The 35th Edition of the TT international Marathon will come off on the weekend of January 28 and 29 2017. To celebrate this 35 year milestone the Marathon Village will be revived with cultural entertainment to bring back the euphoria that was once known and connected with the national event.
Spectators are invited to come out, bring their families and friends and walk with your coolers, as this will also serve as the cultural festival for our foreign visitors with pan, tassa, live performances, games and demonstrations, as part of its tourism drive, says Chairperson of the TT Marathon Committee, Diane Henderson.
With just under three months to go to the nation’s premier event on the local calendar, and the oldest continually staged marathon in the Caribbean, long distance runners can step up their training to tackle the ultimate, Trinidad and Tobago International Marathon (TTIM) having completed several other middle distance events recently.
Runners can expect a clearly marked course, the same previously certified course used in recent years starting at St Mary’s Junction, Freeport at 5.00 am and finishing opposite Whitehall on Queen’s Park West. Slower runners and race walkers will again have the option of starting at 3.30 am.
Also being held on Sunday 29 January is the Marathon Relay with teams of two, three or six runners completing the marathon course. The inaugural Marathon Relay in 2016 proved very popular; with several celebrities and persons of National interest participating. Among these teams were those from the President’s House and the Office of the Chief Justice led, respectively, by Her Excellency Reena Carmona and Chief Justice Ivor Archie. All Corporate companies are invited to come out and participate in the TTIM 5K fun run happening the day before, to continue the drive towards more movement and active lifestyles.
For 2017 the TT Marathon Committee in collaboration with Dr. Nailah Adams and supported by the TT Olympic Committee launched the Run for Life Program. Targeting the students attending the Servol St. Anns/Cascade Motivational Centre, the program serves to train the students in the fundamentals of being active while preparing for the Schools Team Relay. Other factors such as discipline, goal setting, development of physical skills and nutrition will also be covered which is expected to raise participants’ awareness, self-esteem and purpose.
A combined total of over TT$215,000 in prizes will be on offer come January 29. All finishers will receive 35th Edition medals, the marathon magazine, giveaways; as well as water/Gatorade stations along the marathon course, medical stations, massages and much more. Once again runners from Port of Spain and environs who do not have transport to the marathon start will be able to make use of a shuttle service organized by the TTIM Committee for marathoners and Relay teams.
Registration is available online at www.ttmarathon.com, where further information can be found. Several runners have already registered and all those who register on or before 30 November will benefit from the “Early Bird” fee. Registered runners will be able to pick up their race Bibs from 16 January at the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee office, Port of Spain. Contributors can contact the TTMC at info@ttmarathon.com or call 757 7772 for details.
Bruce Lauckner
707 1660 or 642 4129