Late October, after dark
KEEN Dark Forest Run
The KEEN Dark Forest Run, a Singapore running event typically held late October, after dark, gets its own guide here: the distances, the timing to expect, and how many weeks of training each distance needs, whether you are toeing the line for the first time or chasing a personal best.
Singapore's only night trail race.
An after-dark trail race through the forest and gravel tracks around Sarimbun Scout Camp in Lim Chu Kang, run by the same organiser as the GU Forest Force trail series. A headlamp or hand-held torch is mandatory, and roughly three quarters of the route is gravel and dirt road with the remainder on trail inside the camp perimeter. It is the only race on the Singapore calendar run entirely in the dark, which changes the demand more than the distances suggest.
DistancesTrail
Recent editions have typically offered:
- 8km
- 12km
- 20km
Categories and fees change year to year. Confirm the current distances, dates, and registration on the official KEEN Dark Forest Run page.
Next confirmed edition: 31 October 2026, Sarimbun Scout Camp.
How long to train for it
The honest answer depends on where you are starting. Two guides, for a runner already training consistently and for someone starting close to zero:
| Distance | Already running | Starting from scratch |
|---|---|---|
| 8km | 4 to 6 weeks | 8 to 10 weeks |
| 12km | 6 to 8 weeks | 10 to 12 weeks |
| 20km | 10 to 14 weeks | 18 to 22 weeks |
Those windows assume consistent, structured training, not just logging distance. Most recreational runners improve fastest by running most of their week easy and keeping the hard days genuinely hard. If you want a plan built around your assessment and this race as the target, our personal training for runners does exactly that. You can also predict your finish time with our running pace calculator and dial in your easy pace with the heart rate zones calculator.
KEEN Dark Forest Run, common questions
- What distances does the KEEN Dark Forest Run have?
- Recent editions have offered 8km, 12km, 20km, all on trail. Exact categories can change year to year, so confirm the current menu on the organiser's official page before you enter.
- When is the KEEN Dark Forest Run?
- It typically runs late October, after dark. The confirmed date and registration window are set each year by the organiser, so check their official page for the current edition.
- How long do I need to train for it?
- For its longest distance, 20km on trail, a runner already training consistently needs about 10 to 14 weeks, and someone starting close to zero should give themselves 18 to 22 weeks. Around 20km on trail asks more of you than the same distance on road. Build the long run on terrain that matches the race, and train the descents deliberately: eccentric quad strength is what fails first.