The participants of the inaugural Run Saipan Trinity pose for a photo at the Beach Road pathway in Oleai last year.
RUN Saipan’s 2nd Annual 2024 Trinity event — the CNMI’s only three-day, back-to-back races — is set to begin this Saturday, Jan. 13.
The Trinity routes pay homage to the original Run Saipan underground races and their original race courses: Beach Road, Mt. Tapochao, and the former Mariana Resort.
Day 1, Saturday, will be the Beach Road Pathway 10K race, which begins at 6 a.m. The starting line is at the Oleai Beach Bar & Grill with the turnaround point at Moylan’s Insurance. This is an out-and-back 5K course where runners must run two laps to complete the 10K distance.
On Day 2, Sunday, Jan. 14, runners will take on the dreaded Mt. Tapochao course starting at 6 a.m. Runners will begin at the PSS Grants Office on Iseta CT, Capital Hill and make a one-way trip up to the top. Runners must complete a loop to go around the 5K course.
Day 3 on Monday, Jan. 15, will feature the Marpi course. The 5K race starts at 6 a.m., and the course will begin in the former Mariana Resort entrance area on Route 30. This is another out and back course with the turnaround point located at the first memorial statue upon entering the Last Command Post.
“We are proud to run one quarter, three-months’ worth of races in one shot to start the year strong for the boldest of runners,” said Run Saipan President Edward Dela Cruz Jr.
What makes this year’s Trinity special is a unique medal, which is combined as a whole if a runner has competed in all three race days, he said.
Although some runners may not be able to join all three races, they can run and and still get a finisher medal for that day, Dela Cruz added.
In the future, he said, participants can run the other races and still get the medal holder that will connect all three medals for whenever they complete all three event days.
Packet pickups will be available on Friday, Jan 12, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the second floor of Cha Café.
