MacRitchie Runners 25 (MR25)
Founded 1976
Brief History
PHILOSOPHY AND IDEOLOGY
By Dr Siak Chong Leng
Founding President
(President from 1976 to 1986)
In Singapore as recently as 15 years ago the sport of running was almost the exclusive preserve of the track athletes. Then from the early 1970s there slowly appeared an increasing number of a different species of runners. Named “Joggers” they forsook the track and literally took to the streets. They jogged all over the island but soon MacRitchie Reservoir Park became their Mecca.
It was obvious from the tremendous enthusiasm and regularity with which they went about their business that they had been successfully motivated to take up this sport. Each has his or her own reasons for starting to jog. Two very common ones were to acquire a healthy heart and to fight the flab.
But as the weeks and months went by, as they became more fit, they discovered to their surprise that they were beginning to really enjoy what they were doing. Out of this motley crowd of joggers there emerged a group who were getting a little restless. They were not satisfied with just jogging around
aimlessly day in day out. They began to run, and run hard. They began to cover longer distances. They began to race with one another just for the kick of it. They wanted to know the measure of their fitness, how they were progressing. They began to look at their watches and count the seconds.
When such a stage had been reached in the joggers’ progress, it was a time of opportunity – opportunity to organize them, give them a sense of direction, help them keep going. It only requires a little spark to start the fire.
Idea
Out of such observation and out of such perceptions was conceived the idea of MR25 – MacRitchie
Runners 25 minutes. In the formation of such a group, it was important right from the onset to have
our aim clearly spelt out.
The main aim, indeed the sole aim, of MR25 was to sustain the interest of those who were already highly motivated to train regularly, to encourage them always strive to improve their level of physical fitness.
Clearly motivation is one thing, sustaining interest is another. We decided to leave the first job to other people. We were here to provide some concrete means whereby joggers were encouraged to adhere to a regular all-the-year-round training program, to put forth some target to aim for, to provide something they could regularly look forward to. The emphasis was on encouraging people to move from mere non-directional participation to achievement orientated performances.
Jogger-Runner
The target group MR25 was aiming for were more than average fit jogger who had progressed from jogging to running and who loved a race just for the sheer joy of it. The less fit ones would have to progress slowly (it was advised, at their own pace) and prove themselves before they could be accepted into MR25 Membership. Our program of activities could be quite strenuous. Those who by choice or inclination would like to “jog” at a leisurely pace and those who abhorred competition in any form, would, of course not be interested. Nor would the real competitive runners, the nationally-ranked athletes or aspiring state or school runners find our program helpful in their intense aspiration, for full-bred athletic clubs like Achilles, Swift, Flash etc already were there to serve their needs.
In short MR25 was for the more energetic jogger and the less serious runner, an in-between group of “jogger-runners” sorely neglected at the time in Singapore.
MR25 Philosophy
It may come as a surprise to many to learn that MR25 has a philosophy. Right from its birth on 16 August 1976 the Club’s character was moulded according to a set of beliefs.
What is MR25’s philosophy on running?
Central to MR25’s thinking is the experience and observation that long distant cross country running, if pursued properly, can give great pleasure. It regards running as an END in itself. The Club’s motto is “RUN for FUN”.
MR25 also believes that distance running is a means to an end. This end is the prevention or mitigation of certain illnesses e.g. hypertension, type II diabetes, obesity, the promoting of general health and a sense of well-being, the attainment and maintenance of aerobic fitness. To fulfil this function effectively,
running must be:
(a) of sufficient duration (minimum 30 minutes; ideally an hour)
(b) of sufficient frequency (minimum every other day; ideally daily)
(c) of sufficient intensity (between 70 and 85% maximum heart rate) and
(d) sustained through the 12 months of the year.
Fortunately, because of the pleasure element inherent in running, it is not impossible to achieve the ideal of an hour a day every day throughout the year.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to derive pleasure from distance running (define above) if one is not in possession of a minimal degree of aerobic fitness.
MR25 believes that this MINIMUM is that amount which will enable a person, irrespective of age and gender to run 5000 meters in 25 minutes or less.
