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NMA invites runners to final events of 2015
Northern Marianas Athletics is inviting all running enthusiasts to join their last two road racing events of 2015—the 31st Turkey Trot Fun Run and the 34th Christmas Island Relay.
Tsunami Saipan members slow down as they near the finish line in last year’s Christmas Island Relay. Running enthusiasts are being invited by the Northern Marianas Athletics to start forming their teams in time for next month’s racing event.
(Jon Perez)
The Turkey Trot is an annual running event held every Thanksgiving Day.
The 4.2-mile (6.8 kilometers) trek up Mt. Tapochao, the highest point on Saipan at 474 meters or 1,555 feet, is set on Nov. 26.
Registration starts at 5:30am and the run, which starts at Lower Base and the finish line on top of Mt. Tapocaho, is at 6am. Fees are $5 for youth (U18) and $10 for adults.
The first places in each age division—U12, U18, 30-39, 40-49, over-50, and open—will get turkeys in time for the celebration of the annual American holiday.
On Dec. 19, NMA will hold the 34th edition of the Annual Christmas Island Relay that starts at the south parking lot of the Pacific Islands Club and ends at the Last Command Post in Marpi.
Race categories for the half marathon distance-racing event (13.7 miles or 22K) are a five-member team and individual or open division.
In the team category, members of the five-person squad will alternately run 1 mile (1.6K) from PIC’s south parking lot to the Last Command Post.
Registration fee is $25 for both the team—$5 for each team—and individual categories. Sign up starts at 5:30am and the race at 6am.
Last year, Team Usagi bested 10 other groups as they completed the early morning race in 1:32.24.
Seiya Eda and Beo Ngirchongor along with veterans Mamiko Oshima-Berger, Tony Ichiou, and Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel were the members of Team Usagi, which means rabbit in Japanese.
Eda, Kabiriel, and Ichiou also ruled the race in 2013 as part of the Road Runners with Manny Aaron and Jessie James as the other members.
“Join us promote health and fitness as we prepare for the coming New Year. For more information and registration, go to the NMA Facebook page,” said NMA official Elias Rangamar.
