These marathon runners will give up their personal best to save a life

In a pioneering initiative at the Singapore International Marathon, specially trained "medic runners" will be on standby to provide life-saving medical assistance during the race. These runners, part of the new category introduced by the BYD Singapore International Marathon presented by Adidas, will be physically present on the course to aid fellow participants experiencing medical distress.

The requirement for these runners stems from the high incidence of medical emergencies during marathons in Singapore's hot and humid climate, including heat stroke, dehydration, fainting and even cardiac arrest. In fact, three participants died after completing the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon in 2024, while a 23-year-old tragically lost his life during the 2XU Compression Run in April 2025.

Organisers hope that having medic runners on the course will enhance safety measures and complement existing medical response units, as each runner will be medically trained for the duration of the race. However, participating medic runners must prioritize participant safety over their own performance, forgoing their personal bests to help others.

Applicants for the medic runner category must meet stringent requirements, including being a Singapore resident, having prior long-distance running experience, and completing mandatory medical training covering essential first aid skills such as CPR, wound bandaging, and treating allergic reactions. Despite these rigorous criteria, over 1,300 applications were received, with only 238 selected.