STANDARD CHARTERED SINGAPORE MARATHON UPDATE BY ABBOTT WORLD MARATHON MAJORS

[SG RED DEVIL]

SCSM is OUT as marathon major candidate for now! Good or bad for us? What are your views? Fully story as per link below.

https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/content-hub/standard-chartered-singapore-marathon-update

[kohpapa]

it was just commercial...

because of Ironman suffers losses...offloads by Wanda Sports...as well as Covid-19 Pandemic when many Triathlon events are cancelled...

It was no surprise...SCSM 2020 Virtual Grand Finale...

you get such crappy finisher medal...

It is about time for Singapore Marathons Series...to reflect and consider...to offload Ironman...as Organiser!

 

Edited February 26 by kohpapa

[Lady Ice]

I personally think Ironman raised the bar for the organisation of SCSM.

Advance (who have bought Ironman) probably did not want to spend any more funds for the moment having bought Ironman for $730million US. Wanda has made a good profit on Ironman.

Ironman's digital platform is also very good in comparison to other sites and at the moment it is FOC!

[starfinder]

If SCSM is one of the majors, more elite or good runners will be attracted to take part. The participation costs may increase and a tighter cut-off time for FM. But the standard of the race will definitely be raised.

But this will also mean slower runners will most likely not able to take part in the FM, or be prepared to go up the sweeper bus. SG does not have many FM race and frankly, I feel this may not be a bad news to especially those slower runners who just want to run 1 FM a year.

 

 

[kohpapa]

Wah.. everyone talk SCSM here...future...

indeed, mixed reaction.. world-class if join WMM...sub-standard if SCSM is out of WMM candidacy or even Ironman withdraws or to be offloaded...

Quote

SG does not have many FM race

actually, SG does not really have good marathon races that can appeal to the internationals except SCSM...uncle will not consider even Sundown or 2XU

[beast]

The decision to push Singapore into the WMM was an odd one in the first place, as we neither had the history, organization or support that other WMM have. I would rather we be left out of it than to be inducted into it and not matching up to the standard of the other WMMs.

But it was also this motivation to push Singapore into the WMM that Ironman invested time and cost to greatly improve the race experience of SCSM. Now with the Ironman owner changing hands to one whose core business is in media and publishing instead of sports, we can only hope that Ironman is able to continue with providing SCSM a good race experience, and not introduce cost-cutting measures that will make all their previous efforts go down the drain. I for one will be sad if SCSM moves back to a morning run instead of continuing it as an evening race.

[Lady Ice]

@starfinder the world of virtual events means that the slow runner can now participate as a virtual runner

[starfinder]

I have participated SCSM both in the morning and evening. Frankly with my slow speed, it is likely I will not complete the FM if it is in the morning as I may not survive the morning sun  So for me, if i ran FM, preferably it starts off in the evening, unless I ran HM then I have no issue doing it in the early morning. Oh many of us would have missed the good old days of starting off at Orchard 

I must agree with previous comments that virtual events are not cheap. Apart from costs, some runners I know are not keen to take part due to the lack of race experience. 

[Lady Ice]

On 2/27/2021 at 6:00 PM, beast said:

The decision to push Singapore into the WMM was an odd one in the first place, as we neither had the history, organization or support that other WMM have. I would rather we be left out of it than to be inducted into it and not matching up to the standard of the other WMMs.

But it was also this motivation to push Singapore into the WMM that Ironman invested time and cost to greatly improve the race experience of SCSM. Now with the Ironman owner changing hands to one whose core business is in media and publishing instead of sports, we can only hope that Ironman is able to continue with providing SCSM a good race experience, and not introduce cost-cutting measures that will make all their previous efforts go down the drain. I for one will be sad if SCSM moves back to a morning run instead of continuing it as an evening race.

All I want is for the SCSM to become the most sustainable event in the world! And maybe the govt would support providing free MRT transport if you're a runner?

[Arvin Tunas]

On 2/28/2021 at 9:54 AM, starfinder said:

I have participated SCSM both in the morning and evening. Frankly with my slow speed, it is likely I will not complete the FM if it is in the morning as I may not survive the morning sun  So for me, if i ran FM, preferably it starts off in the evening, unless I ran HM then I have no issue doing it in the early morning. Oh many of us would have missed the good old days of starting off at Orchard 

I must agree with previous comments that virtual events are not cheap. Apart from costs, some runners I know are not keen to take part due to the lack of race experience. 

Bring back the HM to Sentosa and end at Padang. 

[AutumnRunner]

On 3/4/2021 at 1:23 AM, Lady Ice said:

All I want is for the SCSM to become the most sustainable event in the world! And maybe the govt would support providing free MRT transport if you're a runner?

i recalled there was once when there was free MRT ride in the wee hour of SCSM (race still starts in morning then). and there are schools of runners all waiting for the mrt trains to the venue... 

[Lady Ice]

ooh yes - that seems such a long time ago

[AutumnRunner]

On 3/10/2021 at 3:40 AM, Lady Ice said:

ooh yes - that seems such a long time ago

yes... but that was one of the memorable times cause i didnt know my small neighbourhood has so many runners.... all walking towards the mrt station from all directions... hahhah

[Arvin Tunas]

On 3/11/2021 at 3:14 PM, AutumnRunner said:

yes... but that was one of the memorable times cause i didnt know my small neighbourhood has so many runners.... all walking towards the mrt station from all directions... hahhah

I remember it was quite interesting since some of us were alighting at different locations. The Marathon to Orchard, Half Marathon to Harbourfront.  

[wonderfulblevic]

Personally, I still prefer the early morning starts. There’s something magical about starting at Orchard road and diabolically satisfying crawling up Sheares in the heat. Plus, you can see more of the sights.  I couldn’t see a damn thing last year in the dark. 

[starfinder]

Now that the authorities may temp shelve the plan to get SCSM into the world majors, it may be possible the physical race, if happens, revert back to early morning, since there were just too much inconvenience caused to commuters in the evening race.

My hope is it goes back to start at Orchard, instead of F1 Pit. Leave F1 Pit to Sundown and 2XU 

[beast]

I guess I am the minority who prefers the evening run. It is more unique than all the morning runs we have, and the weather is much cooler. And I gladly would trade the commercialized Orchard Road lights for the sunset view on the Keppel viaduct flyover.

But I agree that it is more likely that the race be moved back to an early morning run when it is possible to conduct and participate in a mass run again.

[AutumnRunner]

On 3/13/2021 at 2:57 PM, Arvin Tunas said:

I remember it was quite interesting since some of us were alighting at different locations. The Marathon to Orchard, Half Marathon to Harbourfront.  

Yes... then the entire train will smell of those heat rub where some runners used to warm up their muscles... haha... then we will peep at each others bibs to see who is running the full and who running the half...haha..  Good old days...

[thinkapplethree]

Building upon an already well-established World Athletics Gold Label Race, The IRONMAN Group began organizing the event in 2016 and utilized its organizational standards and staff expertise as the world’s largest mass participant event organizer, evolving the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon to the international success it is today. shareit vidmate app

Edited March 26 by thinkapplethree