The Labour Movement's iconic U Run has simply grown to be bigger and better each year, and this year's event was no exception. U Run 2013 scaled to greater heights in achieving a record-breaking number of more than 7,000 runners taking part in the event that was held on 24 February 2013. The run, which kicked off at The Promontory@ Marina Bay, saw participants run past renowned landmarks like Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by theBay and Waterfront Promenade.
This year's run also featured two new categories - the 15km Competitive Run and the OMB Challenge-15. The race routes culminated at the top of the NTUC Centre for some 3,000 participants after completing the OMB
Challenge-10 and the new OMB Challenge-15.They ran 10km and 15km routes respectively before making the 30-storey climb up the staircase to the rooftop of the building at One Marina Boulevard.
Guest-of-Honour NTUC President Diana Chia awarded the winners at the event.The winning titles for the inaugural OMB Challenge-15 went to Jagat Bahadur Magar (Men's Open) and Regina Cherotich Nguria (Women's Open).The winners for the Union OMB Challenge-15 in the Men's Open and Women's Open categories were Goh Lean Seng from Singapore Industrial & Services Employees' Union and Genevieve Lee from DBS Staff Union
respectively.
The success of the event, which attracts both members and the public, is a testament of U Sports’ (an initiative by NTUC Club) capabilities in promoting sports participation and spectatorship in Singapore. Through its sports
activities and events, strong bonds are built between union members, sports enthusiasts, and their families and friends.
This year's U Run was a clear indication of the strong position it holds in participants' hearts as Singapore's own Run+Climb event.Registrations for OMB Challenge-10 closed early,and the new OMB Challenge-15 was also fully
subscribed.
Said NTUC Club Community Engagement and Membership Assistant Director Lim Kay Min: "As a nation of skyscrapers and highrise residences, climbing staircases is actually something which can be easily done by
anyone. This helped our participants fit their own training for U Run quite seamlessly into their daily lives. But in the bigger picture, it also means that U Sports' efforts to encourage a healthier lifestyle can go
beyond a one-day event to be part of the everyday lives of the public. That is our vision - motivating and making it easier forthe workforce in Singapore to lead active lifestyles."
