Earlier this month, on Tuesday 9 August 2022, West Coast Park parkrun held a special weekday event. As this is Singapore’s National Day, the day is a public holiday.

A free 5km timed run

Parkrun is a 5km free timed run that usually takes place every Saturday. Singapore’s events start at 7:30am to combat the high heat. 

Singapore currently has three parkruns – the other two being at East Coast and Bishan. I usually attend the East Coast one as it is the nearest event to where I live. 

Photo: West Coast Park parkrun

Parkruns in Singapore were suspended for about two and a half years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but as of May 7th this year, they have since returned. I have not missed a parkrun since then.

Two parkruns in one week

I took part in the National Day event. I have always loved parkrun and it was nice to be able to do two events in one week. 

As there was only one parkrun taking place that day, a sizeable crowd of 118 runners turned up. This is quite good for Singapore standards. Many runners were “local tourists” representing Singapore’s other two parkrun events.

Majority of runners were decked out in red and white, the colors of the Singapore flag. I had a small speaker and I was using it to play National Day songs as I ran along.

The route and course 

The route for West Coast Park parkrun is an elongated figure eight loop around the park and features an underpass that you will need to run through. For those who are not familiar with the route, it can be quite confusing. 

Photo: West Coast Park parkrun

In terms of the terrain, the whole route comprises of pavement. There are a few twists and turns and you should be prepared for few mini slopes. Nothing too challenging though.

For those who are not used to Singapore weather, it is very hot and humid, so do bring extra hydration along. West Coast park can feel more hot and muggy than some other parts of Singapore, as the park is not near the seafront. If you are struggling with the pace, I do recommend slowing down to a pace that you feel comfortable with. 

Party mood and atmosphere 

A special shoutout to the super energetic lady marshal who had a speaker blasting out National Day tunes. This really added to the mood and feel of National Day.

Photo: West Coast Park parkrun

The party atmosphere was definitely there and we all had loads of fun during the run. Everyone was in jovial spirits and the holiday mood was in the air.

I maintained a pretty consistent pace throughout the 5km route and finished in 24 mins 07 seconds. It is a West Coast Park parkrun PB. I have done this parkrun on a couple of other occasions. 

Finishing the parkrun

On finishing, there was a large Singapore flag for us to take photos with, in addition to a few mini Singapore flags. The big flag was a pretty popular photo opportunity and my friends and I had our photo taken there too. What better way to mark National Day and show our patriotism towards Singapore?

I really loved the small National Day touches that had been added to this festive parkrun. Kudos to the parkrun team for adding the holiday mood and vibes to the event.

Photo: West Coast Park parkrun

Post-parkrun coffee at McDonald’s

As with all parkrun events, the post-parkrun coffee is always the best part. For the West Coast Park event, this takes place within the McDonald’s restaurant at the park. This is within easy walking distance, about a couple hundred meters away. It was a great time to catch up with my parkrun buddies and chitchat on a beautiful public holiday morning. 

But one word of caution for tourists who may be interested in visiting. 

During busy periods, such as National Day or the beginning of the local school holiday season (June and December), it can be up to 45-minutes wait for your food and coffee at the McDonald’s.  We were caught in the middle of it. So it is best to head there as early as possible in order to secure your breakfast.