Several running events and club activities in Singapore were cancelled between October 7 and 11 due to deteriorating air quality caused by haze. The cancellations affected a range of events, including free runs organised by the Singapore Runners Club and Parkrun Singapore, a paid race hosted by Technogym, and outdoor exercise sessions planned by the Chill Movement Run Club.
On October 7, the Chill Movement Run Club, which began operations earlier this year, called off its weekly Wednesday evening run after the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings showed unhealthy air quality levels across all five regions of Singapore—north, west, central, east, and south. The PSI, a gauge of air pollution, had reached levels between 101 and 200, which are classified as unhealthy. Health advisories issued during this period recommended that vulnerable populations, including the elderly, pregnant women, children, and individuals with chronic heart or lung conditions, avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor exertion.
Conditions worsened in the following days, with central Singapore reporting a PSI peak of 186 on October 9, the highest for the year so far. The haze persisted through October 10 and 11, prompting further cancellations.
Technogym’s Circuit Blazers Race – 2026 event, scheduled for October 10 and featuring 5km and 10km runs, was among the affected races. Organisers confirmed that all 206 participants who had registered would receive full refunds.
The Chill Movement Run Club founder, Saul Mirpuri, also cancelled a ticketed 5km run and an outdoor exercise event set for October 11 at Tanjong Beach Club. The planned weekend event, which coincided with the Formula 1 Grand Prix festivities, was expected to attract around 500 attendees. Activities included pilates, beach bootcamp, calisthenics sessions, and recovery ice baths, with tickets priced at $40 to $70. Mirpuri stated that refunds would be issued for all 280 registrants. He noted that several participants had reported symptoms such as coughs and watery eyes prior to the event, influencing his decision to cancel.
Despite the official cancellations, some runners chose to continue exercising outdoors over the weekend, sharing their activities on social media. Mirpuri acknowledged that members of his run club have been inquiring about upcoming runs, including whether events would resume on October 14. However, he expressed caution, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing health and safety amid the persistent haze conditions.