{
  "id": 368787,
  "title": "Running group completes 61km run tracing Merlion head to mark SG61",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/running-group-completes-61km-run-tracing-merlion-head-to-mark-sg61",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-09T10:40:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Straits Times",
    "slug": "straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/running-group-completes-61km-run-tracing-merlion-head-to-mark-sg61"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a unique celebration of Singapore's 61st National Day, a group of 195 runners from ten countries embarked on a 61km run tracing the iconic Merlion head. Organised by Mountain Goat Running Group, this second edition of the UTSG 61 Merlion Head Strava Art run saw participants commence their journey near Lentor MRT station at 10pm on August 8th and conclude at Bright Hill MRT station the following morning.\n\nMountain Goat Running Group leader Ament Chia explained that the Merlion symbolises strength, courage, and excellence, values that align with the group's ethos. This year, the event incurred a modest participation fee between $20 and $65, primarily to cover operational costs. Out of the 195 participants aged between 21 and 69, approximately 65% or 126 runners were Singaporean, with the oldest being 70-year-old Wong Sek Fong, a retiree who participated in the run for the second time.\n\nWong, a former fabrication worker in Hong Kong, discovered the 2025 edition of the run online the day it was scheduled to begin. Despite feeling rushed and unprepared, he persevered, having completed nearly 70 marathons and 20 100km races in his 50s. He credited his fitness to regular morning walks and occasional jogs, and sees participating in races as a chance to bond with friends and explore new places.\n\nFor Ho Yin Yin, this was her first National Day run, though she had been running with her son for a decade. For her 30-year-old son, Daryl Pui, the 61km run marked a personal milestone in distance, as he had only recently started venturing into longer trail runs. The run provided Pui with an opportunity to bond with his mother and inspire him to embrace a more active lifestyle.\n\nAmong the international participants was Franz Classnitz, a 37-year-old R&D programme manager from Germany. Classnitz joined the run to combine endurance with national pride, having picked up running in Singapore in 2024 after a health scare. He expressed pride and gratitude for being part of this unique celebration, describing it as a memorable experience.",
  "summary": "The UTSG 61 Merlion Head Strava Art run kicked off on Aug 8, and ended on the morning of Aug 9.",
  "key_points": [
    "195 runners from 10 countries completed 61km Merlion Head run in Singapore",
    "Run organized by Mountain Goat Running Group to celebrate SG61 National Day",
    "Participants ranged from 21 to 70 years old, with 65% being Singaporean"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}