Familiar faces – including MediaCorp artistes Julian Hee, Jessica Tan, Singapore’s fastest female marathoner, Vivian Tang, accompanied by 20 other runners, could be spotted running along Orchard Road on Apr 1.

It wasn’t someone’s idea of an April Fool’s joke, or the filming of a new MediaCorp drama series, but the launch of Nike Run Club SG. Held at Wisma Atria, it gathered new and seasoned runners for a product trial run. Besides trying out the new Nike Free 5.0 V4 for themselves, runners also tested the route that the new Nike Run Club SG will take on.

Popular sports brand Nike promises a more rewarding running experience as professional trainers take participants, both amateur and practiced, through a 5km run along the bustling Orchard Road.

Present at the launch was athlete and sports journalist for The Straits Times, Jeanette Wang, 28. Wang believes that the run club serves as a free platform for new runners. “3 of my colleagues from The Straits Times took part in the run today, and I have never seen them run before!” she said.

Running has become an increasingly popular sport among Singaporeans, and having a platform to cater to this will find many fans, no doubt. Mr Stanley Goh, Country Director of Nike Singapore, added that this club represents their commitment towards serving the athlete in every active consumer, as here is where runners of all abilities can connect and share their passion for the sport.

It might be the first time Nike has hosted a run club in Singapore but the Nike Running Club had been launched in other urban cities such as London, Taipei and New York. The run club hopes to become a platform for seasoned runners to bond and to motivate non-runners to take up running.

Registration is free and participants get running tips from trainers, refreshments after the run, the occasional product trial and the company of 20 other runners to keep them going. Aspiring runners have no reason not to give the run club a shot.

Capped at 30 runners per session, the run will take place at 6pm on every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Runners have to register beforehand at the Nike website. Registration must be done at least 13 days prior.