Fiji’s toughest race
FIJI’S toughest run, the Namosi Marathon 2020 has been confirmed for Saturday October 17, to follow part of the route of the World’s Toughest Race: EcoChallenge Fiji which was shot in Fiji in September 2019.
“Certainly not for beginners, this route is spectacular in its beauty and ruggedness, and is ideal for long-distance runners in Fiji looking for a challenge” said Brian Hennessy, president of the Suva Marathon Club (SMC).
The Namosi Marathon 2020 will be Fiji’s first trail running event to include a marathon (42k), half marathon (21k) and a 10k race. The course will follow a stretch of difficult track in the Namosi highlands used during the EcoChallenge Fiji as televised on Amazon Prime.
A team from Fiji on the EcoChallenge Fiji, Team Tabu Soro included regular SMC marathoner Anna Cowley. Anna has run every Suva Marathon since the club started in 2014.
“The races will be a new challenge for even the fittest of athletes, providing the opportunity for 200 runners from all over Fiji to experience the rugged beauty of Viti Levu’s interior,” said Hennessy.
The Namosi Marathon trail run showcases the natural beauty of Fiji and its traditional way of life running through villages and mountains of Fiji’s hinterland and Namosi Province.
In light of the Coronavirus (COVID19) outbreak in Fiji and globally, in the first half of 2020, the Suva Marathon Club indefinitely postponed the Munroe Leys Suva Challenge that was scheduled for May 2 and the Island Chill Suva Marathon that had been scheduled for July 18.
The postponements were in line with recommendations from the government authorities and sporting bodies. With club events postponed, members were encouraged to remain active and keep training within the confines of physical distancing and hygiene rules set by the Fijian Government. In August, having received permission from the Fiji National Sports Commission to hold events again, the club started its regular social Saturday runs along the sea wall.
The year 2020 came with twists and turns that left a lot of sports struggling as far as competitions and event schedules were concerned in Fiji. Empty gyms and stadiums were the new global norm for the 2nd quarter of the year as the world’s sporting organisations were forced to cancel events, Olympics included.
“We are therefore more than delighted to be partnering with Namosi Eco Retreat for the upcoming Namosi Marathon 2020. There are not many marathons being held in 2020 and it is an opportunity to run through some incredible scenery. The full marathon will give our serious runners an incredible challenge and there are some pretty punishing hills along the last 10km of the course,” said event director Marita Manley.
“We’d like to thank all of our sponsors for giving runners the opportunity to participate in an event this year and are delighted to also be encouraging all of the runners to raise money as part of the WOWS walk challenge.
“This is a trail run and there will be very limited facilities/resources along the route. Parking will only be available along the road at 10km start and end of race only in an effort to keep traffic on the route to a minimum”, said Manley.
“Namosi Eco Retreat have got your post-race brunch and after party sorted. There is limited availability so check out the website and book in early for the Saturday race and with the Namosi Eco-Retreat with host Danny and team should you wish to overnight before or after the race!” The Suva Marathon Club
In early 2014, a group of ‘fairly decent’ runners living and working out of Suva pursued the idea of creating a platform to promote marathon running for Pacific islanders, as well as use it to encourage healthy living practices.
In Fiji, about 82 per cent of deaths are caused by NCDs (2013 Statistics). This is something that some felt it would like a hand in changing. So the idea became the Suva Marathon Club (SMC) and the eventual hosting of the inaugural Suva Marathon in 2014.
The Suva Marathon Club’s vision is to organise a world-class annual marathon in Suva annually to promote healthier lifestyles. Its core values, a focus on aiding the local community as a whole while striving for good health for all with passion, inclusivity, honesty, openness and integrity.
The Suva Marathon Club has played host to the largest road race in the Pacific Islands. The Island Chill Suva Marathon and organises regular smaller events throughout the year.
The running club is a Trust formed under the Charitable Trusts Act, Cap 67 (Charitable Trusts Act). It was formed formally in 2019.
Mission
The mission of the Trust is to provide a focal point for runners in Suva and hundreds from throughout Fiji who have competed in or have keen interest in long-distance running and road running in all its forms
See the Namosi Marathon 2020 website for further details: www. namosimarathon.org. For further details on Suva Marathon Club see www.suvamarathon.org
■ SADHNA SEN is a communications adviser and freelance journalist. She is also a board member of the Suva Marathon Club. Views expressed in this article are hers