From MR25’s thinking, it follows therefore that PARTICIPATION is of prime importance the prize and winning are secondary. Every runner is a winner in the sense that by the act of taking part, he has won for himself enjoyment, better health and improved physical fitness.
Progressive cross country runs
The mainstay of the club is naturally the cross country runs. The run in January of each year would be 10km, with progressive increment of 5km each time bi-monthly, the last one being 35km in November near to a day of a marathon run. These runs are both within MacRitchie Reservoir and its environs as well as deep in Singapore’s Nature Reserve as far as Peirce and Seletar Reservoirs and the Singapore-Johore pipeline. These famous MR25 trails bring the runner back to nature. They cover some of the most peaceful and idyllic parts of our island very few have trodden.
MR25 believes that cross country running has distinct advantages over track and road running; its greatest strength lies in the tremendous therapeutic and restorative effect it has on the mind harassed by the stresses of urban living.
Accurate measurements
MR25 pays great importance on accurate measurements. We realize a runner feels extremely irritated and exasperated if at the end of a maximal physical effort they find out the timing was inaccurately done or the course inaccurately measured. They get a certain satisfaction comparing their time with their previous performance and with those of other runners. We therefore took great pains to measure all our course accurately. We were indeed fortunate to be in possession of the only measuring gadget of its kind available at a time in the whole of Singapore – a bicycle odometer brought over by an American (John Koski). We spent hours meticulously exploring, charting and measuring our running courses. Timing was not much of a problem but we make sure it is done accurately at each Run.
Awards
At the end of each Run, every runner is given his position and time, published in the Club’s monthly newsletter. There are no prizes, no cash vouchers, no gold, silver or bronzes to be won. Our philosophy regarding prizes is that the Run itself is reward enough. The prize after a Run is the sense of achievement at having given of one’s best. It follows therefore that each participant is a winner and brings home a prize. In a materialistic society we try to keep our running on a high plane.
Nevertheless, if a participant’s first Time Trial went 25 minutes or under he would be invited to become a member. If he accepts, he would be assigned a speed animal or one associated with speed.
Membership
In a way MR25 is an exclusive club. It excludes those with low aerobic fitness level. There is a qualifying time of 25 minutes to achieve in covering the five-kilometre course.
How did it come about that the 25 minutes and 5 km were chosen? Exercise physiologists have shown that in a maximal effort of about 15 to 25 minutes over 90% of the energy involved is aerobic energy. 5 km was just about the right distance. It is neither too long as to discourage some, nor too short to be a poor test of aerobic capacity or cardiovascular fitness which are the physical prizes we are after.
Our standard was considered a fairly tough line but one not too difficult to cross for the average person training fairly intensively three to four times a week for half to three-quarter of an hour each training session over a period of six months or so. Our goal was physiologically both desirable and achievable. This time limit of 25 minutes was to us sacrosanct (our Club’s very name itself is MR25). This was our target for the aspiring member to aim for. When he has crashed through the 25-minute barrier and was invited to membership, he must feel a sense of pride, with the knowledge that he has achieved something, that he has “arrived”.
Logo
Roman numerals IIV harmonize with the pair of legs moving in joyful motion. Blue represents water of the reservoir and green represents the trees of the forest
Animal Hierarchy
To qualify as a member of MR25 running club, one has to complete a 5km time trial (4.6km for ladies; evolved in later years) in 25 minutes and under on a cross country course in MacRitchie Reservoir.
TIME TRIALS are held 5.00 pm on Saturday every even month starting at zic-zac bridge.
Based on the time trial, members are categorized into a hierarchy of 9 animal types. This provides a scale to motivate a member to morph into a faster animal in subsequent time trials.
| Animal | Snail | Tortoise | Deer | Greyhound | Horse | Hare | Gazelle | Ostrich | Cheetah |
| Time | 24:00 – 24:59 | 23:00 – 23:59 | 22:00 – 22:59 | 21:00 – 21:59 | 20:00 – 20:59 | 19:00 – 19:59 | 18:00 – 18:59 | 17:00 – 17:59 | <17:00 |
The mainstay of MR25 program are PROGRESSIVE RUNS held every odd month.
MR25 also organizes a year end Dawn-to-Dusk Ultra X-Country Marathon around MacRitchie Reserviour.