Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2025

At 3.42am, 7 Dec 2025 Sunday, I took a grab ride to Suntec city to join the SCSM 2025 marathon. I arrived just in time to deposit my bag at the F1 pit, entered my start pen E at 4.31am.

As usual, the elite runners started at the front at 4.20am. It looks to me like a huge crowd and spirit was high and weather was good, cooling in the early morning. Pen E managed to start the race at 4.50am. 

The start was the usual route towards the beach road golden mile area then towards the merdeka bridge towards national stadium. I just run along my usual slow run with the pack, tried my best to snaked my way when those in front are really slow. It got to a point where I was trying to run faster and faster when the body feels good. But, I always tell myself that it’s going to be a long way and never allowed myself to go below 6.30 pace.

I reached the 10 km mark around the OUE Bayfront, it was around 1hour 5 min plus. It was not too bad as I was struggling to hit such time during my training run. 

The route moved along marina boulevard and then into garden by the bay, it was still dark but cool, so it was easy going at this stage. At around 13.5km, we had to cross the barrage bridge to the garden east Marina.

It was a familiar sight to run along the garden east towards Sheres Bridge, Tanjong Rhu area before turning toward east coast park. As we enter east coast park proper, we see the 18km sign. It was still dark, everyone just run along quietly, with a few shouts of encouragement from us to the few faster runners who are now leaving ecp. As the 20km sign appear, the sky start to brighten up.

Soon I reached the half way mark at sound 2 hour 21min, still feeling ok and it was still a long way to go. To me ecp is always the long boring stretch, although there are supporters shouting encouragement to the runners. I just want to get over this stretch of never ending ecp!

The turn around point is around 24km, I was just happy to be running in the opposite direction, thinking finally leaving ecp. 

Same as previous year, I am just apprehensive about my body fitness and hoping the cramps do not catch up with me so soon. 

Got out of ecp proper around 28km plus, still holding up well but can feel fatigue creeping up on me. Just as like previous year, just try to hang to the little rhythm left in my running. 

Soon we were running across the marina barrage  bridge, 32 km now, time 3 hour 43/44 min. At 33km, I finally started to use the muscles gel to ease the on coming cramps and at this point the 5 hour pacer passed me!

It gives me some push to try keep pace, I just hang on as much as I can! Soon we start on the straight stretch towards Marina boulevard and supporters were lining the road which do really gave some good push to go a little faster!

After turning to the Lau pat sat area, I had to give myself another gel rub to alleviate the cramps, but no stopping just moving along slowly. Finally reached the old railway station around 37km, the body was getting really fatigue now.

Soon I reached the 38km mark to turn back to town, in mind, this was the longest 4km that I had to embark on!

My body was so fatigued, I just looked at other runners and tried to figure out if they are just suffering like I do. I could tell that some were trying very hard to keep moving no matter how slow they were running. Others, just let their bodies take over and simply walk. Little distractions like these helped me pass time. 

I finally sighted the 40 km sign, my Sunnto showed 4:48:12, ah I am going to miss the 5 mark again! I just keep going and try my best to speed up a little bit, to avoid having to regret after finishing. The crowd grow bit by bit, it does help to give me just that bit more urgency to keep going. 

Actually, my mind was clear this time round, it’s the body that was protesting. I tried my best to ignore the fatigue and seeing the cheering spectators, I just kept going a little faster. 

As I reached the Anderson bridge, the crowd just get louder, I gave my all out push and just keep trying to overtake anyone I can in front. I even knocked into one of the guys beside me a little without ill intention. Finally, one last turn into the pandan, crossing the line in 5:02:42!