Guam- The Pacific Islands Club Guam proudly presents the 19th Annual P.I.C. International Road Races. On November 7, 2010 runners from all over the Asia-Pacific Region will compete in the 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon Races with go times at 5:40am, 5:30am, and 5:00am respectively. All Runs will begin and end at PIC and will conclude with an awards banquet at the Pacific Pavilion which is located in the indoor tennis courts of PIC’s spectacular Waterpark.
What began as a 5K and 10K fun run in 1991 with only 300 runners has become one of Guam’s most sought after competitive races attracting the most serious of runners from all over the region. In 2003 the Half Marathon was added to satisfy the high demand from serious off island runners. Voted by the Guam Visitors Bureau as the Most Outstanding Local Tourism Event for the year 2000, the PIC Road Races continues to live up to its reputation. Last year 1000 plus runners participated with several of them breaking course record.
The 5K event is viewed as a Fun Run with a distance that is short enough to allow recreational walkers/joggers to compete without much difficulty. In past events, a large number of walkers, parents with baby strollers, and families with small children, as well as those with special needs, have enjoyed this distance. This race also has its serious runners who run to challenge the terrain of the course and other athletes who vie for the top finisher’s spot. This year a Junior’s Division will be added for runners ages 14 – 18, to compliment the Youth Division for runner’s 13 and under.
The 10k has been the main event of the competition and the number of participants continues to increase every year. As with the 5K, the 10K will include a Youth and Junior Division. This year, course record setters will receive an additional cash prize. Course records are: Overall Male Division set by Mr. Tomonori Onitsuka of Japan at 30:59 in 1998 and 34:03 in the Female Division set by Ms. Maki Kono of Japan in 2009.
The half marathon solidifies the PIC races as one of Guam’s largest annual professional sports event. As with the 10k, course record setters will receive an additional cash prize. The course record was set by Mr. Yuki Kawauchi of Japan at 1:09:12 in 2009 and Ms. Naoko Tsuchiya of Japan at 1:19:02 in 2007.
A portion of this year’s race proceeds will be donated to the Tourism Education Council (TEC). The Tourism Education Council was formed in 1988 to educate the community about the social and economic benefits that Guam’s tourism industry provides. PIC was one of the three original members of TEC. TEC’s mission is “Promoting the Importance of the Visitor Industry with a Special Emphasis on the Importance of Sense of Place.”
All Wave Club members are encouraged to run in this year’s race and bring as many supporters to run with them. This year’s race registration form allows race participants to indicate which Wave Club they are supporting. The Wave Club with the most supporters will win a free day at the PIC Waterpark including lunch in the Skylight Restaurant.
Since 1995, the PIC Road Races have enjoyed a sister-race relationship with the Fujiyoshida Fire Festival Road Race. Taking place in the city of Fujiyoshida in Japan every August, the top male and female resident finishers of the P.I.C. Races are invited to the Fujiyoshida Fire Festival Road Race. In return, the top male and female finishers of the Fujiyoshida Race are invited to compete in the PIC Road Race.
This year’s race finishers can win over $10,000 in cash and prizes. First place male and female finishers of each race will receive a cash prize. Race finishers are eligible to win raffle prizes from the many race sponsors. This year’s grand prize is a roundtrip ticket for 2 to Fiji courtesy of Continental Airlines.
Applications will be available in October at Hornet Sports in Tamuning, PIC Day Guest Counter and Front Desk, and online at www.picresorts.com. For more information please contact Race Director Wendi Herring at 1-671-646-9171 extension 3004 or Trina Cruz at 1-671-646-9171 extension 3920.
Information from a press release.
fperez@spbguam.com
