Grotto 10K countdown to club’s half marathon

Kong

Run Saipan’s Grotto 10K will serve as a countdown for the non-profit’s first-ever half marathon set for December.

“This should give runners an idea of their ability like a time trial. Whatever they feel like after this they should get a good idea of where they stand if they were to run an extra 11K. We will also hold a half marathon time trial for the running club in a few weeks so our members can get a taste of the one way course we have one store in this coming December,” said Run Saipan president Edward Dela Cruz Jr.

The Inaugural Run Saipan Half Marathon is set for Dec. 10, 2022. 

Going back to the Grotto 10K set for Aug. 20, Dela Cruz said the event  was inspired  by  Run Saipan vice president Dr. Jenna Kong. 

“As we were devising the 2022 race calendar and selecting locations, she chose the Grotto because it’s one of her favorite dive sites. She also wanted a run up north that was not a full incline like we did in the Stairway to Heaven before. She also wanted a distance variety which we agreed to,” he said.

The Run Saipan president said the club also tries to space out their longer races away from the Saipan Marathon sub-events to give runners a chance to focus on the marathon because that’s the premier event for the Marianas Visitors Authority. 

“Before people had to wait once a year to choose the 10K, half marathon, and full. Now we are offering the 10K and half marathon spaced out in the year so they can be flexible to focus on going for the top distance which is the 26.2 miles. That’s why we strayed away from strictly 5K every month. We want to give everyone a variety of distances and race styles,” said Dela Cruz.

According to its signup sheet on racecoaster, Run Saipan’s Grotto 10K is suitable for runners/walkers of all abilities. The course will start at the Grotto in an out and back in semi-flat course. 

Water stations will be provided at the starting point, Bird Island Lookout, and the turnaround point just past Kalabera Cave. Check-in time is from 5am to 5:45am with a race briefing at 5:50am. The race will officially start at 6am.

Run Saipan also reminded members that special discounts are available and one only needs to check the promo code at their social media groups.

For more information or to register, click on the link:https://raceroster.com/events/2022/63041/grotto-10k?fbclid=IwAR1y4Km0 XlTT13T6WS_U2DOhvK9m9DupntIWyZ-isaW96XAIBW6Ak3c5xLM.