Saipan to get its first marathon

After years of enticing runners from throughout the region to compete in 13.1-mile races in the Commonwealth, the Marianas Visitors Authority is working together with Northern Marianas Athletics to host the first-ever Saipan Marathon in January.

The usual cast of organizing partners for major sporting events met yesterday morning in the conference room of the MVA as representatives from NMA, MVA, Pacific Development, Inc., Pacific Islands Club, and the Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Federation voted unanimously to host the 26.2-mile test of endurance.

“It’s long overdue. It should’ve been done a long time ago. It’ll be highly successful with everybody working hard planning it,” said NMA president Kurt Barnes.

The plans are to include the marathon in conjunction with the running of the 25th Saipan Half Marathon (formerly the Kintetsu Half Marathon), and 10-km race on Saturday, Jan. 21.

Barnes said that he’ll consider the marathon portion of the event successful if somewhere between 23-30 runners opt for the challenge that will take them from “Finisher’s Street” at American Memorial Park to Marpi for the first turn around before sending them back along Beach Road to the PIC and back for the home stretch.

Organizers said that they know the challenges that await them but feel that the event will also give them and local athletes the opportunity to prepare for the marathon in next summer’s Micronesian Games.

“We’re going to need a lot of volunteers because it’s going to take a lot of water stops to pull off the marathon. Near the end we’ll have a water stop every mile and a half and maybe some food stations also, but we’re going to go to the Chamber of Commerce and we’ll ask businesses to man the stations. It’s probably the most important of the marathon, but we can do that,” said Barnes

Longtime runner Robin Sapong was at the meeting and said that while he never ran a marathon before, he is interested in running the long-distance challenge. Despite the marathon’s appeal, however, Sapong said he plans on devoting his time toward providing the racers with the best race possible from the organizational side.

“Come out, exercise and have fun. If somebody will take over the registration I will [run],” he said.

The cost to tackle the longest race in the history of the CNMI is $35, and the fee for the half marathon will remain the same at $25, but in an effort to curb the rush of last-minute entries, organizers are adding a $10 fee to anyone not registered for either of the three races by Friday, Jan. 20, at 5pm.

For more information about the inaugural Saipan Marathon, the 25th running of the Saipan Half Marathon, or the 10-km course, contact Ed Diaz at MVA by calling 664-3210, or Barnes by calling 235-5853 or via email at kurtproa@yahoo.com.