Singapore marathoner Rui Yong is offering $700 to those who can run 2.4km in under 7 minutes

Singapore’s national marathon runner Soh Rui Yong made headlines when he became the first Singaporean to complete the 2.4km run in under seven minutes, clocking in at an impressive 6 minutes and 54 seconds.

The record was set last Saturday (Sep 4) at the Kallang practice track as part of the Pocari Sweat Singapore 2.4km challenge, officiated by Singapore Athletics. 

In response to Rui Yong’s record-breaking performance, many netizens were quick to respond, some citing that the feat is common among Singapore Army Commandos – making him not the first Singaporean to do so.

In another Facebook post, Rui Yong clarified that he was not referring to the Commandos, but to people making statements claiming that men can run magically fast for 2.4km during their national service (NS) days, even though they are smokers.

The 30-year-old national long-distance runner also said that the Commandos would not have been able to run at a level that even Singapore’s best distance runners have been incapable of. 

“I seriously doubt that many Commandos, former or current, would be capable of running even four laps (1.6km) at that pace,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

To demonstrate his point, Rui Yong is offering an incentive to any Singaporean who runs the 2.4km race in under seven minutes at the Pocari Sweat Run 2021. 

The incentives include $700 worth of cash and 700 bottles of Pocari Sweat, both of which will be paid for by the marathoner himself. If you fancy yourself meeting the challenge, or if you know anyone from camp, school or reservist who can run fast, then sign up for it here.

The 2.4km on-ground race will take place on Oct 9 and Oct 10 and is open to all members of the public.