Here in sunny Singapore, running is a huge pastime. And the beauty of running is that unlike other sports, you can run almost anywhere outdoors with large groups of people.
Reflecting the vibrant local running culture, plenty of running communities have sprung up all over the country. From recreational running to having peers that push you to break your personal bests, there is a running group for every kind of runner in Singapore!
Pasir Ris Park Runners
Organised by: Resident Volunteers.
Location of Training: Pasir Ris Elias Community Club, every Sunday morning at 7am.
Membership: Free.
Launched in 2011, the Pasir Ris Park Runners are run by a group of enthusiastic people with a passion to run for health and bonding. Pasir Ris Park Runners are a pretty active lot, and their Facebook page is regularly updated with photographs of members who run various local races around Singapore.
Run To Walk
Organised by: Volunteers.
Location of Training: Fortnightly 4.8km run at Bedok Reservoir Park.
Membership: Free.
Run To Walk is a non-profit movement, created with a friendly and motivating running environment through two aspects: RTWrun and RTWedu. RTWrun is a free run held every fortnight at Bedok Reservoir Park for everyone and anyone. All you have to do beforehand is sign up for free at their website.
RTWedu aims to introduce running as the means for a healthy, well-balance lifestyle, including educating sedentary people with the aim of introducing them to running as a sport by sharing experiences and tips with fellow runners, and also helping student-athletes to manage their studies and sports.
Jurong Lake Running Club
Organised by: Volunteers.
Location of Training: Chinese Garden Main Entrance on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8pm – 10pm and Saturdays, 4.30pm – 7pm.
Membership: Training sessions are free; Members get additional perks (fees are SG$45 for first year and SG$30 for subsequent annual renewal).
Jurong Lake Running Club (JLRClub) is one of the larger running clubs in western Singapore, and conducts free weekly training 3 times a week throughout the entire year. From fartleks to intervals, training sessions at JLRClub are varied and always interesting. Registration is done on the spot, so just turn up before the training session and join them for a run!
SAFRA Running Clubs
Organised by: Professional Trainers.
Location of Training: Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings at respective locations, with combination social runs starting from 1 of 5 locations.
Membership: Renewable every two years at SG$21 for SAFRA Members; SG$33 for non-members.
With 5 SAFRA Running Clubs at Toa Payoh, Tampines, Mount Faber, Jurong, and Yishun, you can choose the most convenient location for yourself. SAFRA Running Club members get a swanky vest, and also enjoy rebates to local races like the Army Half Marathon. Different SAFRA Running Clubs even organise overseas running or hiking trips as well, so there’s no shortage of fun if you join!
Purple Lights
Organised by: Volunteers.
Location of Training: Wednesday evenings in the city, and Sunday evenings at various locations.
Membership: Free
Purple Lights are a small, close-knit group of runners that have weekly Wednesday 5km runs from City Hall MRT Station. Their Sunday run locations are more impromptu, and can vary from Serangoon to MacRitchie Reservoir. Purple Light runners enjoy the camaraderie and conversations they have while running, so join them if you’re looking for some relaxed runs!
Singapore Shufflers Running Club
Organised by: Volunteers.
Location of Training: Wednesday evenings at MOE Running Track (Evans Road).
Membership: Free.
The Singapore Shufflers mean business. The minimum requirements are for runners to be able to run 5km under 30 minutes! The main focus of the Singapore Shufflers would be to improve personal times through their weekly interval sessions as a form of speed work to compliment individual programs.
But off the track, it’s all smiles as runners chat over dinner after training. Definitely a great choice for intermediate to advanced runners looking to push their limits and train in a motivated group.
Newton Running Club
Organised by: Michael Kang (Chairman).
Location of Training: Weekly Wednesdays 7pm at Marina Square Shopping Centre.
Membership: Free.
The Newton Running Club comprises of runners that gather for weekly runs ranging between 5km and 10km. Led by Michael Kang, the Newton Running Club also moonlight as pacers for the popular annual Newton Challenge.
The experienced members are always ready to share their experiences and tips to runners, and also offer free trails for runners who are interested in the Newton range of mid-strike running shoes.
Kikikukiki Runners
Organised by: Volunteers.
Location of Training: Weekly Sunday runs in the city at 7.30am, with other sessions varying in timing and locations.
Membership: Free.
The Kikikukiki Runners are a “group of very normal people who both love and hate running with equal measure” (who doesn’t?). This friendly community will support and encourage both new runners looking to complete their first marathon, or accomplished marathoners on their weekly K5 Runs.
With Kikikuki runners dressing up for their recent Halloween run, and an upcoming trip to Japan for the Eco Slow Marathon in 2015, these guys really know how to make running fun and enjoyable!
Peirce Reservoir Runners
Organised by: Volunteers.
Location of Training: Regular weekly runs at Pierce Reservoir and other locations.
Membership: Free.
Originally started as a way for runners who frequent Peirce Reservoir to meet up and train together, the Peirce Reservoir Runners expanded into a large and vibrant community of easy-going runners.
Runners share their running tips, or tips on deals for running. The group has gotten so big that there is even a recreation team who plans fun family-friendly outings too!
The Freedom Freaks
Organised by: Volunteers.
Location of Training: Morning weekends with varying locations.
Membership: Free.
The Freedom Freaks are a bunch of runners who meet every weekend for LSD (Long Slow Distance) sessions. They love to find fun and new places to explore, and their weekly runs can vary from Changi Village to Mount Faber and even Pulau Ubin.
Some Freedom Freaks are avid ultra-athletes, so joining them for a run can definitely be a learning experience too. Don’t worry if you are slow, because Freedom Freaks “leave no one behind”!
Sonic WestGen Running Club
Organised by: Volunteers.
Location of Training: Every Saturday 7.10am at YuHua Community Club.
Membership: Free.
If you stay in Jurong, you might have heard of the Sonic WesGen Running Club. This small informal group of runners are a common sight on Saturday mornings, gathering every week to run at Chinese Garden and Jurong Lake. Join these friendly runners in their distinctive neon orange shirts!
Braddell Heights Runners
Organised by: Volunteers.
Location of Training: Weekly runs on Wednesday nights 7pm and Saturday mornings 6.45am at Braddell Heights Community Club.
Membership: Free.
Open to runners who are looking for a group to run in the Braddell Heights, Upper Serangoon, and Paya Lebah areas, the Braddell Heights Runners are a fun bunch. Their runs are catered for everyone, with leisure runs for beginners, and LSD sessions to help runners gearing up for a marathon.
Make New Friends and Run Singapore!
Joining any one of these running groups will give you the chance to enjoy your favourite pastime with like-minded people. From discovering new running routes to getting advice from more experienced runners, there is always something new to see and do together when you join a running group!
Now lace up, make some new friends and explore Singapore on foot!
Update, 18 December 2014: The Newton Running Club is no longer active and has been disbanded.
