Swiss sportswear brand On has unveiled a new global running event series to celebrate the rise of urban running culture and community-driven fitness, with Singapore among the key cities selected to host the competition later this year.
The inaugural On Squad Race launched in Beijing on Monday (Apr 20), marking the start of a global relay series that combines competitive racing with immersive urban experiences. Built around the growing culture of community-based running crews, the event will make stops in major cities, including Tokyo, London, Berlin, Sydney, and Singapore, before culminating in a world final in Los Angeles this September.
Unlike traditional road races, the On Squad Race is built around unconventional city venues, with the opening event staged inside a multi-storey car park. The concept centres on “The Spiral”, a demanding relay course where runners race down and back up spiralling ramps before handing over to teammates.
Each city event will feature between 40 and 60 local squads competing in four-person relay teams, with a maximum of two male runners. The fastest team from each city will earn a place at the global final in Los Angeles.
On’s senior director of brand experience Karl-Johan Bogefors said, “With On Squad Race, we’re creating more than just a competition; we’re building a global platform to celebrate the crews and individuals who are at the heartbeat of run culture.”
He added that the brand hopes to spotlight the distinct running culture in each host city while bringing people together through competition and community.
Singapore’s edition of the On Squad Race will take place on Jun 13 at Perennial Business City. Public registration is expected to open later in April.
As part of the experience, participants will receive a specially designed “On Squad Race” Performance T-shirt inspired by concert tour merchandise, reinforcing the event’s focus on identity and belonging within the running community.
The event series will also showcase On’s latest running shoe, the Cloudmonster 3, which participants can test on-site during the competition.
The launch reflects the growing popularity of run clubs worldwide, particularly among younger urban consumers who are increasingly drawn to fitness experiences that blend sport, social connection and lifestyle culture.
Register for the Singapore race here.
