SAIPAN — Are you ready for a “Far From Ordinary” run to kick off the new year? Registration is now open for runners and walkers to “run through ancient mysteries and island beauty” in the 2026 Rota Marathon.
The action starts on January 31, 2026 with a full marathon, half marathon, and 5K course co-organized by the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Office of the Mayor of Rota. Registration can be completed online by downloading a form from The Marianas Calendar at mymarianas.com and emailing it to MVA, or in person at MVA offices on Saipan and Rota.
Early bird registration rates are available for just $25 for the full marathon, $20 for the half marathon, and $15 for the 5K. if you sign up in 2025. Fees will increase beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
MVA Community Projects Manager Martin Duenas said the event is designed for all levels of participants, from seasoned marathoners to first-time 5K runners. He noted that last year’s Rota Marathon nearly doubled in size, drawing runners from across the globe, and that this year’s race features “improved routes” while inviting participants to “come run or walk, and experience Rota’s wonders.”
Registrants will receive an official Rota Marathon shirt, a printed finisher’s certificate, and entry to an awards dinner buffet outdoors at Rota Roundhouse. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers in each course.
This year, the course is designed to showcase Rota’s natural and cultural landmarks. Along the way, participants will pass ancient Chamorro latte stones, including As Nieves Latte Stone Quarry, a recently designated U.S. National Historic Landmark that contains the largest known latte. Runners may also encounter some of the island’s rare birdlife, including the critically endangered Marianas Crow, the Marianas Fruit Dove, and the Golden White-eye, as well as views of Wedding Cake Mountain, dramatic limestone cliffs, the natural ocean-fed Swimming Hole, and Sasanhaya Bay.
Mandatory race packet pick-up is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 30, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Rota Roundhouse in Songsong, followed by a 6 p.m. race briefing. Representatives may collect packets on behalf of registrants with written authorization and a copy of the runner’s photo ID.
This year’s full and half marathon courses will first head north under Rota’s dark night sky along the western lagoon before looping back south through shaded roads to the finish in Songsong Village. The 5K route will trace Sasanhaya Bay and is promoted for its sweeping sunrise views. Full marathon participants must be at least 18 years old.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the top overall male and female finishers in each distance, with awards of $400, $300, and $200 for the full marathon; $300, $200, and $100 for the half marathon; and $200, $150, and $100 for the 5K.
