Run Saipan postpones races

The iconic Beach Road Pathway that stretches along the west coast of Saipan suffered severe devastation from the portion of the traffic light in Oleai to First Hawaiian Bank due to Super Typhoon Sinlaku.

The pathway that once carried countless footsteps and where people watched Saipan’s sunsets, is now reduced to rubble—concrete, wood, and rebar—devoid of activity.

Edward Dela Cruz Jr., president of Run Saipan—the running club that hosts races across the island year-round—said their May 4 race, which was supposed to be held along the pathway, has been postponed. Other 5K events are also on pause until further notice, as many of their running routes across Saipan are now unsafe.

Dela Cruz, one of a handful of streak runners on Saipan, said it was difficult to see the pathway destroyed.

“A lot of memories were made there, but knowing how resilient the people of the CNMI are—especially those who use the pathway—I know they’re finding alternative routes,” he said.

“I’ve been seeing more people running, jogging, or walking on the sand, so I know runners are persevering through this adversity.”

He added, “Hopefully the government can rebuild it—not now, even if it takes three or four years—but I’m confident that DPW [Department of Public Works] will get it back up again. For now, runners will just have to be content with running on the sand.”

The pathway, Dela Cruz said, was a common starting point for running streaks, including his own, and served as the primary venue for many of Run Saipan’s 5K events due to its safety, making its destruction especially difficult to see.

“Hopefully once everything has been cleared and the community has recovered, we’ll be able to return to that location for the 5K,” he said.