The &%)_#^^_#^^ haze has been ruining our outdoor runs. For some, it’s just less exercises but for some – training for the BYD International Marathon, these remaining weeks are crucial for chalking up the mileage and being ready for the big day.

But if the haze doesn’t go away soon – how?

Treadmills & Gyms

Heading to the gym for a treadmill session is the obvious solution but everyone has the exact same idea! Gyms quickly become packed, and most facilities enforce strict time limits on treadmill usage. Plus, nobody likes running on a machine dripping with sweat from the previous user. Buying or renting your own treadmill is an option if you have deep pockets and space to spare, but let’s be honest—that’s not a realistic luxury for most HDB dwellers.

So, how else can you keep your cardio up? Here are a few great alternatives:

Indoor Mall Running

If you’re part of a running community like the X-Run Club, you’re in luck! You can join their indoor mall run at the Marina Square. Yup – run in the mall. Their members have managed to clock up to 20 km during these runs. It might sound unusual at first, but running through a sheltered, air-conditioned mall is a fantastic way to clock up to 20 km away from the polluted air.

Stair Climbing

Stair climbing is a straightforward, killer cardio workout. Look for tall buildings with enclosed, sheltered stairwells—whether in CBD commercial towers like Marina Bay Financial Centre or high-rise HDB blocks across areas like Toa Payoh, Queenstown, Bukit Merah, and Kallang. If you choose a commercial building, just double-check with building management first so security doesn’t stop your workout! Beyond building cardiovascular endurance and stamina, tackling stairs heavily engages and strengthens your glutes, quads, and calves.

Home-Based Aerobic Exercises

If you prefer not to inhale even a whiff of haze in a stairwell, staying indoors at home is your best bet. You can mix and match these effective, equipment-light aerobic exercises:

    • Skipping: All you need is a rope and a small patch of floor space. Just make sure your ceiling is high enough and clear of low-hanging lights or fans! Skipping provides a full-body workout while sharpening foot speed, coordination, and cadence (spm)—skills that directly improve your turnover rate when you hit the road again.

    • Burpees: The ultimate total-body exercise. Combining a squat, plank, push-up, and vertical jump into a fluid movement, burpees recruit your core, chest, shoulders, quads, and glutes all at once. They rapidly spike your heart rate and VO2 max, forcing your cardiovascular system to pump blood efficiently across major muscle groups. Plus, the drop-and-plank transition strengthens core stability, preventing postural collapse during the late stages of a long run.

While indoor workouts might not replace the open-air adrenaline rush of an outdoor run, they will keep your heart pumping, maintain your hard-earned marathon fitness, and keep your lungs healthy until the skies clear up!