The event has been confirmed to take place on Sunday, Feb 22 and will take runners along the pristine shoreline of Mai Khao Beach in the northwest of Phuket.

Adopting the tagline “healthy on the natural runway”, it is being positioned by organisers as a great way to improve people’s health whilst preserving nature at the same time, with one of the race options incorporating a litter collection feature en route.

The race has three separate options for participants to take on, depending on their fitness levels and ability: a 11.35 kilometre Mini Marathon, a 6.16km Fun Run and a 6.16km “Plogging Run” which includes garbage collection activities en route.

All race distances will start and finish on the shoreline north of Phuket International Airport, with participants running through national parkland adjacent to the beach before heading inland, with the mini mrathon participants taking on an extended distance throughout the local area. The start time for all three options is 5am from the designated start line at Mai Khao Beach.

The event is open to people of all ages and is expected to attract not only participants from Phuket and nearby areas but from further afield. Participation numbers are imited to 3,000 people in total, organisers confirmed and there is a flat B200 entry fee for all participants, regardless of which race option they select.

As part of their entry fee all participants will receive a running shirt, bib and commemorative medal upon finishing their respective race distance, while cash prizes will also be given to the top three finishers in each category. Additional cash prizes will be allocated to the top three participants in the “Plogging Run” category who collect the most rubbish en route, which will be weighed by organsiers.

A spokesperson for the event organiser explained how the occasion is unique in that it allows participants to enjoy the natural beauty of the local area, while improving their health.

“Runners will take in breathtaking sea views while running alongside Mai Khao Beach before enjoying the natural beauty of the nearby national park,” the spokesperson said.

“The inland route will pass through the local community where the warm atmosphere and smiles of residents will help spur runners on, while they can also enjoy seeing unique architecture such as the Ban Bo Som Mosque as they race.

“Furthermore, given the location of Phuket International Airport, participants have the opportunity to run under the wings of planes landing and taking off overhead – a unique runway experience that you cannot find anywhere else in the world,” the spokesperson added.

Registration is now open. For further information visit: www.regis.run/thetakeoffrun.

https://www.thephuketnews.com/mai-khao-takeoff-run-confirmed-98879.php