More than 30 participants gathered at Singapore Management University's B3 Bistro yesterday for the second Straits Times Run clinic.

Orthopaedic specialists Dr Andy Wee and Dr Lim Kay Kiat from the Mount Elizabeth Hospital group conducted the clinic.

Over two lectures, the doctors covered the following topics: injury-free training, the runner's foot, as well as common running injuries around the knee and danger.

Preventive measures such as identifying appropriate running shoes according to foot type and progressive training were also highlighted.

Participants listened, jotted down notes and fielded questions during the clinic. For Neha Das, who will be taking part in her first ever race in the ST Run 5km category, the clinic was an eye-opener.

Said the 32-year old: "It was really informational for somebody like me who's new to running. It was helpful to get to know what to watch out for when we are training. I also got to clear up misconceptions I've heard from my friends with the experts."

For Ramachandran Rajesh, who described himself as an active runner, the clinic served as a timely refresher.

"It reminded me on the importance of rest. Closer to the race we tend to concentrate only on running and we don't care about resting," said the 46-year-old IT professional.

Said Dr Wee, a former national youth squash athlete: "We want them (the runners) to stay injury-free when they train. We also want to make sure that as they continue their running, they recognise when they should seek medical treatment because we see a lot of running enthusiasts who run through their pain with persistent symptoms in their knees and feet."