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Sihanoukville gearing up for half marathon
Mon, 13 February 2017
H S Manjunath

The 6th Sihanoukville-Angkor Premium Beer International Half Marathon will hit the road on Sunday, March 5, on a route offering more sea breeze over longer stretches of shoreline following the removal of several barriers along beach fronts in the wake of the Sea Festival at the end of last year.

A refreshing change for the half-marathoners is the lowering of barriers along the Independence Beach section of the road that was blocking the sea view, enabling the runners to soak up the scenic beauty and enjoy the breeze.

Similar measures have also been taken on many other locations en route.

While the organisers are hoping for a bigger turnout this year, the participation numbers are likely to remain the same as the previous edition that saw close to 150 overseas runners joining 1,200 locals and expats for the 21km charity run and other attractions like the men’s and women’s 10km and 3km fun run for all ages and athletic abilities.

“Removing the blockade of the sea view on many beach fronts during the Sea Festival has created a better environment for the runners. I strongly feel that once the word spreads about this new experience we can expect more overseas and local runners,” secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee Vath Chamroeun told The Post yesterday.

While Sihanoukville as a tourist hotspot continues to attract visitors in great numbers, the patronage for the half marathon has been pegged at the same levels for the past couple of years, unlike the Phnom Penh and Siem Reap versions, which have regularly shown increased participation from overseas runners.

One of the reasons as to why foreigners had been some what put off is the non-availability of direct international flights to the Sihanoukville, which inevitably means additional costs and extra travel.

The current domestic scheduling of flights has not been convenient either.

“The government is treating this as a priority and working with the private sector to establish this connectivity. The upgrading of the existing airport will commence next year,’’ Chamroeun said.

The runners in the 21km half marathon will have a 6am start at Ochheuteal Beach, with the day’s other events set to roll in over short intervals thereafter.
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/sport/siha ... f-marathon

No wonder they don't get more people when they close registration on the 10th of February....

They'll still claim to have a gazillion participants though! I missed the cut off to register. Balls.

if i had of known id of done this, would have given me something to train for

rick_o'shea wrote:They'll still claim to have a gazillion participants though! I missed the cut off to register. Balls.

They still accept registrations directly. Just signed up. Contact [email protected]

A lot of the lowered barriers... a rickety old green fence has been replaced by a new fence round the Blue Bay development at Independence Beach. I dont know where else they are referring to improved seas views does anyone else?

Might do the 3km one.

Cambodia’s Viro takes Sihanoukville half marathon
Mon, 6 March 2017
H S Manjunath

One of Cambodia’s well known long distance runners Ma Viro won the 6th Sihanoukville-Angkor Premium Beer International Half Marathon with a measure of comfort, as Lois Woodward of Great Britain took the honours among the women in the port city’s annual charity run yesterday.

A little over 2,000 participants including 200 overseas runners from 32 countries, set out early in the morning for the 21 kilometre run, and added attractions like the 10km and 3km fun runs, on a route offering a lot more sea breeze over longer stretches of shoreline following the removal of several barriers along the beach front.

In a race he dominated from almost start to finish, Viro, who has several half marathon wins across the country to his credit, set his own pace and won in 1hour 21minutes 39seconds, well ahead of Brendon Thomas of the United States (1:25.29) and James Happell of Australia (1:27.55).

In sharp contrast to this well spaced out finish, the women’s event saw the closest call in recent times, with Woodward touching off Hilary Smyder of the United States by a mere second. The 36-year-old Briton won in 1:44.53 ahead of the much younger American, who clocked 1:44.54. Sara Bowden of the United States finished well off the pace at 1:52.56.

Cambodian runners swept both the men’s and women’s 10km runs. While 20-year-old Van Pheara won the men’s race in 38.40 just ahead of Chea Samphors, experienced Heng Meng Chu took the women’s event in 49.03, finishing well clear of Samnang Bo and Anelise Thomas of the United States.

The Sihanoukville run marks the first of the long-distance charity events on the national calendar that include the Phnom Penh International Half Marathon in June, the Angkor Empire Full Marathon in August and the Angkor Wat International Half Marathon in early December.
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/sport/camb ... f-marathon

^^^ I don't see any mention of Hanno in the article.

Username Taken wrote: ↑Mon Mar 06, 2017 6:58 pm ^^^ I don't see any mention of Hanno in the article.

I didn't run.

My girlfriend did and she said there was less than 200 runners.