Participants will be registering on the day of the event, where they will be required to fill out a waiver form.
Registration starts at 5:15 am, with the half marathon kicking off at 6 am and the fun run starting at 7 am.
Runners for the off-road half marathon will be taking off from the Banzai Cliff area, where they will be running down coral roads passing through the Far East Broadcasting Company site, Marianas Resort Golf Course, Kalabera Cave, and the Bird Island overlook.
Like the half marathon, short course runners will also be passing by the Last Japanese Command Post. Head Coordinator Brad Ruszala stated that they will take a detour leading towards the Cowtown Raceway, where they will join the half marathon racers in a final one and a half mile trail leading back to the finish line at Banzai Cliff.
The trail was designed to showcase the island’s beauty to those who watch or take part in the half marathon and fun run events.
All runners will be paying an entry fee of $20, which will benefit the Independent Football Club. Ruszala noted that the IFC is a non-profit organization that does not charge kids to take part in its activities but rather, rely “solely on the kindness of the local community” to provide its players with uniform and equipment.
IFC coaches and players will be present at the half marathon and fun run events as volunteers. Ruszala also said that IFC volunteers “who started the club knew that they would be facing a financial obstacle when they chose to introduce the world’s most popular sport to Saipan, but they’ve brought smiles to loads of kids and held true to their motto of ‘Everybody plays, nobody pays.’”
Prizes will be given to the top three winners from the men and women’s division in both the half marathon and fun run race.
