy that our target and mission had been accomplished.

It was scorching hot at Angsana Green when I was done with my run so the cold Yakult that we had been given as part of our finisher entitlements was a welcome relief to me.

In addition, we were also handed a banana, a bottle of water and a can of 100PLUS isotonic beverage – together with our finisher medal which had been distinctive to our category.

Race Village

After that, I went to check out the race village and see what was available.

Several companies which had large congregations at today’s event had booths at Angsana Green to catering food and beverages to both their employees as well as other runners, including Merck Sharp & Dohme, ThermoFisher Scientific, Yakult and PinkPharm Inc., the latter of which was giving out high-protein ice cream.

I was looking for something cold in a bid to combat the sweltering heat that was coming out in full force by this point. So when the ice cream had been offered to me, I readily accepted the offer.

Stage Performances and Prize Presentations

Following the run, there had been some stage performances at the main stage to keep the runners entertained, followed by prize presentation ceremonies for them fastest overall runners, as well as for the top “CEO’s Against Cancer” and “Charity RAC-ers.”

The “Charity RAC-ers”, who, besides declaring their fight against cancer, also raised funds for the Singapore Cancer Society. Altogether, 42 “Charity RAC-ers” raised more than S$60,000 in total.

And the “CEO’s Against Cancer” were senior executives from companies across Singapore who came together to provide community leadership and raise funds from their business and personal network. Apart from participating in the race, the ten participating “CEO’s Against Cancer” had also set up personal fundraising pages to collect donations, totalling close to S$58,000 from their contacts.

Singapore Cancer Society are happy with the event

So not surprisingly, the Singapore Cancer Society had been happy and heartened by the turnout of the event and how everything had panned out through the course of the morning.

Said Albert Ching, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Cancer Society, “The Race Against Cancer invites people from all walks of life to join the fight and run alongside those who are impacted by cancer. The Singapore Cancer Society is deeply encouraged to see so many participants and volunteers coming together to support the cancer community.”

And he also added, “With such support, the Singapore Cancer Society can continue to strengthen efforts to minimise cancer and maximise lives through a holistic care system for the cancer community, journeying alongside with cancer patients through the different life stages. With everyone’s dedication to champion the cause with us, no-one needs to fight cancer alone.”