The mother of all running events will take place this weekend. If you call it the Army Half Marathon, you are correct. If you call it the Singapore Bay Run, you are also correct. If you call it the Sheares Bridge Run, you’re wrong this year.
For one brief moment last year, the event actually had three names. Now the Singapore Armed Forces are the best when it comes to organising events. If you participate in the Singapore Biathlon run by the Singapore Navy, you know what I mean. Superb organisation. If you look like you will drown, they will yank you out. If you have run the Sheares Bridge Run (I prefer this name), there are so many water points along the route you can drown yourself in water. No other running event in Singapore has that many water points. It is impossible to be dehydrated. It is also impossible not to want to pee all the time along the route.
But when it comes to naming their events, aiyah, they cannot decide. Is it Army Half-Marathon? Sheares Bridge Run? SAFRA Singapore Bay Run? To compound the problem, they start to use acronyms. So it’s AHM, SBR, SSBR, like we already don’t have enough acronyms to remember. Why can’t they stick to one name? If I went around saying, “My name is Leslie Tan, editor, photographer, father and husband. Please call me Leslie Tan, editor, photographer, father, and husband. Or LTepfh for short,” you will commit me to the Institute of Mental Health (or IMH).
But then again, this is a peculiar SAF habit. Look at the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute. What happened? Everyone called it SAFTI. And so what did they call the new training school? They called it SAFTI Military Institute or SMI for short. So what will they call it two generations from now? The SMI Military Institute? Which will become? SMIMI. And what will it become in 100 years?
SMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMIMI Military Institute.
So which name is your favourite?
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Loading ...Take note of the road closures. Runners rule, drivers drool.
19 August 2008
Media Advisory (Issued by SAFRA National Service Association)
ROAD CLOSURES FOR SAFRA SINGAPORE BAY RUN & ARMY HALF MARATHON 2008
The 17th SAFRA Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon 2008 will be held on Sunday, 24 August 2008, from 6.30am to 11am.
This year's route will start at Esplanade Drive, via, East Coast Parkway, Benjamin Sheares Bridge, East Coast Park, Fort Road, Raffles Avenue and ends at St Andrew's Road (Padang). Several roads will be affected by the event.
The following roads will be closed on 24 August 2008:
From-To-Road-Direction Towards-Full or Partial Closure
0000-1200pm-Connaught Drive-Full
0000-1200pm-St Andrew's Road-Full
0000-1200pm-Fullerton Road (Anderson Bridge)-St Andrew's Road-Full
0000-1100am-Esplanade Drive-Shenton Way-Full
0000-1100am-Raffles Quay-Shenton Way-Full
0030-1000am-Ophir Road-ECP (Changi)-Full
0030-1100am-Rochor Road-Temasek Boulevard-Partial
0030-1100am-ECP-Fort Road and East Coast Park-Partial
0030-1230pm-East Coast Park-Full
0300-1030am-Raffles Avenue-Stamford Road-Partial
0530-1100am-Collyer Quay-Fullerton Road-Partial
0530-1100am-Finlayson Green-Marina Boulevard-Full
0530-1100am-Marina Boulevard-ECP-Full
0530-1100am-Central Boulevard-Cross St-Full
0530-1030am-Marina Way-Marina Grove-Full
0530-1030am-Marina Grove-Marina Mall-Full
0530-1030am-Marina Mall-Marina Boulevard-Full
0530-1030am-Marina Station-Road Central Boulevard-Full
0600-1130am-Temasek Boulevard-Temasek Avenue-Full
0600-1130am-Temasek Avenue-Raffles Avenue-Full
0600-1130am-Republic Boulevard-Crawford St-Full
Public and participants are encouraged to attend the event via the following ways:
MRT – Alight at Raffles Place or City Hall MRT Stations and walk to Esplanade Drive.
Public Buses – The Bus Services available are No. 10, 14, 16, 30, 36, 56, 57, 100, 111, 131, 133 and 196. Please note that the bus services may divert from their normal route during event day due to the road closure. Public are advised to visit the SBS Transit website www.sbstransit.com.sg for updates.
By Taxi – Alight along South Bridge Road, Raffles Blvd, or at Raffles City taxi stand, or in front of One Raffles Link and walk to Esplanade Drive.
By Car – Park at the nearby Marina Square, Raffles City, or Suntec City carparks. Public are advised not to park at the Esplanade Carpark as the roads leading to it will be closed to traffic. For alternative routes to get to event venue or access to Marina Bay area, please visit the event website: www.safra.sg/sbr.
hahas, nice and funny story!!!
getting stomach cramps from laughing.
The I-have-no-choice-CO-ask-me-to-go Run, sadly, I fall into that category…
but luckily on long-term MC.
NSFs, don’t complain.