As a personal gift to Singapore for its 60th birthday, ten seniors aged 60 and above are taking on a full marathon – yes, a full 42.195km each – with the goal of completing the race within six hours.
Their mission? To prove that it’s never too late to start exercising and embrace a healthy lifestyle. They call it the SG60 Senior Marathon Quest.
As part of doing research for this story, I accepted an invite from the seniors to join them on a training run around Marina Bay Sands. While running alongside Chua Suat Har and Jileen Tan, aged 62 and 61 respectively, I quickly realised just how fit they were – I (a 21-year-old) struggled to keep up, while they ran comfortably and chatted with ease.
The 3.5km promenade route is a popular one for many running groups, and though there were many other runners that day, they held their own comfortably. Not only did they maintain a steady pace, they weren’t overtaken by younger runners – in fact, they even outpaced a few.
It was all the more impressive considering they only took up running later in life. Suat Har began her journey in 2010 and has since completed over 30 marathons in 15 years. Jileen, on the other hand, started running just two years ago and proudly completed her first full marathon in Nagoya, Japan earlier this year.
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How the run for SG60 started
Credit: Jileen Tan
The SG60 initiative was founded by Tan Cheng Kok, 64, and Joel Tay, 65 – two passionate runners with a shared vision to inspire fellow seniors to stay active.
Their original goal was ambitious: to rally 60 senior runners in celebration of Singapore’s 60th birthday. Although they eventually narrowed the team down to 10, their goal remains unchanged.
Cheng Kok took the first step by writing to then-Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Edwin Tong, to seek both financial and publicity support for their marathon challenge.
His proposal was later directed to the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the Antica Foundation – a social impact-driven organisation focused on empowering underserved communities, including seniors.
Through their collaboration with Antica Foundation, the SG60 runners had their Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (happening in December) registration fees fully sponsored.
In addition, they have also been sponsored by local supplements brand Live Long Long, who provided them with products to aid in their race preparation.
They continued spreading the word through Facebook and personal networks, reaching out to various running communities – including SG Runners Club (SGRC), the largest running group in Singapore.
In fact, that was how Cheng Kok first connected with Jileen, who joined the initiative after being recruited through SGRC. Through these platforms as well as word of mouth, they successfully brought together enough seniors aged 60 and above to join the movement.
The initiative is inspired by national movements like Relay Majulah and Relay for Life – where participants collectively run 2,000km in 200 hours to raise funds for 67 charities, or complete a 100km run individually or in teams.
Similarly, the founders of SG60 Senior Marathon Quest agreed that “we want our members to just complete rather than compete,” explained Cheng Kok.
Personal motivations to run
Credit: Serene Koh
One of the other runners participating is 62-year-old Serene Koh, an administrator at her church, who had found a constant companion in running. She completed her first marathon when she was just 26, and had been running consistently since 2008.
Her motivation is simple: to stay healthy and find joy in movement. This commitment drives her personal goal of completing one marathon every year.
For participant Chai Cher Kion, also 62, running took a different path – quite literally. He discovered a love for trail running on challenging, often mountainous terrain. Today, he coaches others and volunteers as a pacer as a way of paying it forward.
Meanwhile, a striking observation inspired Cheng Kok to take running seriously. He began noticing how common it had become to see elderly individuals rely on wheelchairs – a stark contrast to life in the kampungs, where such aids were rare.
Motivated to maintain his independence and avoid burdening his family, he made a personal vow to stay active.
Credit: Tan Cheng Kok
"I now run and maintain my fitness for the sake of my family. I don't want my children and grandchildren to worry about me. At 64, I’m still able to walk around shopping malls with ease."
Not everyone started out active. Low Yon Khow, known among his friends as Tiger, once led a sedentary lifestyle – until a health scare forced him to reevaluate. Now 67, he keeps fit through regular running and sports, driven by a personal goal to “run till 70.”
Then there’s Joel, the initiative’s organiser and a school teacher who still teaches today. His running journey began in Primary 3, when he discovered the sport through a free 2.4km fitness programme. What started as a childhood interest evolved into a lifelong commitment – from 10km runs to finishing his first full marathon when he was 24.
Initially, Joel was focused on timing and personal bests. But everything changed after he lost his mother to cancer in 2009. Since then, he’s dedicated his marathons to raising awareness and funds for causes close to his heart, including the Singapore Cancer Society and the Yellow Ribbon Project.
Giving back is now a core part of Joel’s running philosophy. Whether he’s leading parent support group walks or pacing fellow runners in races, he finds meaning in helping others.
Preparing for the SG60 marathon
Most of the SG60 Senior Marathon Quest runners are still working, whether full-time or part-time, which makes it challenging to train together as a group.
As a result, much of their marathon preparation is done individually, with personalised training plans tailored to their fitness levels, goals, and running backgrounds.
Credit: Joel Tay
On average, each runner trains three to five times a week, combining runs with strength training, trekking, and interval walk-runs.
Moderation is key – Joel keeps things interesting by incorporating plogging (picking up litter while jogging) into his training routine, while Jileen and Suat Har focus on foam rolling and yoga after hard workouts.
Credit: Chua Suat Har
Skipping rest, he warns, can undo progress rather than build it.
These senior runners also see discipline as a very important value they uphold. For them, signing up for a marathon isn’t just about the race, it’s about the commitment.
For her, running isn’t just physical.
"A marathon is a test of the mind, not just the body."
Their diets also play a vital role in both training and recovery. For 60-year-old participant Francis Low, he keeps to a few simple rules: avoid fast food, eat fruits and vegetables with high water content, cut down on sugar and processed foods, and get enough protein.
Suat Har, too, avoids fast and fried foods where possible, though she admits it can be tricky when eating out. She finds caifan (economic rice) to be a practical and flexible choice, as it allows her to pick healthier dishes.
Meanwhile, Anthony takes a mindful approach to eating to manage his weight. “I’m a bit overweight,” he says, “so I try to watch my weight and keep myself fitter.”
Memorable moments at marathons
Credit: Chai Cher Kion
It’s during challenging moments when the most memorable moments are forged. For Chai, it was when he once fell hard during a trail race, suffering deep abrasions to his knee. For a moment, he thought he wouldn’t be able to finish, but he pushed through the pain and completed the run.
Serene recalled a marathon that started off with an upset stomach. Despite feeling unwell, she relied on her experience and mental strength to push through and cross the finish line.
"He was so mad. He said, 'You had diarrhoea and still ran faster than me!'"
For Joel, running now serves a different purpose. He only takes part in charity runs – a choice that gives greater meaning for each race he participates in.
For him, purpose is what keeps him going.
Not about marathons but about ageing well
Each SG60 Senior Marathon Quest runner has their own approach to ageing well – but they all agree it starts with small, consistent steps. For seniors hesitant to begin, Jileen and Joel offer reassuring words.
Meanwhile, seniors like Kok Fu started running for practical reasons – to earn points through rewards programmes like AIA Vitality, Health Promotion Board’s Reward Programme, or simply to improve their health. Few expected it to lead to full marathons or joining running clubs. But their experiences show how far small, consistent steps can go.
By taking on the SG60 Senior Marathon Quest, they hope to prove their mettle while inspiring others to do the same.
"Better than sitting and watching TV every day."
This article is contributed by SilverStreak’s editorial intern Wong Shi Qing.
