The Sundown Marathon, previously known as Adidas Sundown Marathon, is an annual Sports Tourism event that started in 2008. The race takes place in Singapore. The marathon is organized by the same team that made the Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore Triathlon possible. It attracts a diverse group of athletes and managed to attract 10,670 entrants in 2009. There are different races and they are namely the ultramarathon, the marathon, the Women and the Team/Corporate Challenge. The races all fall on the same night with different start times. In 2011, 84 km ultramarathon was replaced with 100 km ultramarathon. Runners are required to pay a fee to participate in the race. The price varies according to registration date, race selected, and the runners' history of participation in the event.
History
The 2011 Sundown Marathon marked the first time that the races did not take place on the same night. The marathons took place on 28 May 2011, while the ultramarathon took place 25 June 2011. The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all registered runners gaining direct entry into the 2021 edition of the race.
Level of participation
As of 3 March 2009, more than 10,000 men and women had signed up for “Singapore’s Toughest Race”. This total breaks the event’s previous entry record of 6,088 participants. Despite the fact that it is a relatively new race present in Singapore, the overwhelming response shows its potential to become a well-respected event. The 2009 event’s route traveled through some of east’s most beautiful urban parks as well as major local landmarks such as Bedok Reservoir, East Coast Park and the Changi Ferry Terminal; all set to the backdrop of Singapore’s night sky. A new addition to the event is also the introduction of the Women’s 10 km which has garnered remarkable response from the public which totaled around 2,200 runners.
Impact and discernible trends of the event
The event has an economic impact from the number of workers that it employs and the tourism that it brings to the area.
Tourism receipts
As the sundown Marathon is the largest night race held in Asia and Singapore, it was largely lauded and publicized and this second year has seen an increase in foreign participants, especially from Malaysia and other neighboring countries. “Of the 600 entrants, the Adidas Sundown Marathon will also be hosting one of the biggest contingents of international. Ultramarathon runners with more than 12% of the participants coming from beyond Singapore's borders.“
Events as attractions
Sundown Festival Village: “Organisers HiVelocity have announced a slew of activities at the village including a free outdoor movie marathon. Frozen yogurt experts, Frolick, will also be giving away 3,000 free cups of Frolick yoghurt to festival village visitors throughout the night. While microbrewery and restaurant, Brewerkz, will be quenching thirsty throats and hungry stomachs with a specially packaged ‘Sundown Picnic Basket' of beers, soft drinks and juicy flame-grilled burgers. With so many wide open spaces at the park, it'll be a great time for all the family to have a nocturnal picnic before, during or after the race.” Sponsors and supporters will gain economically from the events held and attract even more non-runners.
Sociocultural
The Sundown Marathon also has a positive sociocultural impact.
Land use
Sundown Marathon organizers make use of Singapore’s numerous parks while planning the route, which brings runners through "some of east's most beautiful urban parks as well as major local landmarks such as Bedok Reservoir, East Coast Park and the Changi Ferry Terminal; all set to the backdrop of Singapore's night sky.” Sundown Festival village also made use of large spaces of the park to organize this family friendly event.
A marathon itself may be enough to spur people on in terms of morale and determination but the Sundown Marathon makes good use of this opportunity with the different categories for the race. It includes a corporate race, which is fully registered and booked by local and multinational companies for their workers by the time registration closed. The corporate race enables company bonding and can motivate workers as well.
Environmentally
The organizers strive to keep the routes clean, avoiding litter on the ground. This is kept in check by cleaners and volunteers.
Health
The Sundown Marathon is a way to promote both mental and physical health.
Physiological
Running a marathon promotes a healthy lifestyle. As marathon runners often spend months training for the events, this lifestyle can even continue after the race. Friends and family may also become motivated and encouraged to lead a healthier lifestyle.
Psychological
Marathon runners often set their own goals for the race in terms of timing and distances covered. Being able to achieve these goals highly motivates the runners mentally and enables them to gain a higher self-confidence.
Risk
There are also health risks that are associated with running long distances. They may include injuries such as tendonitis, fatigue, knee or ankle sprain, extreme dehydration, as well as others. Although it is rare, death is even possible during a race.
The event increases tourism both through international runners and the spectators that come.
Active participants
At the Sundown Marathon, there are a large number of international runners competing. For the 2009 event, there were altogether 600 entrants in the ultra marathon race. Of the 600 runners, 12% of them were international runners, coming from places like Morocco and Africa. Their ages ranged from 18 to 72.
Spectators
The international runners may bring supporters and friends with them as well, also coming from all over the world. Their ages are even more diverse because they can still support even if they are too old or young to run themselves.
