The Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS) has established itself as the marquee running event on Singapore’s sporting calendar. Every first Sunday of December, thousands of participants from all walks of life run past some of Singapore’s iconic landmarks such as the Esplanade and Sentosa. Marathon runners also get to soak up the festive atmosphere as they run under the twinkling lights of Orchard Road.

In 2015, SCMS retained its Gold Label status by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), placing it among the company of the world’s elite races such as the New York City Marathon and the London Marathon. As the highlight of Singapore’s running calendar, the Marathon has helped grow the running culture in Singapore. It began with just 6,000 runners in 2002, reaching a peak of 65,000 runners in 2011. In 2012, the theme – “Run for a Reason” – was introduced to encourage all runners to submit their individual reasons for taking part in the Marathon.