Hafa Adai 5K to cap month of races

On Saipan, April means sports. Each and every Saturday this April will have you swimming, biking, running, or just plain moving! On April 5, Saipan will play host to the 13th Annual Xterra Championships. April 12 will see the running of the 25th installment of the TAGAMAN. April 19, Saipan will play host to hundreds of running fanatics who will challenge the Saipan Marathon. And lastly, April 26 will wrap it all up with the Hafa Adai 5K.

Pacific Islands Club Saipan will be teaming up with Let’s Move Marianas and the Marianas Visitors Authority to host the first 5-kilometer run of its kind on Saipan.

“We are happy that we are able to support this first time event and we hope that this will not only be good for our local community but also be an added sports tourism attraction for the CNMI,” said Martin F. Duenas MVA’s Community Projects manager.

“The Hafa Adai 5K will not be like other event in Saipan. Everyone is invited to come participate in this one of a kind event. The 5K will start and finish at PIC Saipan. This is a fun run which will leave you feeling accomplished and full of color by the time you reach the finish line,” said PIC Operations and Event manager Dennis Tababa. “ I cannot wait to see the looks on people’s faces as they cross the finish line covered in ‘holi powder.’”

This 5K will have participants passing through four coloring stations along the 5K route. Volunteers will celebrate each participant’s arrival with a splash of either blue-, yellow-, pink-, or red-colored corn starch. This biodegradable and non-toxic mixture will have participants laughing all the way from station to station.

“We wanted to host an event where everyone could join. This is a no-timed everyone wins just by finishing 5K. We want first-timers to come out along with seasoned runners, families and friends,” said SEA director Glenn Policare.

Along with PIC Saipan, Let’s Move Marianas will be assisting in the production of this event.
“Let’s Move Marianas is an initiative to create and sustain a healthy CNMI. We are extremely excited to be collaborating with PIC for this great, unique event!” said Amber Lynn Mendiola.
Mendiola, the Let’s Move Marianas Campaign chairperson, said they had a similar idea in mind, but “were happy to see PIC bringing such an event to life. We’ve been working at this for a while and PIC is the strawberry on top of the fruit salad that’s making it happen!”

Entry forms are available at the PIC front Desk. Entry fees are only $10 and the first 500 paid entries will receive a free limited edition event shirt. Proceeds from the Hafa Adai 5K will go to benefit the CNMI Salvation Army.

For more information, email dennis.tababa@picsaipan.com or call 237-5147. (PR)