If you love to run but dislike training alone, then consider joining the SAFRA Running Club. Established in 1993, the Club has come a long way more than three decades later, with over 1,300 runners and offering a host of benefits and activities for members.
As a SAFRA Running Club member, you not only get to meet and train with other runners; you also have the chance to become an overall better runner – learn to master your form, pick up new techniques or improve the ones you have, and adopt more effective training habits.
Serving and uniting runners for over three decades
The SAFRA Running Club originated in 1993 at SAFRA Bukit Merah. In 2004, the Club moved to SAFRA Mount Faber. Today, you’ll find the Club in all seven clubhouses, with a membership of more than 1,300 and between 400 and 600 active runners per week.
The Club holds regular, bi-weekly leisure and location group social runs with experienced runners to guide and pace you along.
Whether you are new to running or have been a runner for years, you will appreciate that the Club offers stamina training by expert runners as well as proper guidance by certified trainers.
You will also have the opportunity to receive perks from participating in major running events, such as the SAFRA Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon, Standard Chartered Marathon, Mizuno Wave Run, HomeTeamNS Real Run, 2nd Link Run, and more.
Additionally, the Club hosts social gatherings, like potluck feasts and gatherings, so that members can enjoy downtime together.
Join in the fun of a location run
Location runs are popular with SAFRA Running Club members. These are organised every three to four months and allow members from all clubhouses to get together. The location runs are always casual and fun, and after the run, participants are invited to mingle with one another and enjoy the post-run meal and programme.
The previous location run was held on 18 February, with approximately 250 participants. The 12km run started at the SAFRA Punggol clubhouse; runners ran to Coney Island before returning to the clubhouse. They then fuelled up with a bento breakfast, played games in the clubhouse’s function room, and did the “lo hei” toss to commemorate the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday. The event was sponsored by Garmin, aminoVITAL and Muddygears and ended with the Runners Achievement Award Ceremony.
The Runners Achievement Award is presented to the top five runners in each club on a yearly basis. There are set criteria that participants have to meet, such as regular attendance at training sessions, achieving specified race times, and so on. This year, 27 runners received the award.
Members share why they love SAFRA Running Club
Pioneer member David Shum joined SAFRA Running Club in 1993. A certified coach and sports therapist, he’s trained countless Club members over the years and appreciates the social benefits that membership has afforded him.
“Location runs, in particular, are a chance to catch up with friends whom I’ve not seen in years. I also get to meet a new generation of members,” he says.
“Also, after National Service, many guys may not get to exercise as much as they need to, so being a member of the Club gives them the opportunity to get physically active on a regular basis with other runners.”
Another member, Ivy Yeo, describes the SAFRA Running Club as being a “family of passionate runners”. A veteran marathoner, Ivy has taken part in four of the six Abbott World Major marathons – she’s completed the London, Berlin, Chicago and New York marathons and has the Boston and Tokyo ones left to go. She says that since becoming a Club member, her marathon finish time has improved substantially.
“I completed my first marathon in 2006 in about six hours, and at this year’s London marathon in April, I finished in four hours and 25 minutes.”
Ivy has been a Club member since 2007 and a committee member since 2011. She runs five times a week and adds that running with other members is a great way to keep her body in tip-top condition.
Joshua Chia has been a SAFRA Running Club member since August 2023. He loves the friendly training environment that the Club provides and has made many new friends over the last several months.
“The Club has good, strong runners and I enjoy running with them,” he explains.
“Everyone openly shares tips on how to be a better runner. And we don’t just run together, we also go out and have meals together.
“Since joining, my running form has improved a lot. I find that I can run faster for longer. In January this year, I participated in my first overseas race with SAFRA Running Club Toa Payoh – we did the Skyhawk Nature Run in Melaka, Malaysia, and it was so much fun.”
For Tony Eng, membership has been a good opportunity to try products from various brands.
“I like the events that the Club organises, but as members we also get to try products from event sponsors,” he says.
“We even get discounts on products, and sometimes, the sponsors give us samples to try.”
Tony is an avid runner and has been a member of the SAFRA Running Club (Tampines) since 2015. So far, he’s completed six marathons in Singapore and 12 overseas. He runs with the Club every week and says that he especially likes that it offers a structured training programme for runners of all abilities.
Interested in becoming a SAFRA Running club member? The fee is $21.40 for SAFRA members and $33.70 for non-members for a two-year membership. For more information, go to safra.sg/interest-groups/running-club
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