Marquit Chavez and Jane Malabanan of Saipan pass along a quiet and picturesque road during Rota Marathon 2024. Registration is open at www.mymarianas.com for the 2nd Annual Rota Marathon on Jan. 18, 2025.
(MVA) — One month out from race day, registration for the 2nd Annual Rota Marathon on Jan. 18, 2025, has already exceeded the inaugural event held this year, with more sponsors lining up to aid the effort.
As of Wednesday, Dec. 18, 97 registrants from South Korea, the U.S., Guam, and the Northern Marianas have signed up for the event, compared to 83 registrants for the inaugural race.
“We are on track and super excited to break our goal of 100 runners in 2025,” said Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Christopher A. Concepcion. “We are especially grateful for all the partners joining MVA in working to make Rota Marathon a sustainable annual signature event based on growing participation. It’s wonderful to join forces in spreading the word that Rota as the place to visit in The Marianas in 2025!”
Rota Marathon is organized by MVA in cooperation with Rota Mayor’s Office. This year’s sponsors include Platinum Sponsor STAR Marianas, Gold Sponsor Ambros/Marpac, and In-kind Sponsors I-Shop, Coral Ocean Resort, and Hybrid Shop.
Rota Marathon features a full marathon, half-marathon and 5K courses on one of the most picturesque islands of The Marianas archipelago, also known as “The World’s Friendliest Island.”
The race falls on the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal and local holiday. Early bird registration rates through Christmas, Dec. 25, are $25 for the full marathon, $20 for the half-marathon, and $15 for the 5K. Registration rates will increase on Dec. 26, 2024. Full marathon participants must be 16 years of age or older. Half marathon participants must be 14 years of age or older.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the Overall Top 3 Finishers, male and female. In the full marathon, prizes are $400 for 1st place, $300 for 2nd place, and $200 for 3rd place. In the half-marathon, prizes are $300 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place, and $150 for 3rd place. In the 5K, prizes are $200 for 1st place, $150 for 2nd place, and $100 for 3rd place.
Rota is 30 minutes from the capitAl island of Saipan by light-aircraft. In addition to daily flights, charter flights are operated by STAR Marianas Air to Rota from Saipan and Guam. The island also offers award-winning dive opportunities and numerous sites listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, including As Nieves Latte Stone Quary, a site designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark on Dec. 16, 2024, by the U.S. Department of the Interior. An NHL designation is the highest federal recognition of a property’s historical, architectural or archeological significance.
The final day to register is Jan. 17, 2025. Mandatory race packet pickup will be on Jan. 17 from 5-6 p.m. at Rota Round House in Songsong, and the race briefing will be at 6 p.m. On Jan. 18, the full marathon will begin at 4 a.m., half-marathon will begin at 5 a.m., and the 5K will begin at 6:30 a.m.
The road race will begin at Rota Round House in Songsong and traverse scenic and historic sites on the island. Registration includes a limited edition official Rota Marathon t-shirt, Rota Marathon medal, and one entry to the awards banquet to be held at 6 p.m. on race day. Registration may be made online at www.mymarianas.com or in person at the MVA office in Saipan at 3366 Beach Rd., Suite 101, Garapan or at the MVA field office in Songsong, Rota.
For more information, visit www.mymarianas.com or contact MVA Community Projects Specialist Ed Diaz at communityprojects@mymarianas.com or (670) 664-3200 or MVA Rota Field Operations Supervisor Dave Atalig at datalig@mymarianas.com or (670) 532-0327.
