Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2025 faces criticism as runners describe event as poorly organised

SINGAPORE: The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) came under heavy scrutiny from participants who described the half marathon event as poorly organised.

This year’s race, held on 6 and 7 December 2025, saw the half marathon, 5km run and Kids Dash take place on the first day, followed by the marathon, 10km and Ekiden events on the second day.

The race started at the F1 Pit Building and concluded at The Padang.

Established in 2002, the SCSM typically attracts more than 40,000 local and international runners each year. However, many participants said the 2025 edition fell short of expectations.

TikTok Posts Highlight Chaotic Scenes

TikTok user Darren criticised what he described as poor organisation, stating that participants were made to run a half marathon, finish without access to water and then were forced to cluster closely together in a congested area.

He added that runners were hot and exhausted, with no alternative exit route. “I paid 195 for this?” he asked.

Footage he shared showed thousands of people packed tightly in a confined area, with some shouting “medic”.

@user59674196868313 Just want to comment on how badly the standchart half marathon  2025 was organised. You cannot make a bunch of people run a half , end the race with no water , then make them cluster so close together. Everyone is hot and exhausted. There is no other way out… haiz I paid 195 for this? #standardchartered#standchartmarathonsg ♬ original sound - Darren Bartholomew

Another TikTok user said expectations were far from met, alleging that bottles of water were being thrown around, crowds were not properly managed and participants were left queueing under the scorching sun despite their physical exhaustion.

He claimed some runners fainted due to the “uncontrollable crowd and the suffocating conditions”.

@rocky.boado @SCSM2025 seriously? Our expectations for how the event would be organized were far from met. We’re very disappointed. Bottles of water were being thrown around, crowds were left uncontrolled, and despite the heat and exhaustion after the run, we still had to fall in long lines under the scorching sun. Some runners even fainted due to the uncontrollable crowd and the suffocating conditions. This isn’t the experience runners deserve. We expected better treatment and a properly organized event. We hope the organizers take this seriously and make real improvements — runners’ safety and well-being should always come first. 🤦🏻‍♂️😭💔 #standardcharteredhalfmarathon #disappointed #disorganizedevent #wedeservebetter ♬ Oh No - Kreepa

A photo sent to The Online Citizen (TOC) showed a runner collapsed along the route.

According to a participant, several people immediately stepped in and administered CPR.

 

In response to media queries, an SCSM spokesperson said organisers were aware of a runner who required medical attention and confirmed that the individual had been taken to hospital.

“The runner is now recovering in hospital and we thank the first responders for their quick action and the medical support provided,” the spokesperson said.

Long Queues for Water and Medals

Participants also took to TikTok to share their experiences at the finish area.

One user said it took him 20 minutes just to collect his finisher’s medal, while another said she only managed to get water 45 minutes after crossing the finish line.

A participant wrote that she had expected a water station immediately after finishing but found none. After collecting her medal, she became stuck in the crowd for an extended period and eventually sought water from medical staff.

Another user said water points were “so lacking” for half marathon runners, adding that she witnessed many people requesting medical assistance or appearing close to fainting at the bag collection area.

A participant speaking to Stomp said the scene at The Padang was “chaotic”, with a massive crowd formed around the medal collection point. He said he only had a drink about 40 minutes after completing the race.

Having participated annually, he described this year as “the worst ever”, noting that last year’s finish at Merdeka Bridge had been “much more orderly”.

Runners also told The Straits Times that the volume of people funnelling through narrow passages caused a major bottleneck. One finisher said it took her 30 minutes just to reach the race village.

A half marathon participant said overtaking was impossible and that a runner who required medical attention could not be reached by medics because the route had become too narrow.

Organisers apologise and cite strain on infrastructure

In response, an SCSM spokesperson apologised and acknowledged that congestion occurred during a peak period when both half marathon and 5km runners were finishing.

The spokesperson said the high volume of participants “put a strain on infrastructure”.

In a statement issued on 8 December, the SCSM team said it appreciated feedback from participants and had taken steps to improve operations for Sunday’s events.

These changes included optimising exit routes to improve crowd flow.

The statement added that organisers remain committed to “listening, learning and being agile”, and to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all runners.

Past Incidents and Fatalities

In SCSM 2024, a marathon runner died after completing the race.

According to organisers, the individual required immediate medical attention at the finish line and was transported to Singapore General Hospital after receiving care onsite.

In 2016, British national John Gibson, aged 28, collapsed less than 1km from the half marathon finish line. He was later found to have suffered sudden cardiac death due to arrhythmia.

In 2011, 22-year-old Malcolm Sng died after completing the half marathon due to acute coronary insufficiency caused by a pre-existing heart condition.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include the SCSM spokesperson’s statement addressing post-race delays and related concerns.