Marianas Visitors Authority Community Projects Specialist Ed Diaz, sixth right, convenes a meeting with staff at the MVA office on March 3, 2025, in preparation for Skechers Saipan Marathon 2025 set for March 8.
(MVA) — With 598 for runners from 19 countries and territories registered so far, organizers are doing their final warming up for Skechers Saipan Marathon 2025 on Saturday, March 8, in The Marianas.
“After months of preparation, our team is coming down to the finish line now for another exciting race on Saturday,” said Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Jamika Taijeron. “We invite everyone to join us for the first ever marathon festival at the finish line and to cheer for our runners — many of whom have travelled to Saipan just to run. Also, a tremendous thank you to all our sponsors and supporters for making tourism their business, especially our co-organizer Northern Marianas Athletics.”
Participating countries and territories registered so far including Australia, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Netherlands, the Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, the U.S. and The Marianas.
“Many thanks to the Marianas Visitors Authority, especially our sponsors and all the runners with their supporting friends for using running as a platform to empower wellness and creating a healthier world promoting physical activity,” said NMA President Ray Tebuteb.
Thursday, March 6, at 5 p.m. is the final deadline to sign up at raceroster.com/. The full marathon race will start at 4 a.m., followed by the half-marathon, 10K, and 5K. The full marathon course will depart American Memorial Park, follow Middle Road south to just before the Oleai intersection, then proceed north to Marpi before ending at American Memorial Park again.
The festival will be held from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the start/finish line and will include food and drink booths, Skechers Photo Zone, arts and crafts, live entertainment, and more. In lieu of the traditional evening awards banquet, top finishers will receive their awards at the festival as soon as they finish the race. Food vendors will be Island Grindz, The Hut, OMG Oh My Grill, Caravan, Napu Brewing and The Kuxsins. Runners will be provided complimentary meal coupons with their certificates of completion and race t-shirts after the race. Cash and credit cards will also be accepted by vendors. Arts and craft vendors will be Creations and Galuti Club.
“It’s looking to be another great race day on Saturday,” said MVA Community Projects Manager Martin Duenas. “As always, we ask drivers to exercise caution when driving that morning along the route and to follow all traffic officers’ directions. We also remind all dog owners to ensure their pets are secured so they don’t chase our participants. And the public is invited to join all the festivities at the Saipan Marathon festival!”
An annual signature event of the MVA, Saipan Marathon is a certified measured course by World Athletics in cooperation with AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races). The event is sanctioned under Northern Marianas Athletics rules and regulations. In addition to Exclusive Title Sponsor Skechers, Platinum Sponsor is Coca-Cola/Powerade/Subway/Foremost; Gold Sponsors are Bridge Capital, United Airlines, and Ideal Signs; and Silver Sponsor is Enterprise Rent-A-Car. In-kind contributors are Dave Electronics and All-star Sporting Goods/Boarderline/The Athlete’s Foot.
Race Packet Pickup will be on Friday, March 7, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the American Memorial Park Amphitheater. Race Packet Pickup is mandatory for all participants. A participant may send a representative to pick up their race packet only with a written authorization and a copy of the participant’s photo ID.
Wacky Awards for Best Costume, Most Awesome Shoes, Ugliest Shoes, Shortest Shorts, and Craziest Hair will also be awarded.
Aid stations will be provided by Rep. Joel Camacho, Marianas Beach Resort, Bridge Capital, Enterprises Rent-A-Car, Saipan World Resort, Pacific Islands Club, Atkins Kroll Toyota, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Aqua Resort Club Saipan, Kensington Hotel Saipan, Northern Marianas Athletics and Marianas Health Services.
For more information, visit https://raceroster.com or www.mymarianas.com or contact MVA Community Projects Coordinator Ed Diaz at (670) 664-3210 or communityprojects@mymarianas.com/.
