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Published on July 15, 2007

The Pattaya Marathon, regarded as the Thailand's oldest annual marathon and one of the Kingdom's most prestigious road-racing events, is expected to draw more than 20,000 participants, including an estimated 4,000 in the full 42.195-kilometre race.

This year, the event is divided into five categories: the 42.195-km wheelchair marathon at 4.20am, the full marathon at 4.30am, the 21.1-km half-marathon at 5am, the 10.55-km quarter-marathon at 5.30am and a 5-km student run at 6am.

Preparations for the marathon - the highlight of the Pattaya events calendar -included measurement of the route by Hong Kong's Fung Wang-Tak from the International Amateur Athletics Association. A meeting chaired by Chon Buri Governor Pracha Taerat discussed the final plan for the day's racing, which starts at 4.20am to avoid the warmth and humidity of the day.

Viewed as one of the toughest courses in the country, the Pattaya Marathon with its many hills and steep inclines provides an overall cash prize of more than Bt2 million. The winner in the Men's Open category will capture the Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont Trophy plus Bt150,000 in cash, while the Women's Open titleist will pocket Bt100,000. The first Thai male and female runners crossing the finish line will get Bt50,000 each.

Cash prizes will also be on offer for those finishing in the top six in the Open and Thai All-Age-Group categories, while only the top five in the half-marathon and quarter-marathon will win money prizes.

To make the racing more competitive, the organisers decided to give away additional cash prizes for any runners who are in record-breaking form.

Any men's runners who can break the course record of 2:26.06 - held by Japan's Kenichi Kawakubo - will receive an additional Bt50,000, while those who better the Thailand Marathon All Comers Records set by Korean Lee Bong-Ju (2:12.32) in the men's event and Japanese Naoko Takahashi (2:21.41) in the women's category, will receive a big bonus of Bt100,000 each.

Kenyan runners are again expected to dominate the main Pattaya Marathon. Thailand's Sunisa Sailomyen retained her crown in the women's race. She is due to flex her muscles again. SEA Games champion Boonchu Chandecha - fourth last year - will also be out for a good finish.

Preechachan Wiriyanupappong

The Nation