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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
10 best running clubs in Singapore to join when you run out of steam
If you need motivation to run, consider joining a running club in Singapore. A running club is a group of people who enjoy running and come together to share their passion. These clubs offer a supportive environment for runners of all levels, from beginners to experienced athletes. Some running clubs in Singapore are free to join and are a great way to stay active and socialise. Other clubs may have programmes or events that charge a membership fee. Explore our list of the top 10 running clubs in Singapore to find like-minded buddies. 1) ASICS Running Club The ASICS Running Club (ARC) in Singapore is a community-focused running group that is designed to help individuals achieve their personal fitness goals through structured weekly training programs. It emphasises camaraderie and offers various training groups tailored to different needs, with opportunities to participate in running events and activities. The group's members contribute to sustainability by collecting used ASICS gear for upcycling. This initiative aims to reduce waste and promote a circular economy by transforming discarded items into new products. The club is readily accessible online through their website and social media platforms. The ASICS Running Club in Singapore is free for everyone to join. You can become a member simply by joining the group in the ASICS Runkeeper app. The app is available in Singapore and can be used to track various fitness activities such as running and walking. | | 2) Puma Nitro Running Club The PUMA NITRO Run Club in Singapore is a community-focused running club that aims to provide a supportive environment for runners of all levels to improve their fitness and achieve their personal goals. The group offers structured training programs, pace groups and opportunities for social interaction, all within a vibrant and encouraging atmosphere. Under the guidance of Head Coach Jacky Ong, who boasts a wealth of experience in run coaching at all levels, the fitness group conducts regular sessions on Tuesday evenings and on one Saturday each month. Runners can benefit from 3 tailored programmes, namely the Marathon, Half-Marathon and 5/10 kilometre distances. The PUMA NITRO Run Club is free for everyone to be part of. However, to maintain training quality, the number of participants per session is capped. This ensures that runners benefit from a more personalised coaching experience and a strong sense of community. | | 3) Singapore Runners Club The Singapore Runners Club (SGRC) stands out as an independent social running group in Singapore, known for its inclusive and vibrant community. It is the largest running club in Singapore with over 8,800 members. The group conducts free weekly runs, periodic workshops and other events, all designed to promote running for all ages and backgrounds. The SGRC organizes runs in different locations across Singapore, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for runners from various areas. SGRC hosts regular social runs, providing opportunities for its members to connect and make friends. Membership is free for all Singapore-based residents who authenticate their Facebook accounts. The club is run by volunteers and they are open to collaboration and support. | | 4) Gulp River Run Club The Gulp River Run Club is a social running club in Singapore associated with GULP, a riverside taproom at Robertson Quay. Founded by friends with a shared love of craft beer, GULP aims to create a relaxed space for people to connect and enjoy drinks by the river. The running club is an extension of this idea, providing a casual and social way for people to get active, meet new people and enjoy an alcoholic drink afterwards. The running club meets at the GULP Riverside Taproom on Robertson Quay every Thursday at 7pm. Runners can choose from 5km, 6km, or 9km routes with varying paces, catering to different fitness levels. They charge a nominal fee (S$5) for their runs, which will go a long way in sustaining the club. The good thing is that there is a free craft beer afterwards. 7 Rodyk Street, #01-29/30, Singapore 238215 +65 8905 0596 Mon: 4pm -10.30pm Tue to Thu: 4pm – 11pm Fri: 4pm – 12am Sat: 3pm – 12am Sun: 2pm – 10pm | | 5) FFRC Singapore Run Club The FFRC Running Club, also known as the Fast and Free Running Club, is a community-focused running group that aims to make running accessible and enjoyable for everyone. They emphasise a supportive environment where runners of all levels can connect, improve fitness and experience the social benefits of running. The club welcomes both beginners and experienced runners, fostering a safe space where ambition thrives without pressure. This running club in Singapore offers 'Toasted Thursdays' for interval workouts and 'Kaya Runs' for social long runs, often finishing at a local coffee shop for kaya toast and coffee. The FFRC is known for being a free option for runners in Singapore. This allows runners to enjoy the benefits of group runs, training and camaraderie without facing financial worries. | 9 best personal trainers in Singapore to help you hit your fitness goals 6) The Social Running Club The Social Running Club is a fitness group focused on making running more inclusive and enjoyable by fostering a sense of community and friendship among runners of all levels. It aims to connect people through running, physical activity and social interaction. They organise regular runs, often exploring different routes in and around Singapore and sometimes include breakfast or other social activities afterwards. One past event was a 15-kilometre