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Laguna Phuket Resorts has announced title sponsorship of the Laguna Phuket International Marathon 2007. The resort is proud to announce that it has signed on as title sponsor and official host of the Laguna Phuket International Marathon 2007, which will take place at the resort complex this coming 17 June. There is still time to make your plans, and Royal Orchid Holidays can sign you up on a special tour package.
What makes the resort ideal is that it is joined with hotels linked by sparkling lagoons and three kilometers of beach frontage; its name is synonymous with the beauty of the Andaman region and is therefore the perfect sponsor for the event. Taking place on 15-17 June 2007, during the traditional low-season, the event will encourage Phuket’s tourism industry to thrive throughout this typically quieter time.
Organized by Go Adventure Asia, the Laguna Phuket International Marathon 2007 expects to welcome some 4,000 participants, including 1,500 runners from approximately 40 different countries to participate in this year’s event. It follows the success of the inaugural Phuket International Marathon last year.
“With the large number of participants and the worldwide media exposure received last year, the management fully believes that the event is destined to be the most successful destination marathon in Southeast Asia and we are extremely proud to be supporting it,” commented Michael Ayling, Managing Director of Laguna Resorts & Hotels Plc.
If you are looking for fun and games in the sun this is it. Here you will find all the activity you could ever imagine. If you find you are too late to enter the competitions yourself, don’t fret. You will soon witness this exciting sporting event that dates back to the Olympic Games, first introduced in Greece 2,000 years ago.
The event, as mentioned, is the 14th Laguna Phuket Marathon 2007 and not to be confused with the Phuket Triathlon, a sport originally called the Iron Man Competition. Founded in Hawaii in 1973, when local sportsmen decided to add some alternative endurance activities to their traditional track workouts, they changed the name to Triathlon a few years later in 1978 when women entered the competitions. The first official meet was staged by the San Diego Track Club on Mission Bay, California, that year. The Triathlon had been a regular event in Phuket until recently. As an endurance test, contestants had to swim, run and cycle and the first to cross the line was the winner.
“Laguna Phuket had been instrumental in making the Phuket International Marathon a reality in 2006 and the increased level of sponsorship proves that Laguna Phuket understands the significance of the event for Phuket and the potential it represents in terms of attracting tourism,” commented Raimund Wellenhofer, the marathon race director.
A series of events will kick-off on Friday, 15 June, starting with a 2-day expo featuring sponsor booths and a number of activities. Race day on 17 June will comprise a 42k Marathon, a 21k Half-marathon, a 10k Fun Run, a 1k Kids Run and, new this year, a 5k Walk.
Participants in any of the races at the Laguna Phuket International Marathon are also encouraged to take part in fundraising for charity, whether it is a charity of their choice or HOPE Thailand, the event’s official charity. HOPE Thailand supports and promotes activities of the Department of Public Welfare and the Ministry of Social Development. Each participant taking part in the fundraising effort is to pledge to raise a certain amount of money for the charity at the same time that they pledge to compete in one of the races on 17 June.
For those who plan to participate, the following facilities are available on the course:
Water Stations: There will be a water station every 1.5 - 2 Km along the course with each of them providing fruits, water in cups and bottled water. From Km 12.5 onwards electrolytes (Gatorade) will be provided to all runners.
Toilets: Mobile toilets will be stationed along the course not more than 5 Km apart.
Kilometre Markers: All races will have kilometre markers every 1 Km.
Timing: Digital clocks at Start and Finish gate. Split times at 10, 21 and 31 Km.
Medical Aid: Medical services will be provided along the course. Ambulances will be located at strategic points with easy access. Runners are advised to carry their own specific prescribed medicines, if necessary.
RUNNERS MUST STOP RUNNING THE RACE IMMEDIATELY IF ORDERED TO DO SO BY A MEMBER OF THE OFFICIAL MEDICAL STAFF - this is in the interest of your health and safety.
Traffic: The course leads through a quiet area of Phuket. Police and security guards will control traffic along the route. Although organizers endeavour a traffic free course, runners may encounter some light vehicular traffic at some parts of the course.
For more information and online registration, please visit the official event website at www.phuketmathon.com or email info@phuketmarathon.com.
Next week we visit Bali and I would like to tell readers something about the Belgian artist Le Meyeur, who lived on the island and, thirty years after his death, is causing panic at Christie’s with the astounding prices for his paintings. Why’s that? I think I have the answer.
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Welcome signs everywhere in Phuket for Marathon
Happy winners 
A runner begins
Swimmers departing at the Triathlon past
The race is over, finally
Bike racing also popular in Phuket
Some ride bikes; some run
Cheering on the contestants
Runner coming in, exhausted
At last, the last turn
Medics on hand for exhausted runner
The reward, a cup of water
An elephant trunk for a warm welcoming
A very happy runner with flowers for a reward
Sweat and flowers go together for the victor
A fun run follows
A fun run for everyone
Two winners, the men and women event
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