Welcome marathoners, Saipan E Yokoso

It’s just a matter of hours before the international field of long-distance runners join with local endurance aficionados to compete in the longest race in the history of the CNMI, and the nearly 170 participants of the inaugural Saipan Marathon, 25th Saipan Half-Marathon, and 20th 10km events will be looked out for by the boys in blue.

The majority of athletes hail from Japan, but all of the runners can take comfort in the fact that the Department of Public Safety will post officers at all of the major intersections along the course, and that they have already coordinated emergency action plans with Northern Marianas Athletics and the Marianas Visitors Authority.

In addition to the roadside care from DPS, the athletes will be well supported with water, Gatorade, ice, and fruits, at the many aid stations stretching from San Antonio to Marpi.

As of yesterday afternoon, the field of 38 marathon runners consists of athletes representing Japan, Korea, and the CNMI between the ages of nine and 67, and more are expected to sign up before the race—especially among the local ranks.

A larger turnout will traverse the course from Micro Beach to the Pacific Islands Club and back, as there are currently 56 long-distance runners confirmed for the race. With many familiar names missing from the list, that number is expected to swell with a number of entrants hailing from Saipan.

The senior statesman of the day’s events will be participating in the 10-km race as 76-year-old Niinomi Saburo is among the 79 early risers signed up for the predawn challenge.

While the majority of people planning to run tomorrow have already handed in their applications and paid their registration fees, there is still some out there waiting until the last moment to decide.

Even the most ardent procrastinators still have a chance to enter any one of tomorrow’s events, but they will need to put off putting things off soon as the deadline to register for the race is this afternoon when the officials set up shop at the American Memorial Park pavilion at 2pm.

The only people that need not hurry are the folks traveling along the roads in the wee hours of tomorrow morning. Race organizers are once again asking the public to do its part in keeping the athletes safe by exercising caution, while driving on the roadways and tying up their pets prior to and during all three of the races tomorrow morning.

With everyone’s help, all of tomorrow’s competitors will only need to worry about keeping their pace and drinking water during the morning’s challenge rather than dodging cars and boonie dogs.