StanChart Singapore marathon closes in on participation target of 50,000
SINGAPORE MARATHON
SINGAPORE – Over 38,000 runners have signed up for the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) with over two months to the Nov 29-Dec 1 race – taking up 76.6 per cent of the targeted turnout of 50,000.
The 2024 edition will also see runners crossing the finish line at the Anderson Bridge instead of the National Stadium, as the 55,000-capacity venue has been booked for the Dec 8-Jan 5 Asean Football Federation Championship.
Those taking part in the marathon and half-marathon races will start at the F1 Pit Building and go past landmarks such as the Esplanade, Merlion, Fullerton Hotel, National Stadium and Marina Bay Sands.
National distance runner Shaun Goh, winner of the 2023 SCSM men’s half-marathon, is looking forward to battling teammate Jon Lim again. He said: “I’m excited to be back this year competing.
“The SCSM is our biggest local race, and it’s always a good test to see where you stand among the local competition.
“In last year’s edition, I had a really tough battle with Jon Lim, who came in second, and just barely scraped out the win, so I’m very excited for our rematch.”
The full marathon will see runners go past Suntec City and the Fountain of Wealth and head west via West Coast Highway and past VivoCity on the way back. Half marathon participants will also get to run through Gardens by the Bay for the first time since 2016.
The 5km and 10km events on Nov 30 will be full road races, with runners starting at the F1 Pit Building and similarly ending at Anderson Bridge.
There will also be a kids dash, featuring a 600m and 900m race at the F1 Pit Building on Nov 29 for children aged 12 and under.
The 2024 SCSM will also see the return of the Ekiden, a relay race that will see teams of five runners taking turns to complete the marathon route.
The category last featured at the SCSM in 2021, when runners had to follow safe management measures due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The last full-form Ekiden was held in 2019.
Roy Teo, Sport Singapore’s chief of industry development, technology and innovation group, said: “With the return of the Ekiden Challenge for 2024, we’re set to see even greater participation.
“Witnessing thousands of runners on the streets is truly inspiring and encourages more to embrace the sport.”
Ong Ling Lee, sports and wellness executive director of the Singapore Tourism Board, added: “The introduction of the new routes and the historic Anderson Bridge as the finishing line marks an exciting chapter for the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon.
“We are proud to support the race, a true embodiment of the sporting spirit, and a showcase of our iconic landmarks, from the Esplanade to Gardens by the Bay.”