UGM HAFA ADAI EXPO BRINGS HYPE FOR SUNDAY’S RACE

By Jay Leon Guerrero

The United Guam Marathon (UGM) is just a day away with over a thousand runners scheduled to pick up their race packets during the “Hafa Adai” United Marathon Expo held at the PIC Amphitheatre in Tumon.

Registrants are able to pick up their packets on Friday and Saturday (2 days before the UGM) during an Expo provided by the marathon sponsors. Overseas and local runners flocked the PIC Amphitheatre to pick up the race bibs and chips and were also treated with entertainment on the main stage area.

Yasushi Kihara from Kobe, Japan, will race his seventh marathon on Sunday. He wears a popular penguin costume during the 42-kilometer marathon race. “I wear the costume for the kids, it makes them happy to see me run,” said Kihara.

Kihara wore a shirt at the Expo with pictures of him at his previous six marathon races. “I love Guam and I love running this marathon. I will continue to run again in the future because I enjoy my time on the island,” said Kihara.

Lu Chia-Yi is a famous journalist from Taiwan. She said she will run her first marathon on Sunday. “I’m really excited for this event: from 0 to 42 (kilometers) will be a big thing for me,” said Lu.

“I chose to do my first marathon here because its very close to Taiwan, only a 3 to 4 hour flight,” said Lu. This is Lu’s third time to Guam and had her honeymoon here. “The scenery and the beach here is beautiful.”

The expo continues on Saturday from 8am-5pm. The big race day is on Sunday at Ypao Beach. The main sponsor for the event is United Airlines. The Gold sponsors are the Guam Visitors Bureau and the Pacific Islands Club (PIC).

The Road in Tumon and parts of Marine Drive will be closed during the event. Drivers are asked to take alternate routes and avoid the race route which is between Tumon and Santa Rita.