run from Bishan to the city and back, followed by breakfast at a hawker centre. The Social Running Club is free to join. They encourage runners to join and bring a friend along. The club is based at Kallang Wave Mall and is affiliated with New Balance Singapore, with the tagline 'Run Your Way'. They also have regular events, such as the 'Fuelling for Sports' event, which was held at Red Dot Running Company and was also free to attend. | 7) Volt Runners SG Volt Runners SG is a running group in Singapore that meets for weekly runs and track workouts. They emphasise a fun, community-oriented approach to running, with a focus on fitness and friendship. They have a Telegram channel for updates and runs every Tuesday and Thursday. The group is associated with the @1athleteclubsg and often uses Nike gear. The group emphasises sustainability and encourages runners to 'make every mile count' with their 'zero waste' approach. They organise fun runs and group runs, collaborating with external organisations to hold various categories such as 5km, 10km and 21.1km (discounted prices of S$65, S$75 & S$95 respectively for the Lazada Run 2025). The Volt Runners SG club is free to join. Like many other running clubs in Singapore, Volt Runners SG offers its biweekly runs without charging membership fees. This allows anyone interested in running to join and experience the community atmosphere without any cost. | 8) Running Department Running Department is a Singapore-based running community founded in 2013, focused on making running accessible and enjoyable for everyone. It's a volunteer-led group that welcomes runners of all levels, striving to foster a supportive and inclusive environment. Running Department emphasizes a 'no-frills' approach, prioritising community and fun over strict training regimens. The group is run by volunteers who are passionate about running. Runners of all ages, backgrounds and paces are welcome to join the running club. To participate in their runs, you don't need to sign up formally or pay any fees. Simply check their schedule and show up for the runs. Running Department also has a one-time registration process for their runs, but it is free and allows you to check in with their crew. | | 9) Easy Pace* Run Club Easy Pace Run Club (EP*RC) is a Singapore-based running club that focuses on creating an inclusive environment for runners of all levels. Shane Tan and Kwan Kavan founded the club and it was a way for Kwan to document his personal running journey. The club offers different pace groups, including a walking group and meets at various locations fortnightly. Easy Pace Run Club collaborates with Shane Tan's apparel label, Cherub Live, to produce functional activewear. They also partner with sportswear brands to hold various activities. An example is their first-ever collaboration with Under Armour in July. Turn up for a trial of Under Armour's latest running shoes. There will be a 5km run, as well as beats and brews. | 10) Big Boyz Run Club (BBRC) Big Boyz Run Club is a community that is based in Singapore, focused on fostering social connections and promoting a healthy lifestyle through running. It started as a small group and has grown into a larger community, attracting seasoned runners and beginners alike. The club organises a wide variety of events, including regular runs, themed runs and social gatherings such as barbecues, fostering a vibrant and engaging atmosphere. The club also partners with other organisations and brands, including streetwear and sneaker brands. Big Boyz Run Club also partakes in various charity runs and raises funds for community causes. Best free fitness activities in Singapore – free gym, free yoga, free run & more The post 10 best running clubs in Singapore to join when you run out of steam appeared first on
Boston Globe
22-07-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Sneaker designer Asics makes tracks for the Leather District
'We really do believe in this voluntary approach,' Turner said. 'We think it's important for people to balance work and home life. We've found a lot of success with this hybrid approach.' Advertisement The US group is led by Koichiro Kodama, who splits his time between the Boston and California offices. Despite the shrinking office footprint here, Turner said, Asics still hopes to add more people in Boston. Synergy vice president Tim Ferguson said the building's high ceilings, a vestige of its manufacturing past, were a selling point, as was Synergy's ability to have the space ready for Asics within just a few months after their first contact. Synergy acquired it from EQ Office, a Blackstone-owned landlord, last year. Advertisement The Japanese sneaker company's road to Boston starts with its acquisition of Runkeeper, a fitness app developed here that Asics acquired in 2016. Two years later, Asics opened its Summer Street office, to build more of a presence in a city known for its footwear brands. Other shoe companies with major offices within the city limits include Nike-owned Converse and Wolverine-owned Saucony (both near North Station), Reebok (in the Seaport), and New Balance (in Brighton). Puma has its main US office just over the line in Somerville, the Americas headquarters for Clarks is in Needham, and homegrown running shoe company Topo is in Framingham. 'That's part of the reason why we chose Boston,' Turner said. 'There are not many areas that are similar to Boston in that way, that have so many ... footwear brands in that small of an area.' This is an installment of our weekly Bold Types column about the movers and shakers on Boston's business scene. Jon Chesto can be reached at
Times
04-06-2025
- Health
- Times
I'm a tracker sceptic. Would these cutting-edge devices convert me?
