Anyone thinking Soh Rui Yong is done with elite marathon running might need to be corrected. This year, the 34-year-old multiple record holder clocked 2:27:49 at the Houston Marathon showing that even while studying for his MBA at London Business School, coaching runners through RunSohFast Academy, and organising races, he’s still putting down serious times.
Soh’s personal best remains 2:22:59, the Singapore national record he set in 2021, a mark he still intends to lower.
“I would love to improve my best time again and push the national record below 2:20 eventually.”
This year, he issued a challenge on his Instagram that if any Singaporean male can go under 2:30 for the marathon, he will give up his marathon slot for the SEA Games next month.
This pushed several males to step up to the plate throughout the year and a few came close – Ahmad Arif Ibrahim came in at 2:32:05, Henry He Yong at 2:33:16 and Richard Heng with a 2:33:25. (He Yong has since clocked 2:29:27 earlier this month at the Beijing Marathon, but this was outside of the SEA Games qualification window.)
Giving Up The SEA Games Marathon Slot
Initially, Soh was left out of the SEA Games list by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) but after a successful appeal, he made the decision to represent Singapore in the 5,000m and 10,000m track events instead.
It was partly strategic, partly personal, and wholly Soh.
“The athletics team has always performed better overall when I’m there because I soak up all the pressure from everyone else. That’s my main goal to accomplish again,” Soh said.
And with Arif choosing to focus on his duathlon events instead, we now see two SEA Games marathon debutants – He Yong and Heng. The latter, only 23 years of age, will benefit from this valuable experience as he has a long runway ahead of him for his distance running career.
From National Records to Guinness World Records
This year, Soh also added another unique accolade to his portfolio: a world record. He broke the Guinness World Record for running a marathon in a three-piece suit when he clocked 2:39:57 at the London Marathon this year.
He held this world record for six months, until Kiwi runner Jason Hunt broke it in October at the Melbourne Marathon with a time of 2:38:21.
While chasing records, Soh has also been shaping the next generation.
“Having mentored Shaun since the 2023 SEA Games, I am enjoying watching his progress. I think his performances show I’m a great mentor, so naturally that makes me happy.”
Goh has surpassed three of the national records previously held by Soh – the 10km road (Melbourne, 2024), the 5km road (Gold Coast, 2025) and the 10,000m track (Queensland, 2025).
The “adjustment” tip Soh gave Shaun before this year’s 10,000m? It changed the whole race. “You can ask him for the adjustment I suggested right before his 10,000m this year that helped him go from blowing up in the second half to running a fantastic second half,” he added.
Still Building the Sport, His Way
If you expect Soh to stay quiet while others run races, you haven’t been paying attention.
“We don’t need more races, we need more quality races that matter. That’s why I built the Pocari Sweat 2.4km race. We don’t need more run clubs. We need more run clubs with quality.”
Love him or hate him, he has undeniably pushed standards higher by competing, by provoking, and by creating new platforms for others.
Next Up: The Singapore Marathon Double Up
If you thought he’d be skipping marathon weekend entirely this year because of the SEA Games – nope.
In December, Soh will be doing the double at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon: running the half-marathon on Saturday, then the full marathon on Sunday. It’s a move equal parts challenge and chaos, exactly his style.
Don’t take your eyes off him yet, Soh’s still not done, with new surprises round the corner each time.
