(Tumon, Guam) The Guam Running Club (GRC) welcomes the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) as a sponsor of the 48th Håfa (Half) Marathon, scheduled to take place on February 16, 2019.

“GVB's visitor experience and expertise offer a new level of recruitment and logistics for this race,” said GRC President Richard Taitague. “We are confident that their sponsorship will genuinely reflect the hospitality of Guam's running community and the beauty of our island.”

“We’re happy to help the Guam Running Club in growing the Håfa Marathon at a steady pace. I’ve always loved the name of this run because it embodies the Håfa Adai spirit,” said GVB President and CEO Nathan Denight. ”We’re not having the Ko’ko’ Half Marathon, 10K and 5K races in 2018 because we are re-evaluating how to make it better. But in the meantime, our local runners and some of our visitors have an extra two months to train for the Håfa Marathon in February.”

GVB will also assist GRC with incrementally growing international participation with interested runners from countries like Japan and enhancing some of the resources provided during the event.

The Håfa Marathon shares the unique experience of running through the northern villages of Yigo, Dededo, Harmon, and Tumon. The 13.1-mile course route starts near the front gate of Andersen Air Force Base and is mostly downhill along Marine Corps Drive (Route 1), also including 4.5 miles in the scenic Two Lovers Point area.

“The GRC Hafa Marathon is a great first-time race for many runners new to the 13.1-mile distance,” said GRC Håfa Marathon Race Coordinator Manny Hechanova. “Race day weather is usually cool and breezy. There are seven water stops along the course and local police and staff from the village mayors supervises major traffic intersections. Please join us on February 16, 2019 for a fun and memorable Håfa Marathon!”

Registration for the Håfa Marathon will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, go to guamrunning.club, visitguam.com or the GRC facebook page. You can also email [email protected]

Media Contact: JOSH TYQUIENGCO - Public Information Officer