The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) Half Marathon has a massive update for 2025: It’s on Saturday.

By splitting the Half and Full marathons onto different days, the course is less congested than previous years. With a flatter profile and the exclusion of the Sheares Bridge, this is a prime opportunity to set a Tropical Personal Best.

The Half vs. Full Marathon

While the Full Marathon is the "Grand Tour" of the island, the Half Marathon offers a curated experience of the city’s finest sights.

• Full Marathon (Sunday): Includes a punishing 19km stretch along East Coast Park and a longer 6km grind through the Central Business District (CBD).

• Half Marathon (Saturday): You get all the iconic sights (National Stadium, Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay) without the desolate highway stretches. Plus, starting on Saturday means you have Sunday to recover (or sleep in)!

With 15,000 runners toeing the line, the race will be packed. We’ve broken down the race strategy for the 21.1km course with Ben Khoo, the Singapore Ironman National Record Holder, 2x SCSM Podium Finisher, and founder of Live Long Long.

Phase 1: Urban Traffic (0km - 7km)

The race starts at the F1 Pit Building. The excitement is high, and the road is crowded.

• ❌ The Trap: The "Weave" & The Hills. With 15,000 runners, the start will be tight. It is easy to get frustrated and waste precious energy weaving in and out of the crowd. Also, watch out for the two "hills" early on - the underpasses at roughly 1.5km and 3.5km. They aren't huge, but sprinting up them will spike your heart rate too early.

• ✅ The Strategy: Patience is Speed. Do not weave. Stick to a straight line and flow with the crowd; the road will open up eventually. For the underpasses, forget your pace. Keep your effort steady. If you slow down by 10 seconds on the uphill, that is fine. You will make it back on the flats.

• 📍 The Checkpoint. If you cross the Merdeka Bridge at 7km feeling fresh (like you have much more to give), you are executing a great race.

Phase 2: Take a Little Trip Around Singapore (7km - 13.4km)

You head down Nicoll Highway and cruise past the Esplanade. This is the most beautiful part of the morning.

• ❌ The Trap: Zoning Out. As the crowd thins out and you run down the wide Esplanade Drive, it’s easy to get too comfortable or distracted by the views of the CBD.

• ✅ The Strategy: Lock in Your Rhythm. Enjoy the view, but stay focused. This is the "cruise" section where you should feel comfortable. Check your form: shoulders relaxed, head up.

• 🍔 Focus on Fuel. The middle third of the half marathon is all about fueling. This is the time to top up your tank so you don't crash later. If you are fueled and hydrated here, you are ready to finish strong.

Phase 3: Run, Don’t Walk! (13.4km - 21.1km)

You hit Marina Barrage. This is where the race truly begins.

• ❌ The Trap: The Barrage Wall. The Barrage is often where the heat starts to bite and legs get heavy. You are running away from the finish line, and it might feel like it’s never going to end. Many runners mentally check out here because they still have to run out to Gardens East and U-turn back.

• ✅ The Strategy: Hunt the Walkers. If you paced Phase 1 and 2 correctly, you will have energy left. This is where you switch gears. As you head towards the U-turn at Gardens East, you will see many runners starting to walk. Don't join them. Pass them. Use them as targets. Pick a runner ahead, reel them in, and pass. Repeat until the finish line.

• 📍 The Checkpoint. Use the mega aid station at 13.4km as your mental reset button. Collect all the fuel and hydration you need, douse yourself to cool down, and tell yourself: "The warm-up is over. Time to race."

Fueling Strategy

There is often a disconnect between how runners think they should fuel and the reality of Singapore’s humidity. In this tropical climate, you can lose 1.0L to 1.5L of fluid per hour. Dehydration is one of the biggest factors for DNF (Did Not Finish) and cramping in Singapore.

Hydration Rule: Drink at EVERY aid station. Do not skip one.

Energy Strategy: The "One Station" Problem. The official on-course gel this year is AminoSaurus, a popular Japanese brand containing amino acids. However, there is only ONE gel station (approx 13.4km). Do not wait for it. By 13km, your glycogen stores will already be depleted.

The Plan: 4 Gels

• Gel 1 @ 0km: Take a gel 5-10 minutes before flag off to top off your energy reserves

• Gel 2 @ ~6km: Take it just before the aid station at 6.1km. Wash it down with 100Plus.

• Gel 3 @ ~11km: Take it before the aid station at 11.4km. Wash down with 100Plus.

• Gel 4 @ ~15km: Take this at the U-turn in Gardens East (approx 15km). Wash it down with water at the 16.6km station. This is your rocket fuel for the final 5km kick. (TIP: Collect your free gel (!) at the aid station at 13.4km)

Spectator Guide: Where to Cheer

Important: We suggest not to go to the Start Line at the F1 Pit Building. Many areas are restricted to runners only and it will be extremely crowded. Instead, we recommend these accessible spots to catch the action:

1. War Memorial Park / Nicoll Highway (5:00-5:30 AM)

• Why: The runners pass here around the 9km mark. It is wide and easy to spot your friends.

• Tip: After seeing them here, you can easily walk over to Raffles City or the Finish Line.

2. Raffles City Intersection (5:30-6:30 AM)

• Why: Runners pass here around the 10km mark. The city lights provide a great backdrop for photos.

• Tip: This is also the 20km mark, and a short walk from the finish line

3. Marina Barrage (5:45-6:45 AM)

• Why: This is the start of the "pain cave" (13.4km). Runners will be hurting here and need the most encouragement.

• Tip: It’s a double feature! You catch them entering at 13.4km, and about 20 minutes later, you’ll see them exit at 16.6km. It is fascinating (and slightly terrifying) to spot the difference in facial expressions after they’ve tackled the Gardens by the Bay loop!

4. The Finish Line at The Padang (6:00-7:00 AM)

• Why: The best atmosphere. The sun will be up, and you can welcome your runner home for a celebratory breakfast in the city.

Final Tips for Race Day

The half marathon flags off at 4:30 AM. This unusual schedule requires a specific approach to sleep and nutrition.

• Bank Your Sleep: You will be waking up around 12:30-1:30 AM. Do not rely on Friday night sleep. Aim to be in bed by 7-8 PM on Friday. Your main rest should come from banking extra hours on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

• Arrive Early (3:00 AM): The Half Marathon is the most popular distance, with over 15,000 runners expected. Security queues and porta-potty lines will be long. Aim to arrive at the F1 Pit Building by 3:00 AM to do your final preparations stress-free for the 4:30 AM flag-off.

• Load up 24-36 Hours Out: Start your carbo-loading on Thursday. You do not need to drastically increase total calories; simply replace your protein intake with carbohydrates. Crucially, switch to low-fiber foods (white rice, white bread) to avoid gut issues on race morning.

• Have a Light Breakfast: Keep it light and carb-heavy (e.g., toast with jam) at 2:00 AM. Take one energy gel 5-10 minutes before the start gun.

Run Strong. Recover Faster.

The race ends at the finish line, but your longevity journey continues. At Live Long Long, we believe that consistency is the key to both endurance sports and a long, healthy life.

To perform your best, you need to recover your best. Sleep is the ultimate performance hack. If you struggle to wind down after intense training or need to ensure you bank those critical hours of rest before race day, try Deep Sleep+. It helps optimize your sleep cycle so you wake up refreshed and ready to perform.