In fitness terms, I am what might be termed an anti-tracker. I ditched most wearable devices a couple of years ago and, aside from my daily steps, I don't monitor my activity or any of the data related to it, including my heart rate, stride length, cadence, breathing efficiency, relative effort and elevation gains. I don't upload my runs or workouts to Strava, Runkeeper or Apple Fitness, so I don't receive likes or 'kudos' — and yet I feel better for it. My body is sufficiently attuned to my state of fitness or fatigue to let me know when I should push or ease off. I don't need a wristband to tell me. However, when it comes to general health and medical issues, I'll reluctantly concede that I might benefit from more of a regular insight. At 56, I am at the prime age for things to start falling apart and for early signs of age-related decline to set in. As yet I have no problems to report but am surrounded by apparently fit and healthy friends who thought the same until midlife got the better of them and their heart, blood sugar, sleep or joints took a turn for the worse. While it pains me to consider daily tracking, I am prepared to give it a go, albeit in the knowledge that continuous monitoring and feedback from such devices can, ironically, bring its own health issues. • Why we don't need to fear AI — and how to use it for your mental health In the most recent wearable technology report by Mintel, the market research company, a survey of more than 2,000 smart watch owners found that 48 per cent confirmed tracking health data made them more stressed about their health, rising to 57 per cent of people who own smartwatches. Other researchers have blamed sleep trackers for causing 'orthosomnia', defined as the obsessive pursuit of perfect sleep and cited as a reason why sleep might get worse rather than better when wearing one. I have friends who can't seem to function without a health prompt or update from their phones. The last thing I want is to become one of the worried well. As a sceptic, what would a week of tracking my health teach me, if anything at all? Here's what I discovered:F Tracker Lingo (from £59 for a two-week starter plan including two sensors; How it works A continuous blood glucose monitor (CGM) is a plastic disc that attaches to the back of your upper arm and measures how much sugar is in the fluid surrounding your cells every few minutes via tiny needle-like sensors that sit beneath the skin. Data is sent to an app on your phone in real-time and you get alerted if your glucose levels are too high, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, or too low. The idea is that you gain a better understanding of how to maintain stable blood glucose levels that might positively impact your mood, sleep and food cravings. Poor blood glucose management has also been linked to weight gain. What it told me According to Lingo, a normal blood glucose range is within 3.9-7.9 millimoles per litre, although it simplifies this with a single target called your Lingo Count. Mine was initially pre-set at a standard 60 — my goal being to stay below that — but after a week Lingo adjusted the target to 50. Following a fasted morning run, my count was low (16) and eating my late morning porridge with berries, my morning staple, didn't raise it out of range. A cocktail at the weekend saw it hit 80 temporarily, but generally, as expected, it peaked after meals. • The glucose gender gap: how would our spikes compare? Verdict I have tried a couple of other CGM devices in the past and found them frustratingly tricky to administer. My first attempts to extract the two Lingo monitors, produced by Abbott, from their containers failed and the tiny needles broke so I had to order more. They are designed to be worn for seven days but, even with adhesive stickers to keep them in place, one of the replacements came off in the shower after 36 hours. Although the app was easy to download and digest, I found some of the advice irrelevant. On an afternoon when I barely had time to eat I was warned my blood sugar count might be escalating. After a morning run and dog walk followed by breakfast I received an alert to do 5-10 minutes of calf raises to mitigate a blood sugar rise. I would be reluctant to continue, particularly after research at the University of Bath published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition last month suggested there is not much point as CGMs provide misleading results. In their study, researchers measured blood sugar responses in healthy volunteers (non-diabetic and a healthy weight) using either a CGM (in this case Abbott's Freestyle Libre 2) and the gold standard finger-prick test. The CGMs overestimated the time spent above a normal blood sugar level threshold by nearly 400 per cent, potentially causing unnecessary anxiety. 'CGMs are fantastic tools for people with diabetes because even if a measurement isn't perfectly accurate, it's still better than not having a measurement at all,' says Professor Javier Gonzalez, a nutrition and metabolism researcher who led the study. 