CNMI Star Wars Day Run registration still on

Video grab shows “Jedi Masters” Galvin Deleon Guerrero, left, and Edward Dela Cruz in a social media promo for this Sunday’s “May The 4th Be With You, CNMI” run. (Contributed Photo)

The 4th of May has been unofficially dubbed Star Wars Day by fans, with greetings of “May the 4th be With You” heard across the globe. Northern Mariana Athletics and the Commonwealth Coalition of Private Schools Association Sports have taken up the call and created a “May The 4th Be With You, CNMI” run with several distances and categories to choose from and can be completed during the week surrounding Star Wars Day.

All proceeds will go to youth athletic programs in the CNMI and online registration can be done at: https://www.raceentry.com/races/may-the-4th-be-with-you-cnmi/2021/register.

The live run will take place this year on May 2 at 6:30am. The start line is at American Memorial Park in front of the Hyatt Regency Saipan. The 5K course is an out-and-back loop to the top of the Peace Park while the one-mile course meanders through the park. The actual race will have three categories: 5K Padawan, 5K Mandalorian, and 1 Mile Initiate.

A Padawan is a Force-sensitive person who undertakes one-on-one instruction with a Jedi Knight or Master outside the Jedi academy. Having passed the Initiate Trials, Padawan are given more responsibilities within the Jedi Order but were subject to the demands of their masters. Our Padawan compete over a distance of 5K at the order of their Jedi masters. Jedi initiates were recruited by the Jedi Order from various species across the galaxy. Some of the Initiates came late into the Force and but still must learn to complete the distance of one mile while attuning themselves to its ways.

Anyone participating in the 5K Padawan or 1 Mile Initiate category will receive a special commemorative, Glow-In-The-Dark Medal. The last category is the 5K Mandalorian event. This is a 5K race, following the same course as the Padawan run but in Star Wars costume. Like the Mandalorian from the series, those running in this category may not remove their costume and show their true form to anyone else. Those who successfully complete the course will receive a 3D Mandalorian Helmet Medal. There will also be prizes for Best Costume in both youth and adult categories following the actual race.

For those not able to make the live event, there are also many virtual categories. Each of these categories are meant to be completed in a single day from April 30 to May 9. Categories include a 1 Mile Youngling (Under 16), 5K Padawan, 10K Jedi Knight, 21K Jedi Master, and 42K Jedi Grand Master. There is also a Rebel Alliance Team category where a four-people squad must complete a 5K run. Everyone competing virtually will also receive the commemorative, Glow-In-The-Dark Medal and the first 12 teams to register will receive a limited-edition Rebel Alliance Patch.

“So, join us in a few short days in a galaxy very, very close for the first ever, May The 4th Be With You, CNMI Run. As Yoda would say, ‘Do or do not. There is no try… Your path you must decide,’” event coordinator Ron Snyder said. (PR)