Laguna Phuket Marathon 2018 to Attract Over 8,000 Athletes from 50+ Countries

The Laguna Phuket Marathon is expected to attract over 8,000 athletes from more than 50 countries to the island when it takes place on 9 and 10 June 2018.

Last year the event attracted around 7,000 athletes and generated a lot of global media exposure for the popular tourist destination as well as the Kingdom of Thailand as a whole, and organisers are promising that this year’s event will be even better!

Mr. Roman Floesser, General Manager of the event’s organiser, Go Adventure Asia, said, “We have made several improvements to the popular half and full marathon courses this year. While the rolling hills and route through the national park and along the beachfront remain, the improvements to both courses will make them even more fun to run, and as a way to open up the Marathon to newcomers and promote running for all we have introduced a Marathon Team Relay category.”

A first for Laguna Phuket Marathon, the Marathon Team Relay is open for teams of four people who will run equal distances in a relay format over the internationally-sanctioned 42.195km distance and on the same course as individual marathon runners.

For the 13th consecutive year, Laguna Phuket Marathon has been certified by AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) and is a qualifying event for the world-famous Boston Marathon.

Commenting on the entries to date, Floesser said, “The number of entries received so far is beyond our expectations. In fact, we received more than 1,000 entries within two weeks of last year's event finishing alone. I expect the total this year to exceed last year's record – we are planning for more than 8,000 runners.”

Also new for this year and in line with Phuket's recognition by UNESCO as a 'City of Gastronomy', organisers will support local communities and showcase local foods, something of particular appeal to runners as 80% attend from outside Phuket.

“Laguna Phuket Marathon is very much a destination event. We have runners participating from more than 50 countries and many come with families and friends, and make a vacation around the event. In addition to the course, which takes in Phuket's stunning coastline and the beautiful surrounds of Laguna Phuket, this year we really wanted to showcase Phuket further and chose to do this through food. Specifically, we will have locally grown fruits available at some of the stations on the run course this year,” said Mr. Roman Floesser.

In the afternoon of 9th June the event will start with the Kids Run (2km) followed by the 5km and 10.5km distances. At sunrise on 10th June the 21.097km (half marathon), 42.195km (marathon) and Marathon Team Relay runners will compete.

Prices start from 550 baht for the 5km distance. Early Bird prices finish on 28th February.

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