The Pattaya Marathon - 2007

Have you noticed that there seems to be more people jogging around the area (in this heat!) lately and also that the gyms look busy but the bars aren't full – yes, its nearly time for the annual Pattaya Marathon. Did you know that...

THE MARATHON race is said to be inspired by events surrounding the Battle of Marathon, which was fought in September 490BC during the Greco-Persian wars. According to legend, an Athenian messenger was sent from Marathon to Athens, a distance of about 40 kilometres, to announce the victory. On arriving in Athens, he shouted, 'Rejoice! We conquer!' before collapsing and dying from his battle wounds and exhaustion.

Herodotus, however, relates that a trained distance runner named Pheidippides (also spelled Phidippides or Philippides) was sent from Athens to Sparta before the battle in order to request military assistance from the Spartans, who in those days were famed for having the most disciplined army in the region. The messenger is said to have covered about 240 kilometres (150 miles) in two days. If true, that is really some feat of endurance running.

The marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres (26 miles 385 yards) was standardised in 1908 when the Olympic race in London was lengthened by around 2 kilometres to bring the finish line alongside the royal box so that Britain's royals could view the action. The world's oldest big city marathon is the Boston event, held every April since 1897 and nowadays attracting around 25,000 runners. This race competes with the London marathon, founded by 1956 Olympic champion Chris Brasher in 1981, and boasting fields of over 30,000. Every November, the New York City marathon also gets an entry of over 30,000. The world's fastest courses are probably at Berlin (September), where the current world best was set by Kenya's Paul Tergat in 2003, and the Chicago race, held every October. Other city marathons are held annually in Athens, Paris, Rotterdam, Stockholm, Rome, Venice, Vienna, Edinburgh, Moscow, Honolulu, Toronto, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Manchester, Belgrade, Tokyo, Fukouka, Osaka, Melbourne, Sydney and Amsterdam among many others. Bangkok's marathon is usually held on the last Sunday in November every year and Pattaya's Queens' Cup marathon is held in July.

Pattaya Marathon 2007 is now in its 13th year. The increasingly popular Pattaya Marathon is held annually in July, this year on the 15th, in three categories: Full Marathon (42.195 kms) Half Marathon (21.10 kms) and Quarter Marathon (10.55 kms) and and attracts a mix of professional and fun runners.

Race Details:
Race Date – July 15th, 2007
Course: Leads from Pattaya Beach Road Soi 6 until 25 Km. is quite flat and then another 11 Km. will be quite hilly and challenging and the last 7 Km. approximately to the Finish line will be flat again. (See Course Map) Start & Finish Line: Starting and finishing at Pattaya Beach Road Soi 6, Chonburi, Thailand?
Distance: Marathon (42.195 k); Wheel Chair Marathon (42.195 km); Half Marathon (21.100 k); Quarter Marathon (10.550 k); Student Run (5 km)
Start Time: Wheel Chair Marathon: 04:20 a.m.; Marathon: 04:30 a.m.; Half Marathon: 05:00 a.m.; Quarter Marathon: 05:30 a.m.; Student Run: 06:00 a.m.
BIB Number Attaching: Marathon and Half Marathon – attach the Bib number on front and back of a t-shirt; Quarter Marathon - attach the Bib number on front of a t-shirt.
Reporting Before the Competition: Wheel Chaire Marathon: 03:45 - 04:00 a.m.; Marathon: 02:30 – 04:00 a.m.; Half Marathon: 04:00 – 04:45 a.m.; Quarter Marathon: 04:15 – 05:15 a.m. ; Student Run: 04:30 - 05:30 a.m.
Report After Finishing: The first 6 winners for each group of each category must report to the Reporting Committee with their ID card within 20 minutes after finishing. If not, the prize will be given to the next placed winner. Souvenirs: All entrants will receive a t-shirt and some souvenirs at the Expo.
Insurance: All entrants who register by 5 July 2007 will be provided with an accidental insurance at the amount of 100,000 Baht coverage.

So, if you are now feeling that you can do this marathon – either the full, half or quarter, or need more information regarding start times etc you can register online at www.thailandmarathon.org/pattayaregist.html or by personal application at TAT Bangkok, TAT Pattaya, the Amateur Athletic Association of Thailand, Central Festival Shopping Centre Pattaya, all branches of Robinson's Department Store, Jog & Joy Magazine, and Running Sport Trophy Co. Ltd. Spectators get to watch a major sporting event without having to pay a cent, and ordinary Joe joggers get to rub shoulders with some of the finest endurance athletes in the world – at least on the start line, anyway.

Rarely mentioned are the armies of unpaid helpers who work hard to ensure that these events run smoothly. Putting on a modern big city marathon is a massive and complex logistical exercise, and it requires the co-operation of many including local police and authorities.

So if you are an early riser on Sunday 15 July and not a runner go and watch as they run past somewhere near your place.