{
  "id": 16855346,
  "title": "Runners swap streets for shopping malls as haze chokes Singapore",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/runners-swap-streets-for-shopping-malls-as-haze-chokes-singapore-16855346",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-28T05:34:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/runners-swap-streets-shopping-malls-030037945.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "The pounding of running shoes echoes through a Singapore shopping mall as fitness enthusiasts desperate to exercise take refuge from choking haze.Those seeking exercise, including runners training for international events, have found an unconventional alternative: air-conditioned shopping malls.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Singapore aims to strengthen haze law, may introduce new legislation where necessary, says minister",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/singapore-aims-to-strengthen-haze-law-may-introduce-new-legislation",
        "published": "2026-10-27T09:12:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Runners swap streets for shopping malls as haze chokes Singapore",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/runners-swap-streets-for-shopping-malls-as-haze-chokes-singapore",
        "published": "2026-10-28T03:11:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}