Into its 20th year now, the Swissotel Vertical Marathon saw many enthusiasts lining up to take the challenge of climbing one of the tallest hotel in South East Asia.

Climbing up 73 storeys with 1,336 steps within minutes may sound like a daunting task for many but over the years there had been a growing numbers participant this year is not exception a record 1,600 participants competed to complete the challenge this year.

Back by popular demand for the second time, Nike Organize the Human Race 10k on the 24th of October 2009. It was the day where over a million runners from some 30 cities around the world gathered on Saturday to full fill one common mission of running 10 kilometres.

The largest Running Event in Singapore was the tagline for the Salonpas Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon 2009. It is organised by SAFRA and The Army on the 16 August 2009. The event comprises both the competitive 21-km half-marathon and 10-km routes. Social runners can also participate in the non-competitive 6-km Fun Run category.

K•Swiss Sets the Bar for Versatility with First-Ever True Customizable

Sole System for Runners in Singapore

In fall 2009, K•Swiss in Singapore will set a new bar in performance footwear eliminating the need for athletes to purchase and maintain multiple shoes for demands of all levels of training.  A new, tested and proven technology provides a singular solution for both running and tennis performance. One shoe can now do it all and meet both race and training days.  Introducing miSOUL™ Tech by K•Swiss, the first ever modular individualized sole system engineered for customized performance.

According to David Bond, Vice President of Footwear, “miSOUL™ Tech is revolutionary because athletes only need a single shoe rather than multiple pairs to address their different needs of training.  It is so much easier and much more desirable to switch the insole depending on if you are going for a long run or race. There is nothing like it currently on the market.”

After vigorous testing and seeding with top running and tennis athletes, K•Swiss will introduce its proprietary miSOUL™ Tech collection for fall 2009.  The collection will include men’s and women’s RUN ONE-miSOUL™ Tech for runners.  The RUN ONE-miSOUL™ will come complete with two customizable insoles to enhance both performance needs and their equipment investment.  The first insole is a Cushion 1.0 to meet the rigorous needs of training with a high density heel wrap, proprietary Si-18® gel to absorb shock, a TPU arch insert and medial post for stability.  The second insole is the Light 1.0 for race or fast days with an EVA heel wrap for extra support, Superfoam™ for a high energy return, and a carbon fiber spring plate to enhance forefoot propulsion.

miSOUL™ Tech will be sold only in specialty running accounts. The collection will be launched with vertical print advertising, exposure and seeding at triathlons and road races, in-store clinics, a strong point-of-sale presentation, and on-line advertising and a dedicated microsite.

K•Swiss will be sold exclusively through the Running Lab in Singapore with a launch date of September Seventh. The range will cover a posted and neutral training shoes to lightweight racing and training shoes which will go alongside the revolutionary RUN ONE-miSOUL™ Tech. A range of K•Swiss technical running apparel will also be available at Running Lab.

I finally got a hydration belt and it’s none other than a FuelBelt! FuelBelt is a choice of many pro athletes including the current Ironman World Champions Craig Alexander and Chrissie Wellington. I’m not going to start winning races with a FuelBelt but you get the idea, it’s the choice of many top athletes and they must be making an informed decision.

Woke up on event morning a little sore because I’ve gone a little too hard on the push ups few days ago and clocked a game of casual tennis the day before, resulting in abrasion to the toe (ouch!). But you’ll never know, sometimes better times are clocked when you’re feeling tired at the start but it just melts away as the race goes on so I still have to try my best.

The 2009 event is the 1st time a full marathon distance has been included and thus an ever increasing number of participants this year at ~38,000+. Besides 42.195km, there is a choice of the half marathon(HM), 12km run, 12km walk, 11km wheelchair and 4km run/walk.

The course starts from the Perth CBD and the HM runners will run up Kings Park overlooking the city while FM runners will run along Swan River before looping back towards Kings Park then to the beach. The shorter distances will go straight from CBD to City Beach.

The K-Swiss Ultra Natural II is an ultra-light running shoe with enhanced stability. The Durability is achieved with a full length Aosta II rubber outsole.. Flexibility is enhanced by anatomically correct flex-grooves. Support is obtained with a direct injected urethane support cage and GuideGlide Guidance System. Stablity and Motion Control ar maxmized by a high density posting in the medial side for slight over-pronation concerns. Breathability is enhanced with an open mesh upper and outsole drainage ports. Cushioning is provided by Superfoam, GuideGlide Guidance System and k-EVA midsole compound. Comfort is enhanced with a seamless upper contruction. Lastly, there are Stay Tied Laces for safety.

Let’s face it. Everyone gets injured from time to time. Even with the best technology and whatsnot, ultimately, your body is still the one controlling your every movement. The fancy gadgets are just forms of aids that minimize the impact or the probability of the inevitable pains. Training with a coach, trying to run with a nice form, stretching before-and-after trainings, somehow, somewhere along that line, you tend to get cramps, hamstring pulls, etc. Human err everyday, you can never escape injuries no matter how good you are.

Just like the previous year participants gathered at the Open Space between Block 121 & 123 Bukit Merah View on a special Sunday Morning to challenge themselves in completing the 10k Mount Faber run which was organised by the VGO Corporation. The route will test the runners as they make their way across the Bukit Merah area and towards Mount Faber, where a series of uphill and downhill terrains awaits them.