Saipan Marathon is Mamiko’s favorite

Mamiko Berger celebrates as she crosses the finish line of the 2015 Saipan Marathon. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Mamiko Berger has been competing in various international long distance running events with her husband, Joshua, but the Saipan International Marathon holds a special place in her heart.

Mamiko is fresh from winning the 13th Annual Sedona Marathon early this month in Sedona, Arizona. She was the 10th fastest runner overall, completing the 42.2-kilometer race in 3:37:26 to rule the women’s division. She and her husband are now based in Bangkok, Thailand but said that she proudly continues to represent the CNMI in international racing events.

“We currently have a place in Bangkok but we are still residents of Saipan and I am so proud of representing the NMI,” Mamiko told Saipan Tribune.

The 2008 Saipan Marathon was Berger’s inaugural 42K event. Her debut win, six championships, and record time (3:09:49)) are what make the Saipan Marathon a memorable race for her.

“Josh and I have done the Portland, Paris, Big Sur (California), San Francisco, Mt. Fuji and several marathons in Japan, but the Saipan Marathon will always be my favorite,” Makiko said. “The Saipan Marathon was my very first marathon race. The Saipan Marathon, with Northern Marianas Athletics, helped raise me to become a marathoner.”

She clocked in at 3:51:28 to top the 2008 race and earned the fastest time in the women’s division in 2012, breaking the 3:10:03 mark of Japan’s Mayu Mochizuki in 2010. Her other victories in Saipan Marathon, which will hit the road this March 10, were recorded in 2009 and from 2014 to 2016.

Saipan Tribune asked Mamiko if she’s returning to the island next month to vie for her seventh championship, but has yet to respond at press time.

Meanwhile, Mamiko thanked her husband for his tips in tackling Sedona marathon, which is considered as one of the toughest races in the mainland because of its high altitude that reaches an elevation of 4,326 feet.

“The Sedona race, especially the full marathon course, is famous for the hills, high altitude, and mixing with a pave and dirt road. Because of this, no one tries to have a fast result. [But] Josh is such an experienced athlete and he advised me to go at least one minute per mile slower, which helped me tremendously,” Mamiko said.

Despite being warned that the Sedona marathon is a tough race because of the uphill climbs, Mamiko said she was not intimidated and just enjoyed the run.

“I was told that I would have a tough race but since the course was so beautiful and all of the volunteers, even the runners, were so friendly, I just forgot everything or I didn’t notice any of these hills,” she said. “So, bottomline, I didn’t have any major problems, except that I went off course a couple of times and it took me some time to warm up.”

Mamiko registered a pace of 8:18 per kilometer in the Sedona Marathon and logged a 17:41 lead over Maria Ladd of Albuquerque, New Mexico (3:55:07).