PRESS RELEASE – The Guam Visitors Bureau, along with the Pacific Islands Club Guam and United Airlines, today released official details regarding the inaugural Guam International Marathon that will take place on Sunday, April 7, 2013. The Guam International Marathon is Guam’s signature marathon event that will be promoted by Guam’s overseas marketing offices in Japan, Korea and Taiwan and will showcase the island as a sports tourism destination.

(L to R): Nathan Denight, Deputy General Manager, Guam Visitors Bureau, Ben Ferguson, Executive Director, Pacific Islands Club Guam and Race Director, Guam International Marathon and Fred Schumann, Race Advisor, Guam International Marathon. Dave Delgado from KUAM Sports is behind the camera. (courtesy photo)

The Guam International Marathon is also sponsored by ASC Trust Corporation, Bank of Guam, DFS Galleria, Docomo Pacific, Gatorade, Nanbo Insurance, SPPC/Circle K, Taico, and TakeCare Insurance.

This prestigious event will include a Full Marathon (26.2 miles), Half Marathon (13.1 miles) 10K, and 5K. All courses have been officially certified by the IAAF (International Association of Athletic Federations) and AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) which means that marathon participants may use this as a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon or other events with qualifying standards. Complete event details can be found on the official event website at www.guaminternationalmarathon.com.

The Guam International Marathon is truly an ideal destination marathon. All four race distances are run on a common out and back race course.  The marathon and half marathon follow Guam’s beautiful western ocean front on Marine Corps Drive, with the marathon continuing to a  a turnaround in Sumay in front of the T. Stell Newman Visitor Center.

“This event is primed to put Guam on the international marathon map which is clearly beneficial to the host tourism industry and economy as it the case around the world,” says Nathan Denight, Deputy General Manager for the Guam Visitors Bureau. “Runners that travel to take part in events such as these contribute to the local economy through spending, often bringing their families with them and are apt to return for R&R vacations after the event.”

Registration is currently underway. Runners can register online, at the Pacific Islands Club in Tumon or at Hornet Sports in Tamuning. Registration will close on Wednesday, April 3, 2013. However there are several early bird registration discounts that are available. Race packet pick up will take place on Saturday, April 6, 2013 from 11am to 5pm at the Guam Visitors Bureau lower parking lot.

“Building upon the successful PIC International Road Races events that we have hosted for the past 20 years, the Pacific Islands Club wanted to provide our international and local runners with a world-class marathon event,” says Ben Ferguson, Executive Director of Pacific Islands Club and Race Director of the Guam International Marathon. “The Guam International Marathon will be just that and we hope to draw hundreds of runners from off -island to experience the beauty of Guam and our people.”

All the races will start and finish in front of the Guam Visitors Bureau in Tumon, with pre and post-race activities taking place in Governor Joseph Flores Memorial Park, Ypao Beach. The schedule for race day will be as follows:

2:00am: Pale San Vitores Road will close from the Hilton to PROA Restaurant   intersections – parking will be available in the PIC parking garage

3:30am: Pale San Vitores Road will close from PROA Restaurant to Guam Marriott Resort intersections.

3:30 am: Warm up for Marathon & Half Marathon.

4:00am: MARATHON STARTS

4:30am: HALF MARATHON STARTS

4:45am: Warm up for 10K and 5K

5:15am: 5K STARTS

5:20am: 10K STARTS

11:00am: Course Cut off-time (7 hours)

12:00pm: Roads open.

Dr. Fred Schumann has been hired as the Race Advisor for the Guam International Marathon, bringing over 40 years of long distance running experience to the table. He ran cross-country, indoor track, and outdoor track for the nationally ranked Western State College of Colorado. In 1983, he ran the length of Japan from Kagoshima to Wakkanai over a 59-day period, which resulted in him receiving the Kanaguri Award from the Japan Health Marathon Federation. Fred has represented Guam in the marathon at the Micronesian Games, South Pacific Games, World Cup Marathon, World Track & Field Championships, and Seoul Olympic Games and has completed over 30 marathons and numerous ultra-marathon events. Along with being an integral part of the race organizing committee, Dr. Schumann will provide coaching advice on the event website.

Race updates and information can also be found on the official event Facebook page/guaminternationalmarathon.