2XU Compression Run

Waste of money, time, energy and resources. Organizers, probably driven by greed, overbooked the event. The 10km run lacked a proper pen system (except perhaps for elite runners) causing most middle-of-the pack participants to start the race by walking, and the first five kilometers turned into a slow weaving jog around slower runners (and an unexpectedly high number of walkers). Additionally, there was some drama over the 21km run being shortened to 20km, allegedly for logistical reasons. This decision sparked significant backlash, forcing the organizers to reverse it at the last minute. To make the experience worse, race apparel was oversized by Asian standards, so anyone expecting a L size without double-checking measurements ended up with the equivalent of XL (if not XXL!). Worst event I've experienced out of over 40 races.

Overall, I would strongly not recommend this event for serious runners seeking a reliable, well-organized race experience. While the event had potential, several issues made it disappointing: - Poor pre-race communication: About a week before race day, the organizer finally announced the course, but shortened the half marathon to 20KM, citing "operational concerns." After a massive backlash, they reversed the decision two days before the race by adding an awkward loop near the finish. The whole episode showed poor planning and reactive management. - Safety concerns: Some parts of the course were poorly lit with uneven surfaces, posing risks for runners in the dark. - Inaccurate course measurement: GPS data again showed the course was short, a recurring issue in past editions. - Poor water point setup: Very few (<4) tables at water points caused bottlenecks, with runners stopping abruptly and blocking others, making it difficult to grab water smoothly. - Lack of crowd support: To be fair, this is common across most Singapore races, but the course atmosphere was particularly quiet and uninspiring. SCSM is probably the only reliably well-organized race in Singapore.