ENJOY NEW SIGHTS AT 20TH S'PORE BAY RUN

Runners at this year's SAFRA Singapore Bay Run (SSBR) and Army Half Marathon (AHM) can not only take part in a new race category - the inaugural Dads For Life 800m Father & Child Challenge - but also be treated to fresh sights and fringe activities around the Marina Bay Sands and the Gardens by the Bay area.

With the theme Celebrating 20 Years of Fitness, Bonding & Fun, the event will see participants running past 20 iconic city sights featured in previous years, from Fort Canning to the Singapore Flyer.

Said Colonel (COL) Perry Lim, Vice-President of SAFRA and chairman of the 2011 SSBR & AHM organising committee: The event has grown immensely over the last 20 years. Just as the number of participants has grown from 15,000 to 70,000, the number of iconic landmarks included along the running route has also increased over the years.

"As such, we have planned the routes this year to be a run down memory lane... We hope that this will bring a sense of nostalgia to runners who have participated in the event since its early years and also offer an opportunity for new runners to experience a culmination in the development of the event's running routes."

For the first time, participants of the 21km AHM will enjoy a running route that includes Bay East at Gardens by the Bay. A visual treat will await them during their early morning run as a colourful display of lighted cones and rainbow-hued LED strip-lights will illuminate their path along a 350m stretch between the Marina Barrage and Bay East at Gardens by the Bay. Even the skies will be lit up by giant 1.5m-tall luminous kites as participants make their way past this area in the wee hours of the morning.

Other highlights of this year's SSBR & AHM include a special line-up of 20 street-side performances such as fire-twirling, samba dance and Taiko drums along the various running routes. Runners of the 10km route can look forward to raised cheer posts along Marina Boulevard, where cheer teams will spur them on, while participants of the non-competitive 5km Fun Run can catch thrilling jet-ski performances as they stop for a water break at the Marina Bay Floating Platform.

Not a fan of tired aching muscles? Not to worry, as six Salonpas Aid Stations will be scattered along the routes and carnival area. Participants can enjoy muscle relief with a spray of the new Salonpas Jet Spray during the run, or even a soothing massage after the run at the muscle rubdown station at the endpoint at the Padang.

The new Father & Child Challenge - introduced as part of SAFRA's recent partnership with the Dads For Life movement - will see fathers running side-by-side with their children along a short 800m route with their arms strapped together. After the run, participants can take part in games at the carnival area at the Padang.

"This will offer an excellent opportunity for national servicemen fathers to spend quality time with their children by doing something fun and healthy together," explained COL Lim.

For regular participant Lieutenant (NS) Jason Tan, the new Father & Child Challenge was a welcome move by SAFRA that encourages family bonding. "Ever since my NS (national service) days, I've been doing the run on a yearly basis, but this is the first time I'm taking part with my kids. It's a great way for them to exercise and for the whole family to get together and enjoy an organised outdoor activity," he said.

"I'm looking forward to it. In fact, this gives me the drive to finish the 21km AHM faster so that I link up with my kids to start the Father & Child run!"

The SSBR & AHM is jointly organised by SAFRA and the Army. Registration for the event is open until 4 Aug, but the early bird period closes on 30 Jun. For more details, visit www.safra.sg/sbr.