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  The Straits Times 3 Sep 06
Fun Trails
by Reema Jagtiani

THINK running trails and inevitably the marked tracks at MacRitchie Reservoir or Bukit Timah Nature Reserve spring to mind. Not a bad choice, but some running groups have discovered far more interesting trails to pound.

One group, the Hash House Harriers, goes all out to seek unknown terrain. 'The aim of the Hash is to mark out trails that are unfamiliar and challenging for people of varying abilities to run on,' says Mr Robin Huke. The 60-something is the Grand Master of the Singapore Hash House Harriers.

'That makes the run more exciting,' explains Mr Huke, who adds that there are 10 different Hash House Harrier groups in Singapore.

Designer Hadi Masron, 35, a member of Team Climax, an adventure racing team, describes his running experiences as downright 'crazy'. He occasionally goes for long runs with a group of three to five friends.

On a typical trail in Pulau Ubin, Mr Masron outruns wild dogs and zigzags along the way to confuse wild boars. Mr Masron is an avid participant in adventure races, such as the Sabah Tea Adventure Race, which are organised in the nature parks of Malaysia.

To him, running in the secondary forests of Singapore is just another form of enjoyment. Although many runners prefer to keep the locations of their favourite trails secret, The Sunday Times has learnt that a large number of these tracks can be found in the central catchment nature reserve.

Some are located in the pockets of greenery in Lim Chu Kang and Choa Chu Kang and in the eastern part of the island. There are also more trails to discover in Pulau Ubin. For example, a trail can lead all the way from MacRitchie Reservoir to the Mandai Zoo.

Mr Steven Lee, 55, president of the MacRitchie Runners 25 - which organises cross-country runs within the catchment areas - says they take this 40km route for their practice runs.

To complete this trail, start from the Singapore Island Country Club and go past the golf course (you will be running on the edge of the golf course) all the way to the main gate of the Lower Pierce dam. Make a U-turn and head towards Rifle Range Road. You can cut across the 4m-wide stream nearby using the PUB pipelines. This will lead you to another trail that will take you all the way to Chestnut Avenue. You can stop there or continue running past Chestnut Avenue to Bukit Panjang and carry on till you reach the zoo.

As the run is long and the trail is on uneven ground, Mr Lee advises that only regular and experienced runners attempt it.

Mr Masron and his friends frequent the 15km trail from Bedok Reservoir to Old Tampines Road. Start from the canal next to Temasek Polytechnic and run in the direction of Tampines Lake, past a construction site. Once you hit the lake, run around it to go further into the forested area, after which you will reach a steep slope that will take you all the way up to Old Tampines Road. This trail is not hard to follow and involves running on a proper road (in the earlier half) as well as up and down slopes.

Mr Masron describes the trail as 'a bit too challenging for beginners'. He also cautions runners to look out for holes in the ground. Part of the excitement is in dodging wild dogs or cobras you might encounter on the way to Old Tampines Road.

Mr Masron says: 'Just don't run quietly. The snakes will be scared off as they hear you reaching.'

Also in the east is the trail from Lorong Halus to Ponggol. It starts from the Tampines dumping ground, on the outskirts of Pasir Ris. The trail is off the beaten track, but clearly marked. Be prepared to go through a bushy area and look out for thorns. According to Mr Masron, this trail is a manageable one.

The Hash House Harriers sometimes run in the Lim Chu Kang area - opposite the air base and through the back of the chicken and egg farms found on the left-hand side. You might have to plough through muddy water on rainy days.

The Hash House Harrier trails are each about 5km to 6km long and you do not have to be a cross-country champion to conquer any of them.

Pulau Ubin is another good place to run. As the Hash House Harriers suggest, you could even start a run from the main jetty (boats arrive from Changi) or try marking your own trail up north near Kampung Nordin or in the eastern part of Pulau Ubin, near Chek Jawa. The trails go uphill and downhill - perfect for training. As an extra boost, try running zigzag to avoid the wild boars.
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Impact of hash house harrier runs on our wild places?
From the Seletar Hash House Harriers website: "the course is marked by hash marks: splashes of white flour, paper strips (normally made from shredded paper), toilet paper, and chalk marks...Every Harrier, after his or her first run, is required to have a whistle at all hashes (except hares). Also everyone is encouraged to use their whistle...THERE ARE NO RULES."

Discuss this issue on the focus ubin forum

Related articles on Singapore: recreation
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