Run Saipan unveils calendar of events for 2023

Run Saipan members pose for a photo after the 2022 Saipan Half Marathon last April.  (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

The only established premier running club in the CNMI, Run Saipan, is running toward 2023 with a year-long calendar of events.

Run Saipan is starting the year off with a new three-day race—Run Saipan Trinity 2023—from Saturday, Jan. 14, through Monday, Jan. 16. The location will cover any of the underground series locations which won’t be confirmed until next year.

Brain-child of Run Saipan board member Dr. Ron Snyder, the race will consist of a 5K and 10K—not in that order and will span the three days. Runners can choose not to run on all race days and will receive an event medal for each race joined and an event shirt. A commemoration medal will be given to those who complete all three races.

Next up on Feb. 18 is the 3rd Annual Marianas Ekiden which is a 21-kilometer relay from Micro Beach in Garapan to just before Pacific Islands Club Saipan in San Antonio and back.

In the month of March there will be the 2nd Annual CHCC Happy Hearts 5K on March 24, which will be from the Garapan Fishing Base where participants will head south to just past the Japanese Tank Memorial along Quartermaster Road and back.

Run Saipan and Run Guam will come together for a Run Guam and Run Saipan 5K race on April 15 in which Guam will be running the Ypao through the Tumon pathway route and Run Saipan will run through one of the old underground routes.

The month of May brings two races—the ever-popular with Star Wars fans 3rd Annual Star Wars Day Race “Revenge of the 6th” on May 6 and the 3rd Annual Mangrove 5K on May 27.

The beginning of summer is marked by the 2nd Annual Grotto 10K on June 3, which will start at the Grotto in an out and back in semi-flat course. 

July will see the 3rd Annual Latte Built Independence Day 2 Miler on July 4, which will be from the Garapan Fishing Base to National Office Supply and back.

In August will be the 2nd Annual Beer Mile on Aug. 4, which coincides with International Beer Day and will be held at the Saipan Vegas Resort golf course.

For September, there will be the 3rd Annual Salty Skin 5K to be held on Sep. 16, with the course to be determined.

The spooky season of October will bring the inaugural Zombie Run 5K on Oct. 27, which will be along Capitol Hill, Wireless Ridge area.

The month of November will see the 2nd Annual Saipan International Airport 8K Trail Run and the Inaugural Veterans Day 5K on Nov. 11.

The last month of the year will see the 2nd Annual Run Saipan Holiday Half Marathon + Atkins Kroll 5K on Dec. 2. The Holiday Half Marathon is a point-to-point 21K race from Sugar Dock to Banzai Cliff in Saipan.

The year will end with a bang just as explosive as the beginning of the year with the 3rd Annual Run from ‘23 1 Mile Road Race Championship on Dec. 31 from the southbound lane of Beach Road next to the World War II Tank Memorial along Quartermaster Road.

Officially founded in 2020 by president Edward Dela Cruz Jr., Run Saipan was established as a nonprofit organization in 2021.

Run Saipan seeks to promote a healthy lifestyle in the CNMI by supporting community projects such as regular 5K races, running and nutrition workshops, sending athletic ambassadors to the schools, and working with Northern Marianas Athletics to increase the opportunities for cardiovascular health available to all residents in the Commonwealth, regardless of running ability or experience. 

Dela Cruz said, “I would like to thank personally on behalf of the Run Saipan board for our partners that make our events possible at every race: The Department of Public Safety, Northern Marianas Athletics, Saipan International School, Marianas Visitors Authority. They were the constant support organizations that made our races even possible. Without their continued support we wouldn’t be able to have safe and successful events without them. Thank you all so much. Going into 2023 we wish for their continued support. Special thanks to Saipan Tribune, Marianas Variety, and KSPN for the hard working reporters getting our story out there. To all our title sponsors who confirmed for the upcoming 2023 year thank you for partnering with us again and believing in us: Latte Built, Salty Skin Pacific, MARPAC, CHCC, and Atkins Kroll.”

He also reminds those who want to join the races that all registrations will be done online at https://raceroster.com/.

They will not be accepting cash unless it’s for the membership application. Race events we will not be doing in-person race day registration. Payment and registration for all our events will be strictly online.

Run Saipan membership is $50 for adults and $25 for high school students or younger and the 2023 membership applications will be handed out at the 2022 Run Saipan Marathon finish line.