Mamiko seeks third straight win in Coffee Trail

With the Marianas Coffee Trail Run back this year, Mamiko Oshima-Berger will have a chance to clinch her third win in a row in the off-road race.

The 5th Marianas Coffee Trail Run will be held on Jan. 28 with Saipan runners to get a challenge from a group of Japanese expected to come over and try the signature event, which Oshima-Berger ruled twice in 2010.

In January 2010, Oshima-Berger finished the 10-kilometer course in 1:37:33 to place sixth overall and first in the women’s division. Then nine months later, Oshima-Berger joined the much longer course (30-kilometer) and clocked in at 3:39:59 to place fourth overall and first in her division.

“I would love to defend my title and I will do the race with my two dogs, they are very good runners,” said Oshima-Berger, who has been training for a long list of 2012 race for the past seven months. “I am running with Mieko and I think she will also do the Coffee Trail race. Next week’s race will be my first warm-up for Saipan Marathon and hopefully I have good results.”

Oshima-Berger added that she does not have a target time for the Jan. 28 race, as she believes there will be some changes in the course and it will be a much shorter event compared to the October 2010 event.

Marianas Visitors Authority, which is organizing the event through the help of KFC Triathlon Club Japan, TEAM PDI, and Northern Marianas Athletics, said this year’s Coffee Trail will have 10K short course and a longer course through some of Saipan’s most challenging and scenic terrain.

“The island is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the eastern coast and the Philippine Sea on the west. Beginning and finishing at Micro Beach at American Memorial Park, the race rises 1,500 feet above sea level following twists and turns through the mountain top (Mt. Tapochao) before returning to the finish line,” the MVA press statement stated.

“Not many people can boast of running the mountain range that originates in the Marianas Trench, but runners in the Marianas Coffee Trail Run can,” said MVA community projects manager Martin Duenas. “We welcome runners and walkers to take the challenge later this month.”

Race participants will cruise through wild coffee plantations built during the Japanese-colonial era on the island and through the young coffee groves of sponsor Marianas Coffee Co.

Entrance fees are only $15 for U12 runners and $30 for 13-and-above if paid on or before Jan. 19. Registration fees after Jan. 19 will have additional $10. Runners will receive a finisher’s t-shirt, certificate of participation, and free entry to the awards banquet set for 11:30am after the race at Micro Beach. Prizes will be given away to the Top 3 placers in the men’s and women’s short and long course races.

For more information, contact Ed Diaz of MVA at ediaz@mymarianas.com or at 664-3210.