International flavour spices up running festival
ATHLETES from around the world are in the North for this weekend’s Townsville Running Festival.
Competitors have travelled from New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Hungary, Tahiti, the UK and the US, as well as from Townsville’s sister cities Suwom, Korea, and Iwaki, Japan.
Korean runner Mi- Ae Kang arrived in Townsville yesterday afternoon.
“I always wanted to come to Australia, so this was a chance to come and run,” she said.
“It’s good for health and I’m very happy with myself when I am running.”
Townsville Road Runners president Tony Gordon said welcoming runners from Townsville’s sister cities was always a highlight.
“While there’s often a language barrier to overcome with our international visitors, running is the same in any language and to bond with people through our shared passions in this way is a sensational thing,” Mr Gordon said.
“For runners, combining a holiday and a running event is a pretty common thing.” Division 3 councillor and keen runner Ann- Maree Greaney said the festival drew more national and international visitors every year.
“Anyone visiting Townsville to compete in the Running Festival is going to stay in one of our hotels, eat at our restaurants and shop at a local store,” she said.