The 6th Annual Saipan Marathon will launch first on March 5, with a full marathon (26.2-miles or 42.195-kilometers), half marathon (13.1-mi or 21.1-km), and 10-km race.
In 2010, the marathon attracted an estimated 600 participants from Japan, Korea, Guam, and the CNMI. Hundreds of additional competitors are expected this year. The event will also join the ranks of the prestigious Japan-based Earth Marathon group.
The XTERRA Saipan Championship makes its 10th annual run on March 12, featuring a 1.5-km swim, 30-km mountain bike race, and 12-km trail run.
The race, dubbed the ‘Crown Jewel of the XTERRA Tour,’ will highlight the island’s warm waters, pristine jungles, and picturesque coastal roadways.
For those eyeing a shorter course, the XTERRA Sunset Trail Run will be held on March 11 at 5 p.m. The last weekend of March will test the will of triathletes in the annual Tagaman triathlon, named for the legendary Chamorro chief who was fabled to have ripped a coconut tree from its roots in his youth. The Tagaman features a 2-km swim, 60-km bike race, and 15-km run.
“The Northern Marianas has a number of premiere sporting events year round, and March is definitely the prime month for runners and triathletes in Saipan,” said Marianas Visitors Authority’s Community Projects Manager Martin Duenas. “Anyone looking for a chance to just escape to paradise, but still compete or train, shouldn’t miss this excellent opportunity.”
For more information about the Saipan Marathon, visit the MVA’s website at www.mymarianas.com, or contact Ed Diaz at 1-670-664-3200/01 or ediaz@mymarianas.com.
The Saipan Marathon’s registration deadline is Feb. 18 with early bird rates up until Feb. 10.
For more information about the XTERRA Saipan Championship, XTERRA Sunset Trail Run, or Tagaman, visit www.saipansports.com. Registration deadlines are March 9 for the XTERRA Championship and Saipan Trail Run, and March 16 for Tagaman.
