The Guam Visitors Bureau is bringing back its annual Ko’ko’ road race and the Ko’ko’ kids fun run this month.
Less than two weeks away from the event, GVB officials gave more details of what participants can expect to experience.
The Ko’Kko’ weekend will kick off at Governor Joseph Flores Memorial Park, also known as Ypao Beach Park, on April 15 with the kids fun run and on April 16 with the road race.
This year, the race will be a 10K out-and-back run/walk course that will start at the GVB office and proceed towards Chalan San Antonio, down to Marine Corps Drive with a turnaround point in East Agana and then returning back to Ypao Beach.
Manny Hechanova, the race director, announced that each runner will be given a bib tag with a chip that will mark an accurate running time for each participants race.
“Our participants will get accurate digital times for their race,” said Hechanova. “So, when we look at the international runners that come to the island, and they see this, one of the things they notice is that Guam is doing this and that these races are gonna be digital timed and as soon as they finish the race their results should be ready.”
The 13th Guam Ko’ko’ race is an opportunity for the island to become an international destination for runners around the world as well as for the local community to enjoy an experience for the whole family.
Carl Gutierrez, GVB President, said that with the race they want to present Guam and Micronesia as one destination. One way they are doing that is by giving Micronesian island names to the different water stations, he said.
“We’re gonna try to tie in the entire Micronesia concept of one destination of Guam and Micronesia, so that’s the purpose, to tie it into the Micronesian sphere and that will be the kick off for it,” said Gutierrez. “So, like I said, at every water station you’ll have a different island to be able to give water out.”
This effort also helps create awareness for the endemic Ko’Ko’ bird, which is a critically endangered species.
In fact, GVB will have two of its newest mascots, Kiko and Kika, present during Ko’ko’ weekend to help increase the knowledge of this territorial bird as well as to cheer the race participants.
All participants are advised to pick up packets prior to the race at the center court of the Micronesia Mall in Dededo from 2 to 8 p.m. on April and 2 to 6 p.m. on April 15.
On April 16, there will be some road closures. To register and for more information, visit GVB’s website at visitguam.com/koko.
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