Man wears tuxedo to run 10km race at Standard Chartered S'pore Marathon

Marathons are tough to begin with; they're a test of both endurance and mental resilience, especially in Singapore's heat and humidity.

Yet this didn't stop one runner from showing up to the 2024 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) in style.

Dressed in a black tuxedo and black running shoes on Nov. 30, the man looked completely out of place next to all the other participants in lighter and brighter running gear.

"When you have a run at 6 and work at 9," he jokingly wrote in the caption of a TikTok video.

@jiajunlaii Not the running attire you expected but thank you #scm2024 ♬ smooth operator - ツ

Got the idea from a customer who caught his flight in a full suit

Speaking to Mothership, the runner, who wished to be referred to as JJ, said he decided to join the Standard Chartered Marathon as it's one of the biggest running events in Singapore.

He shared that it's been a few years since he last joined, and said he ran the full marathon distance at a previous edition of the event.

"Being a tailor myself, I wanted to have something that can challenge myself and also feature something that I love," he said.

JJ got the idea of running in his suit from a customer, who told him about wearing his suit and running to the airport to catch his flight.

"I was like, maybe I should try running in my suit too," JJ said.

The 31-year-old runs Gentlemen's Pursuit, a custom tailor store in Singapore.

That was where he got his outfit for the 10km race as well, of course, tailored just for him.

He explained that the suit is made of 100 per cent lightweight wool which is more breathable and suitable for the weather in Singapore.

Prepping for the marathon

"I started the marathon with some doubts because it had been a while since I ran a 10km," JJ said, admitting that the nervous jitters kicked in when he prepared to head into the pen.

However, a friend, who ran alongside him and filmed the video, had a lot of experience as a pacer so JJ knew he would "be okay."

"The run was manageable generally with the good weather but the challenge came in when the jacket got heavier," JJ commented.

He had a couple of runs to help prepare him for the race, with distances ranging from 3 to 5km.

He shared that he also wore hoodies during his runs to get used to running in thicker fabric.

Seeing his formal attire at a not-so-formal event, JJ said that some runners took selfies with him in his outfit.

Others shook his hand and encouraged him throughout the run, reminding him to stay hydrated.

He also said the cheers from route marshals and water point volunteers gave him "the push to go on."

JJ said it took him an hour and 24 minutes to complete the run.

When asked by Mothership if he had any key takeaways from the experience, JJ said it was a "good experience" that allowed him to step out of his comfort zone and challenge himself.

"I am just so glad I managed to finish this challenge," he added.

SCSM 2024

The 2024 edition of the SCSM had over 55,000 participants in a variety of races, from the 42.195km full marathon to half marathons, as well as 5km and 10km races.

The event has been ongoing since Nov. 29, with the 5 and 10 km races being held on Nov. 30.

The half and full marathons were run on Dec. 1.

The event's start time was at 4:30am in the morning, with professional athletes expected to finish in just over two hours, and amateur athletes given up to seven and a half hours to finish.

Top image via @jiajunlaii/TikTok