Runners swap streets for shopping malls as haze chokes Singapore
Fitness enthusiasts take refuge from choking haze as Indonesian wildfires drive air quality to its worst levels in over a decade, cancelling outdoor activities.
Singapore's fitness enthusiasts are swapping open streets for air-conditioned shopping malls as the city-state grapples with hazardous haze. Smoke from Indonesian wildfires has plummeted air quality to its worst levels in over a decade, forcing the cancellation of outdoor activities. Undeterred, runners like Eugene Beh, 52, founder of the Singapore Runners Club, have found an alternative within the walls of Marina Square shopping centre.
On Saturday, more than 80 runners lapped the mall's corridors, following strict rules such as no sprinting, overtaking, shouting, or spitting. Despite some finding the experience boring, Angeline Zeng, 57, who uses the mall runs to meet her training goals for international events, sees it as a viable option. Paul Wong, a 54-year-old retiree, has even clocked 21 km indoors, saying the treadmill treadmill feels less like a hamster run than running on a treadmill outdoors.
Eddie Chang, lead coach for X-Run, says the mall runs are a mental boost, reducing the impact of the challenging humid weather and haze. If the air quality remains poor, the clubs plan to extend the indoor runs and seek permission from more malls.
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