SOPHIA Walk returns

Can’t keep up with the Oli-vier Marceaus and Renata Buchers of this world? Then the 6th Annual SOPHIA Walk may just be the thing for you.

For a change, the Saipan Walking Association Inc., in cooperation with Taga Inc. and the Marianas Visitors Authority, is offering a non-competitive event when it hosts the SOPHIA 6K/10K Walk along the Beach Road Pathway tomorrow.

The longer 10-kilometer course will have participants trek from the starting point at the Chamolinian Cultural Village in Garapan to the turning point near Oleai Beach Club and back.

The shorter six-kilometer course would then have participants walk from the Chamolinian Cultural Village and turnaround at the Japanese Tank Memorial at the junction of Beach Road and Quartermaster Road.

SAIWAI secretary Mario K. Espeleta said that the kick-off at the Chamolinian Cultural Village would be similar to the start of the walking association’s Christmas Walk—complete with falling confetti and all.

He also said that a 22-member contingent from Japan Nippon Turtle Association would participate in the event led by 84-year-old Jo Izumi who will be making another return to the islands.

Registration for the SOPHIA Walk starts at 8:30am on event day and the walk commences a few minutes later. Entry cost is $6 for the walk, which will pay for the cost of the event T-shirt and the island-style barbecue at the end.

The SOPHIA Walk is still part of the 2005 Saipan Sports Fest. It actually stands for Saipan Outdoor Physical Health Invigorating Adventure Walk. The name came from the first name of the former first lady, Mrs. Sophia Tenorio, who is a fervent supporter of the event.

Like all SAIWAI activities, the International Federation of Popular Sports or IVV will be sanctioning the SOPHIA Walk.

IVV members will receive credits for joining the event. The IVV has member-walking clubs in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Nepal, Australia, New Zealand, the CNMI and 29 other European countries.

For more information regarding the SOPHIA Walk, contact Bea at 322-2725 or Mario at 322-8876.

SAIWAI was incorporated as a non-profit corporation on July 27, 2001 and was established to promote public health through non-competitive walking.

The SOPHIA Walk would be SAIWAI’s inaugural international event of the year. Its next event is the World Walking Day on May 14.