'However, for someone with good glucose control they can be misleading based on their current performance.' Relying on CGMs could also lead to unnecessary food restrictions or poor dietary choices, Gonzalez says. In the trial, whole fruit was misclassified as medium or high-GI foods by the CGMs, while a finger-prick test showed they were low-GI with minimal adverse effect on blood sugar. I can see it might become an obsession but I question the purpose — and cost — of doing it long term. • My Oura Ring is now the third person in our marriage Tracker Hilo cuff and wristband (£209.99; How it works Blood pressure is assessed using the Hilo cuff, which is attached to the upper arm via a Velcro strap and inflates to take the average of three separate readings. Continuous daily blood pressure is then calibrated and recorded via the wrist-worn strap with all results downloaded to an accompanying app, which is free for the basic daytime and nighttime monitoring but costs £4.99 per month for added insights, analytics and syncing with the Apple Health app on your iPhone. A monthly recalibration using the cuff is required. What it told me A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers: the top number is your systolic pressure, the highest level your blood pressure reaches during a heartbeat; the bottom number is your diastolic reading, the lowest level your blood pressure hits between heartbeats. A normal blood pressure range is between 90/60mmHg (millimetres of mercury, a unit of pressure) and 120/80mmHg. For me, the stats were unchanging and within the normal range day and night with a reading of 118/79. Verdict Advice from the NHS is to get blood pressure tested every five years once you get to 40, and you can get tested for free at a community pharmacy from this age. It is a good idea to check it more frequently once you have had a professional reading, especially if you take HRT or have heart disease in the family (neither for me) in which case you should consult your GP. Dr Nikhil Ahluwalia, a cardiology registrar at Barts Heart Centre in London, says the Hilo cuff is one of the home devices that is accurate and easy to use, but he doesn't recommend continuous screening. Blood pressure ebbs and flows on a daily basis, he says, and if you don't have existing hypertension, then once or twice a month is probably often enough. 'There's no evidence that continuous monitoring of blood pressure offers benefits unless prescribed by your GP,' Ahluwalia says. I did love the strap for its simplicity — it's slimline and has no flashing lights or bright screens so you do forget you are wearing it. However, the NHS recommends measuring blood pressure on the upper arm, not the wrist or finger. Tracker Oura Ring (from £349; How it works A ring containing sensors that is worn on your index or middle finger. Connects to an app that provides a daily range of sleep (and other health) stats and an overall 'sleep efficiency' score. What it told me I am a smug sleeper and have never felt the need to use a tracker to confirm I get enough rest at night or that I might need more after an interrupted night. Results confirmed my status as a sleep queen as I was awarded a crown by the app for 'optimal sleeping' with an efficiency (time asleep versus time awake) score of 89. My total nightly sleep ranged from 7hr 7min (woken by the dog barking at a fox in the garden) and a blissful 7hr 56min over the bank holiday weekend. On average, my sleep latency — the time it takes to drop off — was 12 minutes. My Ring told me I got an average of 1hr 23min each night of deep sleep, the type that leaves you refreshed and alert the next day. It did suggest I fidget a lot — I was advised to 'pay attention' to my restfulness, although I'm not sure how I'd address this when I am sleeping so soundly. • Seven things we get wrong about sleep and how to fix them Verdict I don't like wearing a watch at night and when my partner wears his I swear it lights up the entire room. If I felt the need to monitor my sleep, a ring would be the least invasive means of recording my shut-eye. Results were easy to read and digest — although you can lose yourself if you delve into the endless graphs and charts — and I only needed to recharge it once in seven days. However, studies show that no tracker is a match for gold-standard polysomnography tests that measure brain waves, heart rate, breathing, blood oxygen levels and body movements during sleep through electrodes attached to the skin and scalp. A study by Yale University scientists found sleep trackers to be accurate only 78 per cent of the time, dropping to 38 per cent when it comes to measuring how long it takes people to drop off, so I am taking the results with a pinch of salt. Tracker Apple Watch (from £219; How it works There are dozens of health-tracking options on the Apple Watch, but I used it to gauge my heart health and set it to alert me to very high or low heart rates. There's also an electrocardiogram (ECG) feature, activated by placing an index finger on the digital crown of the watch for 30 seconds, which records heart rhythm via an electrical sensor and detects irregularities. It can be used to determine your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which occurs when electrical impulses that trigger muscle contractions of the heart misfire chaotically. Left undiagnosed or untreated, AFib raises the risk for stroke and heart failure. Results are logged on the Apple Health app and a pdf of ECG readings can be shared with your GP. What it told me I don't routinely track my heart rate, but over the years I have been told my resting heart rate (beats per minute or bpm when sitting or lying down) is lower than the average 60-100bpm, which is probably a hangover from hard endurance training in my teens and twenties. I set the watch to alert me if it dipped below 45bpm but its repeated pinging suggested it wondered if I was alive with my daily average of 39bpm. That got me googling slow heart rates, termed bradycardia, and stressing about whether I needed to see a GP, which the British Heart Foundation suggests might be necessary if it is accompanied by fatigue. • Apple's Siri texts 'Do you have cancer?' to woman awaiting biopsy Am I more tired than normal? That's something even the watch can't tell me, although Ahluwalia says I don't need to worry. 