HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — In tune with the Hafa Adai spirit, the Ko’ko’ Road Race brings together runners from all walks of life, according to the Guam Visitors Bureau.
GVB spokesperson Lisa Bordallo said the race sees a “mix of local resident and visitor participants. We’ve had social media influencers, Asian celebrities, running celebrities and promoters participate in the past.”
It’s a great run for the Hafa Adai spirit, said Manami Iijima-Martin, 2023 Ko’ko 10K winner and international triathlete, who told The Guam Daily Post the Ko’ko’ Road Race is where she began cultivating her love for running.
“I love the Ko’ko’ Race because it was one of the first running events I’ve done and made me chase a goal, to break 1:30 in the half-marathon. It is also nice that it brings many runners from abroad to our beautiful island,” Iijima-Martin said.
“I like that the race brings out everyone on the island and new runners as well. We have a great running community and I enjoy running with them,” she continued.
The Ko’ko’ Road Race, which raises awareness of the plight of the ko’ko’ bird, has gained much attraction since the first race in 2006.
Bordallo told the Post, “The race continued to grow in popularity up to 2017 and developed to include a half-marathon and 4-person ekiden relay. (In) 2018, there was only a kids race, no adult race due to the United Guam Marathon and sponsorship of the Guam Running Club Marathon; 2020 to 2022, all three years the race was canceled due to COVID.”
The race resumed in 2023 with a kids race, and 10K. This year’s race will bring back the half-marathon course, Bordallo said.
It’s an event Iijima-Martin hopes she doesn’t miss.
“I hope to! I have a lot of international triathlon races, but if I am home, I will be there,” she said.
Running for the last 10 years on courses abroad, Iijima-Martin said the Ko’ko Race stacks up.
“It’s definitely a tough course. It’s slightly downhill and tailwind in the first half, then uphill and headwind (in) the second, which makes it tough. You also can’t forget the heat and humidity,” she said.
The race is a chance for runners like Iijima-Martin to push themselves, she said.
“I love to push myself and, in running, I can easily do that. It’s also simple, with putting one foot in front of the other,” she said. “I don’t listen to music during a race. This is so I could focus on my run and how my body is feeling. I tune in to my body.”
Ko’ko’ Road Race event details
Kids Fun Run on Saturday, April 13, starts and ends at Ypao Beach.
Course routes:
- 0.6K for 4-to-6-year-old group
- 1.6K for 7-to-9-year-old group
- 3.3K for 10-to-12-year-old group
Ko’ko’ Road Race on Sunday, April 14, starts in front of GVB and ends at Ypao Beach.
Course routes:
- 10K – open to 13-plus years old
- Half-marathon – open to 13-plus years old
Register online or get additional information at https://www.visitguam.com/koko
Manami Iijima-Martin wins the Female Division of the 13th Guam Ko’ko’ Road Race on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at Gov. Joseph Flores Beach Park in Tumon.
