Athletic group avoids haze by running indoors at Marina Square

A group of runners did not let the haze disrupt their morning workout routine.

Running community X-Run Singapore, along with Key Power Sports, took their run indoors in Marina Square before opening hours on Oct. 17.

They reportedly received permission from the mall.

At least 12 people joined in, according to a group photo shared on the organisers' Instagram pages.

Videos posted online showed them running in an empty mall, past stores that had not yet opened.

Due to the worsening haze, several running events were cancelled over the past two weeks.

This included community runs by the Singapore Runners Club and Chill Movement, as well as the Great Eastern Women's Run that was scheduled for Nov. 17.

ActiveSG also announced on Oct. 15 that it will close many of its outdoor and non-air-conditioned facilities temporarily.

'A great alternative'

Elmer Loy, who participated in the Marina Square run, wrote on Instagram that it was "a great alternative" to continue doing his long runs during the haze period.

He clocked 19km that morning, while another participant, Nathan Jon Sing, said he ran a half-marathon.

The first two levels of the mall are about 1.2km long per loop, and the third level is about 800m per loop.

Adel G, who described it as a fun morning, also ran in other malls solo to beat the haze.

"Can't be running outdoors in this haze, so gotta get creative," she wrote in a post, adding that running in a mall was much better than staring at a treadmill wall.

According to her, X-Run will organise weekly runs at Marina Square, every Saturday at 7am.