COMMANDOS TOP ARMY FORMATION TEAM COMPETITION IN SINGAPORE BAY RUN 2009

It took them three months of hard training, but the Commandos managed to retain their title as this year's SAFRA Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon's Army Formation team champion. They had previously won it last year, in a combined team with the Naval Diving Unit.

In this competition category, out of 18 team members, the top 14 timings are recorded and tallied. The Commandos clocked a timing of 20 hours and 34 minutes, some 10 minutes faster than the 6th Division, who came in second this year.

Top runner of the winning team, First Sergeant (1SG) Wong Kum Fatt, said it was the "never say die" spirit that clinched the title for the Commandos.

"We don't give up, and just keep on going, while following our pacing from training sessions," he told cyberpioneer.

Jointly organised by SAFRA and the Singapore Armed Forces, the Singapore Bay Run this year took place on 16 August, and was attended by some 70,000 people.

Runners could choose from three different routes - 21km, 10km, and a 6km Fun Run.

The Guest-Of-Honour of the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean, flagged off the 6km Fun Run and also participated in the run together with Minister of State for Defence and President of SAFRA, Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee.

For the first time, runners this year got to run past the F1 Paddock. Along the way, they enjoyed other iconic city sights including The Singapore Flyer, Esplanade, and the Benjamin Sheares Bridge.

Cheering them on were 17 street-side performances scattered along the routes - more than double the seven performances put up last year. As they ran, participants were entertained by acts such as belly-dancing, cheerleading, stilt-walking and popular tunes played by the military bands.

The carnival atmosphere culminated at the finishing point, with stage performances and stalls selling food and sports-related products. Runners also got a free muscular relief and sports massage, to soothe their aching muscles.

But seemingly fresh and energetic even after completing the gruelling 21km run, 1SG Wong attributes the excellent performance of his team to their commitment in preparing for the race, both individually and as a team.

1SG Wong said they scheduled regular training sessions around work and family commitments so they could train together, following a strict timing for their pacing.

"We do mental preparation as well, visualising when the next one-km mark is, and follow the timing required for that one km so that we can meet the timing we want," he explained.

This definitely worked for him on race day, as he clocked an impressive 1 hour and 21 minutes for the run.

The SAFRA Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon was previously named the SAFRA Sheares Bridge Run and Army Half Marathon, which was first held in 1998.

1992: 1st SAFRA Sheares Bridge Run, 15,000 participants in attendance
1994: 1st Army Half Marathon
1998: SAFRA Sheares Bridge Run merges with Army Half Marathon
2008: Run renamed the "Singapore Bay Run" to incorporate the entire Marina Bay area, 70,000 participants in attendance.