Media Release
For Immediate Release
8,000 female runners to hit the streets for Singapore’s much-awaited women-only run
SHAPE RUN 2008 TAKES OFF THIS SUNDAY
Singapore, 15 July 2008 – SPH Magazines Pte Ltd’s ("SPH Magazines") SHAPE, the complete mind & body guide for women, is bringing back Shape Run for the third year on Sunday, 20 July 2008. As one of Singapore’s best received women-only sporting events, this annual run has proven to be an enormous hit with female running enthusiasts here. All 8,000 spaces were snapped up within 9 days after registration began on 26 April 2008.
SHAPE spearheaded Singapore’s first-ever women-only competitive run on 16 July 2006, sparking off a trend of women-exclusive running events. This year, Shape Run 2008 held in conjunction with SHAPE’s 4th anniversary aims to encourage more women to take up the active lifestyle as a way to bond.
“Shape Run’s growth from 2,500 women runners in our first year to 8,000 in only our third year shows that women in Singapore appreciate a healthy and active lifestyle. To keep the Shape Run experience fresh for participants, we have created a new 5km Corporate category this year to motivate working women to bond over exercise. Also this year, Shape Run will be flagged off in countries like Malaysia and Thailand. SPH Magazines looks forward to infusing a healthy and active lifestyle throughout Southeast Asia through the SHAPE Runby living out the lessons in SHAPE.” said Allen Loh, Managing Director of SPH Magazines.
Guest-of-Honour of the event, Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Education, will flag off the races in Singapore before taking part in the 5km run.
Shape Run 2008 attracts both first-timers and seasoned runners. The new Corporate category has garnered 45 teams. 38% of the runners are competing in the 10km category, while 62% are taking up the 5km challenge – a category suited for novices who have not attempted any competitive run before. The route starts at the Esplanade Bridge and takes runners down Shenton Way, before turning into Marina South for the 10km participants, ending off at Connaught Drive,The Padang. Runners can enjoy refreshments, stage performances and sports massages at The Padang after the run.
To thank the participants for their support, all runners will receive a Runner’s Kit after their run. The kit consists of a SHAPE sports bag, Nike t-shirt, bodycare products, health supplements, eye care products, fitness trial classes, spa vouchers, and many other freebies. They will also be presented a personalized certificate with their timing.
The winner of the 10km run will receive a $1,000 cash prize and over $20,000 worth of products. For the 5km category, a $500 cash prize and $10,000 worth of products awaits the fastest runner. The best corporate team will walk away with $1,000 cash prize and over $23,500 worth of products. Runners-up in the different categories will win fabulous prizes too.
In conjunction with the Shape Run, a three-day Shape Run Carnival, was held from 11 to 13 July 2008 at the Marina Square Atrium. The carnival, featuring 23 merchants with the latest health, beauty and fitness products, attracted more than 20,000 visitors.
The Shape Run 2008 is organised by SHAPE, SPH Magazines, and presented by Subaru. The event’s co-presenter is nike women and is supported by the Singapore Sports Council. Official partners are AIBI, CITISPA, Dunlopillo, H-Two-O, Kellogg’s, Marigold Yoghurt, Parkway Health, Starhub, Sunplay, VITAGEN Collagen and True Yoga. Its partners in sports are Singapore Pools and Singapore Totalisator Board, while the carnival’s venue partner is Marina Square.
MEDIA INVITE
Your journalist and camera/ video crew are invited to cover:
Shape Run 2008
Date: 20 July 2008 (Sunday)
Time: 6.00pm - 10.30pm
Venue:
Start Point at Esplanade/ Prize Presenation at Padang
Guest-of-Honour: Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Education
The programme is as follows:
6.00am Runners arrive
7.15am Arrival of GOH & Cheerleading by Kellogg's
7.20am Warm-up Session for all the runners led by Fitness First
7.30am Flag Off of 10km run by GOH
7.33am Cheerleading by Kellogg's
7.35am Flag Off of 5km run by GOH
8.00am Activities at the tentages at Padang Area begin
- Sports massages, collection of Sabura T-Shirts, Vitagen/ Marigold items, etc
- Collection of runners' kits
8.30am Stage programmes
9.30am Shape Run Prize Presentation
1.00pm End
Please confirm your reporters’ and photographers’ attendance with me at pearlym@sph.com.sg by Friday, 18 July 2008, 12pm.
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Issued by SPH Magazines Pte Ltd
Co. Regn. No: 1969-00476-M
MEDIA CONTACT
Pearly Mak
Assistant Manager
Corporate Communications
SPH Magazines Pte Ltd
DID: 6319 2336
Mobile: 9765 6704
Email: pearlym@sph.com.sg
About SPH Magazines Pte Ltd
A leading publisher in Singapore and the region, SPH Magazines Pte Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of media giant Singapore Press Holdings Limited.
With a proven track record for sterling editorial content & award-winning designs, SPH Magazines raises the bar as a dynamic magazine publisher. In its stable are over 100 titles in English and Chinese, covering lifestyle, fashion, beauty, society, bridal, health, men’s lifestyle, movies, automobile, parenting, décor, new media and business. All the newsstand publications, including flagship title Her World, and other well-known titles such as Female, Home and Décor, Nuyou, Torque, HWM and GameAxis are among the highest-circulating titles and best-read in their respective lifestyle categories.
This magazines group can also boast about its 10 luxury titles including its flagships The Peak and ICON. At the turn of 2008, SPH Magazines acquired Asia-Pacific Boating, China Boating, Jet Asia-Pacific, Luxury Properties, AsiaSpa, Polo China and Action Asia under its wholly-owned Hong Kong incorporated company Blu Inc Media (HK) Limited. This suite of titles has effectively made SPH Magazines the leading luxury magazine publisher in the Asia-Pacific region.
SPH Magazines' established editorial units also provide excellent custom publishing services to major corporate clients by producing custom lifestyle magazines, newsletters and any other collateral to meet their business needs.
In the online and IT arena, SPH Magazines also has a highly regarded presence through the portals and publications of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hardware Zone Pte Ltd. www.hardwarezone.com(R) has consistently been getting rave reviews through the Hitwise awards and from several review watchdogs over the last 2 years such that it has become the most respected portal in Asia.
With a vision to continue growth regionally, SPH Magazines is set to become Asia’s publishing powerhouse. It has publishing houses in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. SPH Magazines in its fold have achieved strong market presence in their respective sectors, as well as distinguished track records and solid reputations.
At SPH Magazines, the promise is to deliver its best to meet the diverse needs and interests of all its stakeholders and achieve its vision to be a world class Publisher of Choice.
About Shape Singapore
Licensed from American Media, Inc., Shape Singapore was launched in July 2004. It is the complete mind and body guide for women, with 14 editions worldwide. It covers all aspects of living a well-balanced life, from the latest information on fitness, nutrition, exercise, and health, to invaluable tips on living life to the fullest. Shape is motivating, inspiring and embraces the most desirable lifestyle for active women – shaping their looks, as well as their lives. Shape is the leading active lifestyle guide for women in Singapore. Shape also has editions in Malaysia, Indonesia and China, which are published by SPH Magazines’ associate companies.