{"id":67529,"date":"2026-07-10T07:16:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T23:16:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=67529"},"modified":"2026-07-10T07:16:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T23:16:02","slug":"run-first-burger-later-why-running-groups-formed-by-eateries-are-gaining-popularity-in-singapore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=67529","title":{"rendered":"Run first, burger later: Why running groups formed by eateries are gaining popularity in Singapore"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013 After taking a break from running for five years, mother-of-two Connie Lee decided to bite the bullet and sign up for the 7km Shack Run.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Her main motivation? The post-run Shake Shack burger, fries and lemonade that was included in the $35.20 entry fee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">On July 4, she was among 60 runners who took part in the run around Marina Bay organised by Shake Shack\u2019s running club, the Shack Track Club.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The American fast food chain is one of the latest companies outside the<!-- --> fitness industry <!-- -->to start a running club in Singapore. <!-- -->Major sportswear brands that have some form of a running club in Singapore include Nike, adidas and Lululemon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Originating in the US in 2015, the Shack Track Club held its first Shack Run in Singapore in January and welcomed 40 runners. A second edition in March had 60 participants.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Shake Shack Singapore <!-- -->said it<!-- --> had noticed running\u2019s increasing popularity here and wanted to use the club to bring people together outside its restaurants<!-- --> in \u201can inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome\u201d<!-- -->.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">After the run on July 4, Lee and the other participants gathered at Shake Shack One Fullerton to enjoy a meal together.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cI wanted a push factor for me to get moving and this time, it was definitely the burger,\u201d said the 36-year-old who stopped running when she <!-- -->was<!-- --> pregnant with her first child.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cHopefully this will help me become more active and make running part of my routine again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Having enjoyed himself with his mother at the Shack Run in March, eight-year-old Alden Lim insisted the pair sign up for the next edition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">His mother Teo Hwee Ping, 40, said: \u201cIt was a good bonding experience for the both of us and he had a lot of fun. That 5km was the farthest he\u2019s run, but there was no pressure to run fast.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThis time, I thought that 7km would be a bit long, but he insisted that he\u2019s able to do it and wanted to come.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Refreshments after running are also offered at runs organised<!-- --> by Latin American restaurant Chimi\u2019s and cafe Hello Arigato.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Chimi\u2019s Run Club, <!-- -->too, prioritises socialising over<!-- --> running fast. Sessions take place every Tuesday and see an average of 30 runners. Each session costs $5 and runners receive a drink voucher they can redeem after their run.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">A Chimi\u2019s spokesperson said: \u201cWe want to encourage people to move and enjoy the social side of fitness without feeling intimidated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThe idea is simple: Come down, enjoy a run or walk around the bay, then have a pint or a meal afterwards with new friends.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Beyond regular runs, Chimi\u2019s has also organised larger events, such as a <!-- -->\u201crave\u201d in May \u2013 when<!-- --> <!-- -->200 participants completed a 5km run before grooving to high-tempo music played by a live DJ at Marina Bay \u2013<!-- --> and hopes to continue doing so.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Regular sports event organisers and runners <!-- -->said<!-- --> the emergence of such groups <!-- -->helps widen the sport\u2019s reach<!-- -->.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"landscape inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8426f2d5bbd74d0be4f4982eb0a66a2700dec85f3e7a69ffa1f03f657186f79b?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8426f2d5bbd74d0be4f4982eb0a66a2700dec85f3e7a69ffa1f03f657186f79b?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8426f2d5bbd74d0be4f4982eb0a66a2700dec85f3e7a69ffa1f03f657186f79b?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8426f2d5bbd74d0be4f4982eb0a66a2700dec85f3e7a69ffa1f03f657186f79b\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/8426f2d5bbd74d0be4f4982eb0a66a2700dec85f3e7a69ffa1f03f657186f79b\" alt=\"Teo Hwee Ping and her son Alden Lim signed up for the July 4 Shack Run after enjoying the previous edition in March.\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 pt-08 pb-16\">\n<p class=\"inline text-secondary font-secondary-captions-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">Teo Hwee Ping and her son Alden Lim signed up for the July 4 Shack Run after enjoying the previous edition in March.<\/p>\n<p class=\"inline text-tertiary font-secondary-captions-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\"> <!-- -->ST PHOTO: SARAH LEE<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Vanessa Chong, who frequently takes part in <!-- -->major annual<!-- --> events such as the Singapore Marathon and Great Eastern Women\u2019s Run, noted that the scene was not as diverse when she started running in 2018.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The 36-year-old doctor said: \u201cThe social element of such runs draws in younger crowds because they can broaden their social circles and even meet potential partners.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cSome movement is better than none for the general population. It can be quite hard for someone to keep at it if their goal is not performance, so having that social element can make it easier for them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Infinitus Productions managing director Jeffrey Foo said that it is unlikely that <!-- -->non-fitness<!-- --> brands are trying to generate sales from such events; instead, he feels they a<!-- -->re simply<!-- --> attempting to engage consumers in <!-- -->a<!-- --> different way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Foo, whose company organised events such as the Illumi Run and Lazada Run, said: \u201cConsumers are more picky about what gives them more value&#8230; what consumers get from it \u2013 what\u2019s in the goodie bag, what\u2019s so special about the run.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cIf I pay $35 for a run and get a meal and other goodies, it\u2019s good value and it\u2019s as simple as that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">While Elvin Ting, TriFactor Asia founder and managing director of sport and wellness events company Orange Room, appreciates the unique element of such events, he is <!-- -->unsure of<!-- --> their longevity after the novelty wears off.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He said: \u201cIt\u2019s a good starting point. Different people are motivated differently and it is difficult for a single organiser to be all-encompassing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cA lot of concepts are good the first time because people want to try them, but the question is how sustainable they are \u2013 how many times do I want to do a Colour Run or a Shack Run?<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cIt\u2019s natural for people to start with fun runs that are usually more manageable like 5km or 10km, but if they just stop at one, that defeats the purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<center><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/life\/run-first-burger-later-why-running-groups-formed-by-eateries-are-gaining-popularity-in-singapore\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><br \/>\n<center\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 After taking a break from running for five years, mother-of-two Connie Lee decided to bite the bullet and sign up for the 7km&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":67530,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=67529"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67529\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/67530"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=67529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=67529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=67529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}