'If your heart rate is suddenly much lower than normal it is a cause for concern,' he says. 'If low is your normal range, then it is OK.' I also did daily ECG readings for the week which confirmed at least I was not in the at-risk range for AFib. Verdict All heart health data (including cardiovascular fitness, walking heart rate, ECGs and cardio recovery) are neatly stored together in the Health app on an iPhone so it is easy to access. It was encouraging that several studies, including a 2023 paper published in the journal Cureus, and cardiologists I spoke to support Apple Watch technology for monitoring heart health. I can see myself checking it periodically — provided I remember to wear my Apple Watch.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The Sidcup firefighter who also saves lives with marathons - with 31 in 31 days
A firefighter from Sidcup has dedicated his life to saving others, both in his 18-year firefighting career and through his remarkable charity work. But in March, Marc Petters took his passion to another level - running 31 half marathons in 31 days, all without training, to raise money for two causes close to his heart. Marc, who has served at Sidcup Fire Station for six years, first discovered his love for fundraising in February 2021, during the height of the pandemic. Marc Petters ran around Southampton before visiting the University of Southampton with his son. (Image: Marc Petters) He told the News Shopper: 'In February 2021 everything was crazy and everyone was down, so I decided to do some charity work. 'I ran 21 miles in one month and raised £55,000 for a premature baby unit and a mental health unit, and it gave me the bug for helping people.' Since then, Marc has taken on huge endurance challenges, including marathons and the IRONMAN Calella-Barcelona triathlon. But his latest effort was one of his toughest yet - running 31 half marathons in 31 days throughout March to raise funds for The Tommy Crush Foundation and Hudson the Superhero Charity. Marc explained: 'I have a passion for raising money. 'I am a trustee for Tommy Crush – we're a charity that supports children between 14-24 who are vulnerable to suicide and put on workshops. Marc and his football team (Image: Marc Petters) 'Right now, we're funding workshops for grassroots football clubs, helping players with their mental health. 'We also plan to go into schools to chat with pupils from Year 6 and above about the pressures of school, exams, exercise, and other challenges.' Through his involvement with Erith Town Football Club, Marc met Hudson, a 10-year-old boy with cerebral palsy, and was immediately inspired to help. Hudson (Image: Marc Petters) 'Hudson is a 10-year-old boy, who has cerebral palsy, and after spending five minutes in their company, he inspired me to want to do something to help,' Marc added. Hudson underwent life-changing SDR surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital in February 2020. Since then, ongoing specialist treatment and equipment have been crucial to his progress. Marc said: 'After being told he may not be able to walk, Hudson's determination enabled him to climb a mountain 18 months ago. The money raised will pay for Hudson's new wheelchair (Image: Marc Petters) 'Hudson is in need of a new wheelchair, and the money raised will go towards buying him one.' Determined to make a difference, Marc set out to run a half marathon every day in March - with no prior training. 'I took proof every day to show I'd done it, and everyone seemed to like it on my Instagram,' he said. 'I would screenshot my Runkeeper app and the routes I did, which helped raise awareness.' Fifty percent of the money raised went to The Tommy Crush Foundation, and the other half went to Hudson the Superhero Charity. Marc initially aimed to raise £10,000 - enough to cover the cost of Hudson's £5,000 wheelchair - but donations kept rolling in, and the total now stands at £13,500 and counting. The fundraiser's grand finale took place on Sunday (March 30), and the community came out in full force to support Marc. A raffle and auction helped boost the funds, with prizes ranging from baked cookies to free gutter cleaning, football courses, MOT services, and even two hours of gardening. The highlight of the day, however, was Hudson himself. Marc explained: 'Hudson ran the last 100 metres. They shut the road off and put the blue sirens on the fire engine. 'If I could bottle up the feeling at the end, I would be a billionaire - there was so much love on Sunday.' Running 31 half marathons in a row is no easy feat, and Marc admits there were moments when he hit a wall - both physically and mentally. He explained: 'On March 15, both collided, and I thought I couldn't do this. 'I have four kids, two jobs, and fitting this in every day around my kids and work was hard.' Every Thursday, Marc coaches children aged 5-11 with disabilities at Erith Town Football Club. Marc completed his run on Monday, March 31 (Image: Marc Petters) He has also worked with a south London mental health facility, coaching inpatients in football. 'We now have a team out of it, and we've got into a league with a cup,' he said. Marc credits the London Fire Brigade for supporting his charitable efforts, allowing him to make an impact both inside and outside of work. 'I love helping people', he added, 'I don't want to be known as someone who works hard - I want to make a difference for people.'
