Category: sports

Ocbc Cycle with Family

[ Media Invite ]

We participated in OCBC Cycle with family last weekend. It was another fun opportunity for families to bond and encourage kids to be sporty 🙂

We first participated in OCBC Cycle in 2016, read our experience here.

Ocbc Cycle with Family
Ocbc Cycle with Family

OCBC Cycle was a two days event at Singapore Sports Hub. Saturday for young families and Sunday for individuals (23 and 42Km).

There were carnival activities at event venue, some fun stuffs are related to bikes, and smaller kids are fascinated with bubbles.

At the appointed time, we got into our race lane and get ready to roll off. Boon Yee and Boon Xin were supposed to be in two different age category, but I managed to combine them into the one session (save on logistics, and it would be more fun to cycle together).

We have Xander and Winston from BlogFather to join us in this section.

Image credit Winston, BlogFather

 

Overall, the event is very well organised. No rush, and everyone file to the front in an orderly manner. Parents were smiling and chit chatting with the kids as we cycled slowly, some would inevitably be in race-mode.

 

The road was wide enough for everyone, but some of the road marshals were standing too close to the lanes.

 

 

 

Fortunately, the dark skies did not pour, we were very lucky as the weekend had a thunderstorm forecast! It might be a different ending if we are all soaked  🙂

 

It was a fun and easy 20 min loops for us.

Well done kids, time to upgrade your bikes for 2018. Boon Yee was complaining that our pace was too slow and he confidently ride infront and overtook us once.

As the kids were warming up in the carpark before we start (maybe too much rounds(, Boon Xin struggled to compete the last 2 laps.

 

But she persisted to cross the final line, and earn her finisher medal 🙂

Love this photo from David, look a bit like OCBC Cycle poster :p

Image credit David, Life’s Tiny Miracles

We would like to thanks OCBC for the Fun invite. Many families enjoyed the riding opportunity. You may read more about OCBC Cycle Family category (Mighty Savers) on their Website and Facebook.

Do pop by our 2016 OCBC Cycling here and more stories on our blog tag “Cycling” and Instagram hashtag #skbCycles

 

We will share more about Day 2 OCBC Cycle Family (with my No1 in 23km) soon. Meanwhile, you may wish to read up how Dana (Life’s Tiny Miracles) did in her sole category 🙂

 

Running Punggol Buangkok Sengkang Park connector

We love the park connectors, you can run, cycle, blade, scoot or simply walk. Day or night, the scenic waterways always attract families (including pets) and activities.

Lovely cloud reflections at Coney Island entrance

When I need to choose a spot for my long runs, the Sengkang Park connector links me to Punggol and Buangkok, and the loop will last me 20 to 25km.  Some convenience factors for me would be be toilets, water point and shelters (lockers would be a bonus).

1) Toilets – For obvious reason, stomachache in the middle of coney island is no fun.

2) Water point for my hydration needs. Try running in Bishan Park loops and you will realise they only have 2 or perhaps 3 water points. (Please correct me if I am wrong)

3) Shelters from the environment. You can run in the rain but not under thunderstorm.

Look at Google Map below, I have highlighted the water points (roughly every 5km) in my favourite running route. You can start from anywhere, any direction, just follow the waterways and “long kang” (drains) to form a 20km loop. Google Map Link

Sengkang Punggol Running route
Sengkang Punggol Running route

Expect to see Container parks, nice vantage bridges, dams, beautiful sunrise or sunset, and the spectacular Punggol landscape. I have yet to spot the otters.

I live in Sengkang, but I need to admit that Punggol is more scenic 🙂

Punggol 21
Punggol 21, Jewel Bridge

When you run around your neighbourhood, you will realise how landscapes can change in months. Green area cleared, boarding come up, and the BTO flats literally grow floor by floor in weeks! And Sengkang hospital will be ready in a few months!

 

 

If you start from Compass One (Seng Kang MRT), clockwise through Buangkok you will reach Sengkang Park connector towards the swimming pool. You will run behind Kampong Lorong Buangkok (Singapore’s last Kampong on the main land, GPS 1.383346, 103.878035).

Sengkang Park connector
Sengkang Park connector

#Water point B(refer map) Anchorvale Swimming Pool

Sengkang Swimming Pool

 

Run along the river and you will reach the dormitories and Punggol Marina. Look across the straits at Johor Pasir Gudang. There will be a lot of fishing enthusiasts (anglers) too.

Punggol end Jetty

#Water point C. Punggol End

If you want to end your run, take a bus back to Punggol bus Interchange. Or if you want additional challenge, run the Punggol end slopes!

You can enjoy seafood or rent a bike to go to Coney Island (closed at 7pm).

Bus to Punggol end

But this lush greenery and laid-back corner at Punggol end will be very crowded soon, with new flats and even industries.

Future Punggol Developments
Future Punggol Developments

I hate this zig-zag route running parallel to Coney Island. Seems like never ending, and always feel lonely on this stretch. You will get occasional bikers and joggers.

Below picture of HDB, you will see remote planes flying around weekends.

You will see Lorong Halus bridge before Water Point D. This bridge looks nice day or night.

#Water point D. Punggol Promenade toilet (200m from bridge, 50m to Container Park)

This is 15km mark on my run, 5km to go but I hear Happy hours 🙂

ofo bikes rental
ofo bikes Punggol

Nearing the end of my route, one more km to Water Way E.

#Water point E. Punggol Park (This is actually in Hougang)

Punggol Park
Punggol Park

 

#Water point A. This can be Buangkok or Sengkang MRT

A slow run (20km pace 7 to 8) will take you between 2 to 2.5 hours. Enjoy the scenery.

Additional tips :

1-Ladies, do not go running alone in the late evenings, run with a pal. Some areas suffer from blackouts. And there are many construction sites around.

2-Beware of the irritating bright lights from ebikes and scooters, they are fast and often blind you with their spotlights!

Do you prefer Sunrise, Sunset or even full moon? Do share your favourite park and running routes with me.

– Macritchie Trail run
– Cycle to Sengkang North and Seletar airport
– Cycle to Coney Island
– Follow our running adventures here