Running can (and should) be considered a national pastime, judging from the number of running events mushrooming on the sporting calendar these days. And for good reason, too—you don’t need any fancy equipment, just yourself and a good ol’ pair of running shoes. It’s one of the easiest ways to get fit, too (as if you didn’t know that already). Here, we round up eight running routes around Singapore that are great for clocking some mileage.
This coastal park’s just 3.3km long. However, you can choose to continue along Changi Coast Road, where you’ll get to see airplanes taking off and landing (it’s parallel to the airport’s landing strip). If you still have fuel left in your tank, you can even race down East Coast Park before calling it a day.
If you’re a seasoned marathon runner, you’ll probably be tired of pounding along this 15km track already (the park virtually always features in marathon events here). That said, however, it’s still favored by many runners—you get to feast your eyes on gorgeous beach scenery (not to mention hot bods), with the sea breeze in your hair.
This popular running route marks the old Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) railway—the tracks have since been removed, leaving an almost 24km-long trail that stretches from Woodlands all the way to Tanjong Pagar, cutting through estates like Holland and Tanglin. There’s even a 10.5km Green Corridor Run that you can participate in each year.
Not many people are aware of this, but the footpaths along Kallang River make for great running routes—you’ll pass landmarks like the Singapore Flyer and the F1 Pit Building on one side of the river, and the Singapore Indoor Stadium and private estates of Tanjong Rhu on the other. Plus, you’ll get to see plenty of dragonboats and kayaks out on the water, especially on weekends.
Long a favorite with endurance athletes and weekend warriors alike, MacRitchie offers up to almost 11km of terrain. It’s easy to customize your own running route (just be sure not to get lost)—for instance, you can start off on the boardwalk, or head straight for the dirt tracks. Cardio bunnies should try the full 10.6km loop around the reservoir—the undulating trail is tricky and challenging, to say the least—but the immense sense of satisfaction you’ll get at the end of your run will be oh so worth it.
You’ll find lots of business folk running along the promenade after work. The (approx) 3.5km route is especially scenic, with landmarks like the Helix Bridge, Marina Bay Sands and the Merlion along the way. If you’re looking for extra mileage, you can even run around the nearby Kallang Riverside Park before heading back.
This neighborhood park’s rather picturesque—there’s a tranquil, unspoiled beach that’s great for swimming. Plus, the Sembawang Park Connector runs along the 4km-long Sungei Sembawang, where you’ll get to see an assortment of water birds like kingfishers—it can break up the monotony of a run nicely.
Take things up a notch (literally) with the 9km-long Southern Ridges trail, which covers Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park, Hort Park, Kent Ridge Park and Labrador Park. Expect lots of steep slopes that will make your calves and quads cry out for mercy—definitely not for the faint of heart. However, you’ll get to observe lots of flora and fauna along the way (plus some great views across to Sentosa), if that’s any consolation.
