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Island readies for second Saipan Marathon
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Posted on Oct 22 2006
Those who test their endurance in the Marianas are rarely unaccompanied as several healthy people routinely lace up their sneakers and journey along roads and trails across Saipan without succumbing to the loneliness of the long distance runner.
While there are a number of races that dot the local schedule, the grand daddy of all returns in January when athletes from around the world take part in the 2nd Annual Saipan Marathon.
Stuart Smith led the crowd of more than 40 runners from tape to tape in the first marathon in the CNMI, and a new crop of local racers will look to unseat the champion three months from now.
The will-testing 26.2-mile race returns on Jan. 20, 2007 but the full marathon is not the only challenge on the morning’s slate as the 26th Annual Half Marathon and the 21st 10km Fun Run offer worthy workouts as well.
Once again, Northern Marianas Athletics and the Marianas Visitors Authority will be charged with organizing the event and both NMA secretary general Robin Sapong and NMA president Dr. Kurt Barnes were on hand to discuss race.
There are several issues on the table, and one of the most important is sponsorship. The organizers of the event will be canvassing the community for in-kind, monetary, and volunteer assistance.
Businesses interested in supporting the event can contact Diaz at the MVA by calling 664-3210, and those who volunteer to support the runners by manning the aid stations and water stops along the course will be well fed in 2007.
Another thing for sure is that the course will remain the same as the inaugural event but more details will be released in the near future, as organizers will meet again before the end of the month to discuss their progress and to improve upon this past January’s success.
