5 Reasons to Join the 2026 Skechers Saipan Marathon: A Beginner’s Guide to Run-Trips

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6:15 a.m. At Garapan beach in Saipan, before the dawn had fully lifted, runners in bright, colorful kits gathered at the front entrance of the Crown Plaza Resort. A full moon hung overhead and the Pacific’s salty morning air tinged the scene. I—someone whose usual “running” is a hurried walk to avoid being late—found myself swept into the crowd. Wearing my bib, a cocktail of nerves and excitement settled in as I prepared to race. Could I finish 5 kilometers? The countdown began.

Runners on the Move, Proven by the Numbers

Run-trips—pairing running with travel—have become a global travel trend, and Korea is right in step. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation reported in the 2024 National Sports Participation Survey that participation in jogging and running rose from 5.0% in 2023 to 6.8% in 2024. After COVID-19, demand for outdoor activity surged, and running overtook indoor workouts like gym sessions and yoga as one of the fastest-growing fitness pursuits.

The sports industry estimates about 3 million regular runners, and if you include running-app users and walking or trekking clubs, the unofficial figure could reach 10 million.

In 2025, around 250 marathon events were held in Korea, with total participation exceeding 1 million. Shinhan Card’s Big Data Institute also found that running-related spending jumped more among people in their 30s (232%) and 40s (225%) in 2024 than among those in their 20s (177%). That shows running culture is spreading beyond the MZ generation to every age group.

Tourism boards worldwide are capitalizing on this trend. The Japan National Tourism Organization is beefing up runner packages tied to the Tokyo Marathon, and countries like Australia, Greece, and Taiwan are packaging marathons as flagship tourist events.

Run-trips offer a clear payoff. Lace up and run unfamiliar city streets at dawn and you’ll feel the trip more deeply than any standard sightseeing route. Small overseas marathons—where finishing matters more than competing—deliver an experience that big domestic races simply can’t. A finisher’s medal becomes both a souvenir and a promise to yourself.

Saipan: The Run-Trip Mecca Above the Pacific

The Marianas Visitors Authority has been cultivating Saipan as a premier run-trip spot. The 2026 Skechers Saipan Marathon on March 7 attracted 772 runners from 15 countries and closed out its 18th edition in high spirits. Koreans made up 286 of the participants—37% of the field—the largest national contingent and even higher than their share in 2025 (about 35%). Those figures show how deeply the Saipan Marathon has resonated with Korean runners.

Organized by the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Northern Marianas Athletics Association, the Saipan Marathon is certified by World Athletics and AIMS, making it one of the Pacific’s key sanctioned marathons. Jamika R. Taijeron, director of the Marianas Visitors Authority, said, “The Saipan Marathon has become the Marianas’ signature sports tourism event, drawing runners from around the world. We’re continuing to grow Saipan as a sportscation destination alongside run-trips.”

First Encounter with the Shakeout Run the Night Before

On the morning of March 6, the day before the race, I joined a Shakeout Run led by running influencer Dear (@daily__dear).

A shakeout run is a gentle warm-up held the day before a main event to get body and mind ready. Instead of hard training, the point is to move lightly and acclimate to the local climate and course. It’s a common pre-race ritual at international marathons.

The route passed American Memorial Park and Eloy S. Inos Peace Park. Running between World War II memorials and under palm trees felt nothing like jogging along Seoul’s Han River. With historic monuments and emerald seas alternating along the way, my steps grew lighter without trying.

The shakeout’s relaxed vibe made it easy for even beginners to picture race day. Saipan’s mild early-March weather—so different from Korea’s last cold snap—only heightened anticipation.

Dawn’s 4 a.m. Race Signals Across the Pacific

On race day, the course started on Coral Tree Ave in front of the Crown Plaza Resort and followed Beach Road westward along the lagoon. The full marathon (42.195 km) kicked off at 4:00 a.m., the half marathon (21.0975 km) at 5:15 a.m., the 10K at 6:00 a.m., and the 5K at 6:15 a.m. Saipan staggers starts early to beat the heat. If you begin before sunrise, you’ll run into the breaking dawn—an unforgettable moment. Matching pace under a full moon, then watching the horizon brighten, is something you’ll only get here.

Each distance has its own personality. The 5K is a fun run for beginners and families—totally accessible even for first-timers. The 10K is the most popular distance and where committed amateur runners start chasing real times. The half marathon suits intermediate and advanced runners—this year Korea’s Kim Dong-hwan placed third in the men’s division and Kim Bo-eun came in second in the women’s.

The full marathon is World Athletics–sanctioned. This year a Japanese couple, Hiroki Nakajima (2:45:53) and Tomomi Nakajima (3:17:16), won the men’s and women’s titles. The final finisher on the full course clocked 8 hours 14 minutes—starting at 4 a.m. and crossing well after noon. That finish time tells the story: many people come here for the finish itself, not the clock.

5K: A Beginner’s Sprint

At 6:15 a.m., the 5K starting pistol fired. As hundreds surged across the line, I stepped into the flow. The first 2 km felt surprisingly easy—race-day energy and cheering seemed to find muscles I didn’t know I had. The lagoon shimmered beside Beach Road; dawn breezes slipped through the palms.

After 3 km, my breathing tightened. Normally I might have stopped, but locals lined the course with cups of water and fruit, cheering us on. They handed out water, Powerade, oranges, bananas, and water-soaked sponges. A stranger’s encouraging word on Saipan gave me more boost than an energy gel. Rain showers broke several times during the run—refreshing bursts that cooled bodies warmed by exertion.

With 500 meters to go, the finish came into view. Though I’d been running slowly, my legs instinctively sped up. Crossing the line, the announcer called my bib number and name, and a local hung a finisher’s medal around my neck. Gasping and laughing, I was surprised by how heavy that little medal felt.

A rainbow even arced above Beach Road during the race. The bright bow over the emerald lagoon felt like Saipan’s own celebratory finale.

Why Saipan Is Great for Beginner Runners

Saipan is especially forgiving for first-time overseas marathoners. For one, it’s small. With 772 participants, this race is roughly one-fiftieth the size of the Seoul Marathon (about 40,000 runners). You can run on wide open roads without bottlenecks, and fewer participants mean higher chances of earning an age-group placing.

The course is beginner-friendly. Beach Road follows the Pacific coastline with almost no elevation change—perfect for first-timers. The scenery—sea, palms, and World War II sites—keeps your eyes busy the whole way. Saipan is about a 4 hour 30 minute flight from Seoul, and its year-round mild climate is another plus. The 10K women’s podium was swept by Lee Yoon-ji, Park Min-kyung, and Baek Gi-yoon, and many running influencers, including singer Sean, joined the event—proof it’s become a running-culture festival, not just a race.

Next Time, I’ll Try the 10K!

After hanging the finisher’s medal around my neck, I collapsed into a room at the Crown Plaza Resort and looked out at the lagoon—it looked entirely different than it had before the run. Catching my breath, one thought kept returning: I’ll have to wait a year to feel this again.

It took running 5 kilometers to understand why people get hooked. It’s about experience, not times. It’s about sensation, not speed. Breathing dawn air in a foreign place, exchanging an encouraging glance with someone who speaks a different language—those moments folded travel, sport, and a private conversation with myself into one.

I plan to race the 10K at next year’s Saipan Marathon. By then, I’ll be able to watch Beach Road’s rainbow a little longer—from farther back, with more miles under my feet.

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