PRESS RELEASE – (Tumon, Guam) – Wednesday, February 18, 2015 – The Guam Visitors Bureau, along with Pacific Islands Club Guam and United Airlines announced exciting new features for the 2015 Guam International Marathon to include the introduction of a new fiesta aid station that will feature runner friendly local food favourites from throughout Guam to be presented in an on-course mini ”fiesta” presented by the Islandwide Beautification Task Force. This year’s event will also see an increase in on-course entertainment provided by many of Guam’s favorite local music groups.
Event organizers announced these new features in a race-themed press conference complete with cheering squad, mini aid station and a race clock countdown. The third annual Guam International Marathon will take place on Sunday, April 12, 2015.
Guam International Marathon Event Director Ben Ferguson also took the opportunity to announce a new finish line and finisher festival location for this year’s event. “In an effort to take advantage of the tremendous beach that we have at beautiful Governor Joseph A. Flores Memorial Park, we have decided to move the finish line of the race closer to the beach and hold our finisher’s party right next to the ocean. This change will enable our resident and visiting runners with a great opportunity to put their feet in the sand and cool off with a dip in the ocean after the race”.
2015 GIM Course Map
Ferguson added, “The entire community is really coming together to promote the success of this annual event, from volunteers to race officials, our sponsors and partners, along with local and international participants. We want to encourage everyone to come out, register for the 5k, 10k half or full marathon and take advantage of this great value and awesome experience, right here at home”.
Ferguson also announced that Japan’s Naoko Takahashi will serve as this year’s official event ambassador. Naoko Takahashi was the gold medalist in the marathon at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and is one of Japan’s most famous running personalities.
Other key sponsors of the Guam International Marathon include the stations of KUAM, ASC Trust Corporation, Bank of Guam, T-Galleria by DFS, Docomo Pacific, A.B. Won Pat International Airport – Guam, SPPC/Circle K, Taico, Powerade and TakeCare Insurance.
This Guam International Marathon event includes 5K, 10K, Half Marathon (13.1 miles) and Marathon (26.2 miles) race distances. All courses have been officially certified by the IAAF (International Association of Athletic Federations) and AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races). This designation means that marathon runners may use this as a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon. The public is encouraged to follow Guam International Marathon on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Complete event details and registration can be found on the official event website at www.guaminternationalmarathon.com.
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JFK SWEEPS PADDLING DISTANCE TITLES
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Guam’s Wayne Blas completed his 13th Boston Marathon and 38th marathon overall.
The island’s record holder in the distance, Blas finished this year in 2:35:21.
“I’m very happy with this result because seven months ago, I was sidelined with a stress fracture that kept me out for three months. No running! To come back on an abbreviated marathon build and finish one of the toughest races strong and healthy was a big win for me.”
His time of 2:29:38 at the 2023 Chicago Marathon and World Marathon Majors Age Group Championships stands as the Guam National Record.
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