Run Baby Run!

Dear SG,

Auckland’s HSBC Round The Bays 2008 will happen this coming Sunday. If I wasn’t pregnant, I would have loved to join in the run. It so reminds me of the various running (and walking) events held in SG every year, and the fun I had no matter how badly I’ve ran. I guess the closest event that I could compare with is the SG’s Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon. The standard Chartered Marathon was the only Marathon that I’ve actually trained for. I was attempting to beat my personal best which fortunately wasn’t much of a challenge. :p

New Zealand	Singapore
HSBC Round The Bays	Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon
Occurs in March	Occurs in December
Started in 1972 (wow!)	Started in 2002
40,000 runners + 70,000 participants	38,000 runners + 100,000 supporters
Has tee-shirt	Has tee-shirt ( I don’t know why it matters so much but I like having a tee-shirt to show for my “hard work”! )
Entry fee for adults is $15. The entry fee for children (16 years and under) is $10.	SG’s entry fee is complicated. There’s early bird discount and it depends on the race category entering for. We chose the 10km Men/Women race which cost $50 each. Kids Dash (750M) event is $18
A 8.4km run	There are various category: Full Marathon (42km), Half Marathon (21km), 10km Men, 10km Women, Wheelchair Race (10km), Team Race (10km) and Kids Dash (750m)
Starts at 930am	First category, the full marathon starts at 530am
Time will be recorded for completing the run (but I don’t know how they will do it)	Every runner was given a Chip that will clock their time electronically. Chip must be returned to the event organizers after the race or we risk paying for it.
No personalize photo but we can always get someone to take it for us!	Automatic photo capture of runners when we cross the finishing line. Remember to smile all the way back because you can’t be sure when your picture will be taken.
Certificates are given to all participants	Certificates are given to all participants
BBQ sites available for booking	No BBQ sites.
http://www.roundthebays.co.nz	http://www.singaporemarathon.com
Other running event will be: Auckland Marathon Opportunity to run over the Auckland Habour Bridge in October	Other running event will be: SAFRA Sheares Bridge Run & Army Half Marathon Opportunity to run over Benjamin Sheares Bridge in August

I’m not sure if Auckland has a similar event as the Singapore Big Walk, but I guess Round the Bay is almost like a combination of the Standard Chartered Marathon + the Singapore Big Walk. Family friendly and lots of fun. Oh well, there’s always a next year. ;)

With love from NZ,
J