Men's Health - HPB Healthy Coffee Shop Run

In this instalment of the Men's Health Run, the runners took their shoes to Bukit Gombak as they take their leisure run down the park connectors and the muddy paths along the monsoon canal before heading back to the train station for a cool down. Total distance to conquer this run – 8km.

Before we venture into the monsoon canal

Men’s Health Run, conducted monthly aims to promote healthy lifestyle. Catered for everyone and anyone, the organizer brings you to the different routes across Singapore. Don’t worry about your pace as there will be a couple of pit stops along the route, meaning you can go at your own pace. The distances covered is normally enough to let you break out a sweat but not overbearing. Great for novice runner who can pick up a tip or two from the organizer and good for season runners who wants to break out from your normal training routine for a day.

The entire running route

The route this month stretches from Bukit Gombak MRT station to the CCK bicycle track and park connector and along the route, we spotted quite a number of runners and bikers. It wasn’t entirely scenic but it beats running round the track in loops.

At the cross junction

Running along the park connector, we eventually cut into the path beside the monsoon canal and it’s at this period, army memories starts recollecting. The greenery along the path was breathtaking and nostalgic but beware the path as the path collects moisture and certain area is algae infested. It is not recommended to try this path during rainy period and definitely not recommended to run at night, alone as there is a cross junction halfway through the canal where it leads to unexplored territory. Packs of strays were rumoured to be spotted so you have been warned.

Coming out of the path, the route leads back to Bukit Gombak MRT station and if you were to try this route during the weekends, you can catch a glimpse of the weekend warriors sweating their hearts out in the field of Dunearn Secondary School.

And 8km conquered!

The 8km can be easily conquered in an hour plus inclusive of the pitstops. We finished the run after our cooldown with a lucky draw. And if you are wondering until now why this run is named ‘HPB Healthy Coffee Shop Run’, we went for our dinner at the Health Promotion Board (HPB)-approved hawker. We wanted to check out if the healthier food served at the coffee shop would taste, cost or actually worth the hype that was created.

The cost of the food served was reasonable and the taste wasn’t much off. The food served had their calories counted and even the economic rice served was brown rice. Apparently they were using healthier oil, less salt and reasonable portion. However, what really baffled me was only to see botak jones there. It seems not the whole coffee shop was HPB approved.

Join us on the next run next Saturday, 21st April!