Athletics: Seventh Seychelles Eco-friendly marathon on February 23 |10 January 2014

The seventh Seychelles Eco-Friendly marathon is slated for Sunday February 23 and the organisers are calling on local and foreign competitors to beat the January 31 registration deadline.

Jointly organised by the South Korean company INOCEAN M&C headed by Seychelles honorary consul general in South Korea, Dong Chang Jeong, the National Sports Council and the Seychelles Tourism Board, the marathon is increasingly becoming one of the most prominent sports tourism events hosted by Seychelles.

South Korean company INOCEAN M&C is also the main sponsor of the marathon recognised internationally through the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (Aims) label.

The February 23 marathon and half-marathon races will start at 7am at Beau Vallon, while the start of the 10km, 5km and 10km walking will be given at 8am.

From Beau Vallon, the course for the marathon will be – Bel-Ombre, Beau Vallon, Glacis, Machabée, North East Point, Anse Etoile, La Bastille, English River, 5th June Avenue, Bois de Rose, turn opposite Géant Casino, Francis Rachel Street, Clock Tower, Independence Avenue, 5th June and back to Beau Vallon via Anse Etoile and Glacis.

The registration fees for locals are R200 for marathon, R100 for half-marathon, R50 for 10km, and R25 for 5km.

For foreigners, the registration fees are €45 for marathon, €30 for half-marathon, €20 for 10km, and €10 for 5km.

Competitors for the marathon should not be younger than 18 years on race day. For the half-marathon competitors must be at least 16 years on race day, while competitors in the 10km race must not be younger than 12 years old on race day.

Entries from outside Seychelles must be sent through e-mail – highlevelsports@seychelles.sc – while locals can register in person at the National Sports Council or through e-mail highlevelsports@seychelles.sc.

For further enquiries or information, please contact the race committee at the NSC on +248 4671209.

They can also visit the website: www.seychelles-marathon.com/english.

In last year’s marathon race, local long distance specialist Simon Labiche made a comeback to win, while South African Monica Vorster was the winner in the women’s category.

Labiche clocked 3 hours 02 minutes 02 seconds (3h02:02) which was his worst result since the beginning of the Seychelles Eco-friendly marathon as he reclaimed his title from 2012 winner James Barra who won the race in 3h06:49.

Former soldier Labiche’s previous four wins were much faster, clocking 2h41:25 (in 2008), 2h37:38 (in 2009), 2h44:09 (in 2010) and 2h46:3 (2011).

South African Vorster clocked 3h33:44 to replace her compatriot Monica Neuling who won the 2012 race in 3h36:41.

Vorster became the third South African to win the race after Joanne Elizabeth Jones won the inaugural race in 2008 in 4h09:45.

Seychellois Simone Jaffa has won the race for three consecutive years – 2009, 2010 and 2011.

New last year was the relay marathon and team Scorpion from the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces were the winners in the men’s group, while the Anse Royale secondary school were the women’s winners. Unfortunately, it will not feature this year.

Altogether there were 1,066 runners – 585 males and 481 females.

The Seychelles Eco-friendly marathon took place for the first time in 2008 and it was initiated by Mr Jeong, who also heads the Seychelles tourist office in South Korea.
 
The event was conceived to contribute to the health of Seychellois and to help unify them and visitors. The marathon has helped bring Seychelles to the attention of more travellers and it has been contributing to selling the Seychelles brand around the world.  

For the seventh marathon, the islands expect to receive some 200 overseas runners on top of more than 1,000 locals.

As the runners will be running and walking over several distances, it will give them the chance to not only compete but appreciate the fact that they can exercise in the natural beauty of Seychelles.

Medals and prizes of different values are to be awarded to the top five in each category and all those who complete the race will be awarded a T-shirt in addition to their official time certificate and a medal. The first female and male Seychellois to finish the marathon and half-marathon will also get the chance to take part in a similar marathon in South Korea.

Meanwhile, in the evening of Sunday February 23, there will be a Korean Night at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay hotel where one can savour genuine Korean cuisine and culture with some 200 guests.

The winners of the marathon and half-marathon will receive their prizes during this event.

The Seychelles Eco-friendly marathon also welcomes runners who wish to contribute to the Seychelles Children’s Foundation and Pearl Seychelles – a foundation for children living with autism. Your good cause will make more children happy!

All you have to do is put your donation in the charity box which will be placed at the start/finish line of the marathon. You can also bring children’s running shoes for donation during the Korean Night.