In the concrete jungle of Singapore (where it’s always hot, humid, and sometimes extremely wet), runners of all shapes and sizes and paces roam free.
From East Coast Park to MacRitchie, from Marina Bay to Bedok Reservoir, thousands of runners emerge before sunrise every weekend be it for a casual run, a social run or a race. While scientists classify humans into one species (Homo sapiens), runners like our early cousin, Hominoidea can be classified into different sub-species.
After years of careful observation (and taking thousands and thousands of race photographs), we at Running Shots has identified several common species found in the Singapore’s concrete jungle.
Let’s see how many you’ve encountered… or perhaps… evolved into.
🛰️ 1. The Garmin Addict
Scientific Name: Garminus Obsessivus
You can spot this runner a mile aways because they always staring at their wrist. Or have their left hand raised up in the air in the valiant hope that that extra bit of height can help them to acquire GPS faster.
No matter how crowded the start pen becomes, they refuse to move until every satellite from NASA, ESA and perhaps even Starlink has connected.
They’re still waiting…
“GPS acquired.”
During the run they glance at their watch every eight seconds.
“Heart rate 152.”
“Pace dropped by two seconds.”
Body Battery 47.”
Their worst nightmare?
Finishing a race only to discover…
Garmin forgot to save the activity.
To everyone else, the race happened.
To them?
It never existed. Not if it’s not on Garmin and Strava
🤳 2. The Selfie Runner
Scientific Name: Instagrammus Filterus
Average running speed: 6:30/km.
Average photography speed: 20 photos per kilometre.
This species can identify every mural, flowering tree, sunrise angle and Marina Bay reflection within a 20km radius of where they running
Their race timeline usually looks like this:
- 5:00am — Self in mirror photo
- 5:10am — Shoe photo
- 5:15am — Bib photo
- 6:00am — Start line selfie
- 6:10am — Running selfie
- 6:30am — Sweaty selfie
- In between – photo of every KM sign, views and more selfie
- 7:20am — Medal selfie
- 7:30am — Group welfie
Actual running time?
Who cares!
⚡ 3. The Speed Demon
Scientific Name: Zoomius Maximus
This runner claims,
“Today just easy run.”
Five minutes later they’re flying past everyone at 3:45/km.
When questioned later, they casually reply,
“Legs feel a bit tired today but weather was good so chiong a bit”
Their “recovery pace” is faster than your 5K PB.
Their warm-up makes you feel like you ran a 5km tempo.
Running beside them for 500 metres feels like you’ve accidentally entered the 100 m sprint event.
🦋 4. The Social Butterfly
Scientific Name: Talkativus Endurance
Running is merely an excuse.
The real objective?
Talking.
They somehow manage to discuss:
- Office gossip
- Holiday plans
- New running shoes
- Hawker recommendations
- Latest Netflix series
- Family updates
…all while maintaining conversational pace.
When the run ends they cheerfully say,
“Wah! Nice easy run!”
👕 5. The “I Paid for This Race Shirt” Runner
Scientific Name: Freebies Collectorus
They paid $90 for the race.
They’re going to get every cent’s worth.
The event tee becomes:
- Saturday running shirt
- Sunday coffee shirt
- Gym shirt
- Sleeping shirt
- Grocery shopping shirt
- Airport shirt
- Office dress down day shirt
Some shirts have survived so many washes that the event logo now resembles a faded tattoo on some old uncle’s sagging biceps
Yet somehow…
They still refuse to throw it away.
“It has memories.”
Translation:
“I paid for it okay.”
🚻 6. The Last-Minute Toilet Hunter
Scientific Name: Panicus Bladderus
This species can be perfectly relaxed…
…until five minutes before the race starts.
Suddenly:
“I need toilet.”
The queue stretches longer than the starting line.
They begin calculating.
“Can still make it… can still make it…”
The countdown begins.
5…
4…
3…
2…
Still queueing.
Eventually they sprint—not towards the finish—but towards the start pen while desperately hoping nature agrees to postpone its appointment.
Ironically, halfway through the race…
They’re completely fine.
🏃 The Beautiful Thing About Singapore Runners
Whether you’re:
- staring at your Garmin every few seconds,
- stopping for fifty selfies,
- chasing a sub-3 marathon,
- chatting non-stop,
- wearing a race shirt from 2006,
- or desperately searching for the nearest portable toilet…
you’re part of what makes Singapore’s running community so colourful. And which is why we at Running Shots love to take your running photos.
Which species are you?
Or better still…
Tag your running kakis and tell us which species they belong to.
Just remember…
If your Garmin didn’t record the run…
We’re still going to believe you.
