5 Places to Avoid Running At Night During the Lunar 7th Month

It’s that time of the year when the old folks at home warn you against late-night jogs so you don’t accidentally step on someone’s burnt offering, kick a joss stick, or offend the “Good Brothers.”

We all know it is completely futile to tell an endorphin-chasing runner to stay indoors. If you must get your mileage in during the Hungry Ghost Festival and only have time after dark to do so, proceed at your own risk. Here are 5 places best avoided after dark—unless you’re looking for an involuntary PB powered by pure terror.

You have been warned…

1. Old Upper Thomson Road

A runner’s dream by day thanks to its cool morning air and punishing inclines—perfect for hill repeats. But come nightfall, the tree canopy seals shut, turning the road pitch-black, misty, and intensely spooky.

This stretch was once part of the old Thomson Road racing circuit, which hosted the Singapore Grand Prix from 1961 to 1973. Two of its most notorious sections acquired reassuring names: Devil’s Bend and Murder Mile. Seven drivers lost their lives on this circuit during its racing years, earning the road a permanent spot in local haunt lore.

The classic local legend involves late-night taxi drivers picking up a quiet passenger who pays in cash—only for the drivers to check their pocket later and find a pile of Hell Bank notes.

Imagine doing interval training here at midnight:

You hit the top of the hill, gasping for air, hands on your knees.
A lady in a white top appears seemingly from nowhere.
She asks softly: “Can you pace me?”
You say: “Sure”
She takes off immediately. You follow.
Five minutes in, you look up over the next hill… and she has faded into the mist…

2. South Buona Vista Road

For runners seeking brutal elevation, pushing up South Buona Vista Road toward Vigilante Dr is sheer physical torture—followed by sweet relief once you reach the summit of Kent Ridge Park.

Known locally as the “99 Bends,” this winding snake of a road has a long reputation for high-octane creepiness. Legend has it a driver once rounded one of the sharp turns only to see a woman standing dead-center in the lane. Unable to brake in time, the car plowed straight through her… except there was no impact, no body, and no woman.

Picture yourself on that exact road:

It’s 11:30 PM.
Your breathing is heavy. Inhale, exhale.
But wait… there’s a new heavy breath right behind.
You stop and turn around. Nothing.
You start running again. Another bend, another incline.
The heavy breathing resumes—perfectly synced to your footsteps.

3. Bedok Reservoir

Bedok Reservoir is the ultimate Eastie running hotspot: flat, scenic, and convenient. It also boasts one of the island’s most impressive collections of urban legends, reinforced by a dark history of tragic events that have earned it spots on local haunted lists.

The most persistent tale speaks of a mysterious woman in red resting on a park bench near the water’s edge late at night.

Here is where a runner’s overactive imagination takes over:

You’re cruising along the gravel track at a smooth stride.
Up ahead, framed by the dim lamplight, sits a figure on a bench.
Long dark hair. Bright red shirt. Head bowed.
You tell yourself: “Relax, it’s just someone taking a midnight break.”
You pass the bench.
A raspy voice whispers: “Hey… nice pace…”
You freeze, turn around… and the bench is completely empty.

4. Tampines Eco Green

Singapore has precious few trail-running spots, and almost all of them inside the Central Catchment Nature Reserve close strictly at 7:00 PM. If you want to trail-run in the dark, Tampines Eco Green seems like the obvious choice—a 36.5-hectare sanctuary of marshlands and dense secondary forest.

There’s just one tiny detail: it has zero artificial lights. NParks deliberately keeps the park pitch-black to protect the wildlife. Despite sitting right next to bright, bustling HDB blocks, the moment you step onto the dirt trail at night, the darkness swallows you whole.

Living nearby, plenty of locals swear the woods hold more than just birds and butterflies.

The trail is open, but the atmosphere feels heavy and watchful.
Your headlamp beam cuts through the fog, catching dozens of tiny glowing eyes in the bushes.
You tell yourself they belong to night jars or civet cats.
Then your headlamp flickers and dies.
Then you see a man waving to you from a distance.….

5. Pasir Ris Park

The reigning heavy-weight champion of eerie midnight routes. By day, it’s a lovely spot for birdwatching, family picnics, or a casual seaside stride. By night, it packs a terrifying triple-threat:

Sungei Api Api: This mangrove river channel is notorious in local lore for sightings of figures perched silently in the upper tree branches.
The Mangrove Boardwalk & “Suicide Tower”: Pitch-black and eerie, the birdwatching tower earned its ominous nickname from decades of local ghost stories. It’s one of the few places left where you might spot fireflies… or something far less pleasant standing on the upper deck.
Areas B & C (The Maze Boundary): Shadowed, dense, and unnervingly quiet. Runners often report the distinct sensation of being watched from the treeline—or spotting shadowy figures gliding down parallel paths.

And if you think we at Running Shots is telling a tall tale, check out this investigation by the brave people of The Smart Local.

A Quick Word of Caution…

If you are brave (or stubborn) enough to log your 7th Month night miles in these locations:

Run with a buddy. (Or at least someone you can outrun if things go sideways.)
If you hear footsteps behind you… don’t panic. It’s probably just another runner chasing a midnight PR.
However, if those footsteps match your cadence exactly while making zero sound on the gravel… run faster.
Whatever you do: Do not look back. Even if you hear your name called.