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Annual Thanksgiving Day run returns
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Posted on Nov 11 2004
While folks on the mainland are making plans to travel over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house for the turkey this Thanksgiving Day, the people of Saipan need only run faster than their friends to bag a bird, as the Northern Mariana Islands Track and Field Federation Turkey Trot returns to Saipan in its 20th installment.
According to the NMITFF developmental coach Elias Rangamar, participants will start the 4.2-mile course at the Department of Public Works Beach in Lower Base in the wee hours of Thursday, Nov. 25, and make their way upward along a road that is both paved and rocky, toward Mount Tapochao.
Runners will be divided into age groups, and the fastest finishers in the men’s and women’s 13-and-under, 17-and-under, open division, 40-49, and 50-and-over will be awarded a turkey for their efforts.
“It’s a nice atmosphere—you get up there and see that view from early in the morning, we do a raffle—everyone has a great time,” said Rangamar.
Former Saipan track star turned coach Robin Sapong was the first to finish in his category three times, and he knows the value of being the early bird.
“You don’t have to go to Joeten—you just have to run up to Mount Tapochao to get a turkey,” he said.
Aside from being able to win able to win a free dinner, participants will also be entered into a raffle in which they can win an assortment of prizes from Duty Free Shoppers, Subway, and the Pacific Islands Club.
Registration will be at 5:30am on the day of the event, and participants are required to pay a fee of $5 for adults and $3 for children under the age of 17.
For more information about the 20th Annual Turkey Trot, contact Rangamar by calling at 664-2503.
