Running in Singapore

Last week I ventured to Singapore's Botanical Gardens for a couple run. I was staying about a mile down the street, so it was a quick run to the park, on sidewalks that were nice and wide.

Upon entering the Gardens, I was immediately taken back by how beautiful it was. There were so many trees, flowers and beautiful paths and walkways. Of course, it was incredibly clean and there were people throughout walking, running and enjoying the day.

I ended up running around the Gardens twice and covered most of the paths. They wind around ponds, waterfalls, fields and flower gardens. Additionally, I discovered a long boardwalk through the woods that really made me feel like I was in the jungle. It was a very cool experience and the boardwalk didn't shake at all - again, not surprising for Singapore.

If you're staying closer to the waterfront in Singapore, the other place to go for a run is along the river. There are beautiful, wide sidewalks on the bank and will provide great views of the city. However, the Gardens are definitely worth going to if you're able to. Plus, you can run about 4 miles without repeating any paths (just be prepared to get lost a bit on the winding trails - but it's fun!).

Another thing to be prepared for is the heat. Singapore is really hot and really humid. Make sure you're hydrated and make it an easy run day, because after about 10 minutes you'll really feel it. I'd recommend running in dri-fit because otherwise your shirt will be soaking wet and weigh you down almost immediately.

Also, Singapore is really safe, so even though you may be running around new and unseen territory, it's perfectly fine to do alone.