News Archive

The Thailand Temple Run is a member of AIMS, the worldwide organisation of

international running events.

It is one of over 200 events in 70 countries represented by AIMS. We

would like to present this race to you - maybe you will be their guest next

year at the race, getting to know a different culture, the country, and its

people.

Thailand’s cultural Marathon, the ING Thailand Temple Run will be held on

Saturday, 19 March 2005.

In its fourth edition, the race which offers a Marathon, Half Marathon and a

10.5 k Fun Run is a relative newcomer on the international running scene and

still somewhat of a secret among runners.

Beautiful location

The ING Thailand Temple Run is held in the picturesque location of Samut

Songkram province approximately 85 kilometers outside Thailand’s capital

Bangkok.

The race course leads through the idyllic countryside of rural Thailand past

Buddhist temples, through coconut and banana plantations, rice paddies and

typical Thai villages.

Traditional bands

Along the course more than 15 Thai traditional bands perform and motivate the

runners making the ING Thailand Temple Run a true cultural marathon.

The start and finish area is located within one of the more than 300 temples

in the province and a traditional Buddhist opening ceremony will be conducted

there by the abbot of the temple.

ING new title sponsor

Thanks to the new title sponsorship agreement with ING the race has experience

a big boost locally and internationally. ING already sponsors among others the

New York City Marathon and the Amsterdam Marathon. For this year organizers

expect more than 2000 runners including more than 300 foreign runners from 25

different countries.

Thailand’s elite expected to shine

Among the 2000 runners will be all of Thailand’s elite runners including

Boonchu Chandecha, runner-up at last year’s Bangkok Marathon with a

personal best time of 2:22 hours, Southeast Asian 5000m champion Boonthung

Srisang and last year’s ING Thailand Temple winner Jirasak Sutthichart.

No foreign elite runners will be invited as the organizers want to focus on

local elite runners.

Wheelchair athlete on world record bid

An elite athlete of a different kind is William Tan from Singapore. He will be

the first wheelchair athlete ever to compete at the ING Thailand Temple

Run.

William Tan is on a bid to become the first wheelchair athlete to complete

seven marathons on all seven continents and to gain entry into the Guinness

Book of Records.The former Paralympian who is also a doctor wants to raise

money for child cancer treatment.

New safety standards for Thailand

One of Austrian race director Raimund Wellenhofer’s main objectives for

the race is to set new standards in course safety, water station set-up &

course marshalling in Thailand.

Driven by that objective the ING Thailand Temple Run is the only marathon in

Thailand which has a medical team on site and a traffic free course. With a

strong vision for the future the event is set to grow in popularity and

importance in Thailand and overseas.

More information on the ING Thailand Temple Run can be found on

web: www.thailand-temple-run.com

email: raceinfo@thailandmarathon.org