I became a MR 25 runners club member during the Covid times. To speak the truth, I am pretty mediocre runner compared to some of the more powerhouses in the club. We also have ex National Runners in this club, making it kind of a prestige.
To qualify for the MR25 runners club, you first need to go for a 5 KM time trial which happens at the Macritchie Reservoir it self. Participants will need to run below 25min for the 5 Km in order to be offered to be a club member. The yearly fee is $20 and it comes with a lot of perks which included running jerseys, organized progressive runs with club members, weekly training at the Bukit Brown Cemetry or Bukit Gombak stadium.
Progressive runs
Group photo before start
The progressive runs are held throughout the year and the organizing team will announce in the chat group for participants to sign up. This year the first progressive was on 2nd March 2025 ( Sunday). I have not joined the progressive runs for the longest time because I personally find it rather stressful, there is this hidden stress to keep up when I run with the pack. Seriously, MR 25 runners all have some strong background in running or Triathlon sports. Somehow you just feel u need to keep up when you run with them. Other running groups have so called the “Happy Group” which makes it less stressful when come to group runs.
With Richard
The girls
This time round Richard decided to join us. The run saw a big group of 30 people coming to join, the plan is simple the one loop around Macritchie with the extended around 4k into the Upper Pierce Reservoir area. This was my first time going into the Upper Pierce side, actually it is just a small road after the gate near to the Ranger station up. It is quite a narrow path up but the scenery gets very beautiful when it comes out to the open. Some how the place in Upper Pierce felt like in Australia especially in the morning with all the cooling air.
Technical
With Kum Fatt
To speak the truth there is nothing eventful to mention about but just keep chasing time, I did the same thing, ran too fast to begin and was not able to sustain. Goh Lian Boon, another of my friend joined in, in the beginning I over took him and I know I started too fast. Richard did tell me to pace myself out but guess I got too excited. True enough at Upper Pierce I lost it and began to be slower.
Rare shot with Goh Lian Boon
The 5km back, I managed to over take a white shirt guy ( whom I have no idea who he was but he was trying to maintain his speed to prevent overtaking by me and Richard). Although towards the 7km portion ( the roots part which I hate after the golf course), I tried my best to not slow down and was able to maintain pace. Last portion on the road I tried to give it all out and complete with a sprint.
With Gene Marie very kind of her to come support
Was glad that there was a water point at the Uturn portion. And very happy to have so many volunteers to help out and giving out the freebie towels !
My Results