The haze from nearby wildfires has made the air in Singapore very bad. Runners have had to find a new place to train, and they chose a shopping mall.

Smoke from wildfires in Indonesia caused Singapore’s air quality to fall to its worst level in more than a decade, and outdoor activities were cancelled. On Saturday more than 80 runners turned Marina Square shopping centre into a makeshift track, running on two floors before the shops opened.

Organisers set strict rules: no sprinting, no overtaking, no shouting, no spitting and no wiping sweat on the floor. They also secured the mall’s approval by checking the walkway width and planning the run early in the morning before shops opened.

Runners such as Angeline Zeng and Paul Wong used the mall runs to keep their mileage for an upcoming half‑marathon and a full marathon. Zeng liked the cool air but said the indoor laps felt boring, while Wong said the mall was better than a treadmill.

Club leaders said they may keep the mall runs and ask other malls to join if the haze stays, creating a new trend in the sports scene. The story shows how sudden air pollution can force athletes to change their training habits.