Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon to get safer route

Runners taking part in the Safra Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon on Sept 9, 2012. The 23rd SAFRA Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon, to be held on August 31, will feature an enhanced running route to avoid congestion underneath th
Runners taking part in the Safra Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon on Sept 9, 2012. The 23rd SAFRA Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon, to be held on August 31, will feature an enhanced running route to avoid congestion underneath the Sheares Bridge. -- PHOTO: ST FILE 

SINGAPORE - The 23rd SAFRA Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon, to be held on August 31, will feature an enhanced running route to avoid congestion underneath the Sheares Bridge.

It will also have better-lit sections along the Skyline Promenade Park Connector, organisers said on Tuesday after receiving feedback from 23 runners.

"It was really crowded underneath the Sheares Bridge last year, you can easily lose five to ten minutes there," said Mr Kyle Hor, 54, from running club Team Fatbird. "We were breathing each other's stale air and it got in the way of momentum we established earlier."

Instead of squeezing under the 1.7 metre wide pathway under the Sheares Bridge, runners will make a right turn to a 6.7 metre path along Rhu Cross, in Tanjong Rhu.

The Skyline Promenade Park Connector will also be lit with mini floodlights to prevent any accidents after complaints from runners who passed through at 5.30am during last year's run.

"If it's too dark, you can trip and fall," said Mr James Tan from the SAFRA Running Club.

This year's event will see more than 40,000 runners take part, including NSmen, fulltime national servicemen and their families.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.