Dec. 30, 2007 — The V.I. Pace Runners' sixth St. Croix International Marathon on New Year's Day will feature local runners and runners from around the world.
The 26.2-mile race starts at 5 a.m. at Plaza Extra (west) on Queen Mary Highway. It continues to the Vincent Mason Pool, along the shore, to Ham's Bluff, into the rainforest and back to Frederiksted (to and from Hamm's Bluff, twice) to finish at the Ann Abramson Pier.
The race is open to anyone 18 or older, trained and capable of completing the distance.
The V.I. Police Department, St. Croix Rescue, and volunteers will support the race. The early start is to capitalize on lower temperatures.
The small field of runners include participants from Canada, Spain, Italy, England and the United States, according to a news release from the Pace Runners.
The field includes John "Maddog" Wallace of Longboat Key, Fla., who has run more than 290 marathons in 87 countries. He has run marathons in all 50 states twice over, all 13 provinces and territories of Canada, and on all seven continents. He is the only runner to complete a marathon in every country of Europe.
Topping the field of local runners are Theresa Harper, winner of the race four times and race and course record holder for women at 3:40.21; and William Bohlke, who finished second last year and holds the race and course record for men at 2:50.25.
Also back for the 2008 race are Steve Burkholder, who won the race in 2005 and finished second in 2006; Ernest Mitchell, former teacher in St. Croix public schools; Heidi Snow, second in 2005; and Richard Jeanpierre, Charles Martin and Errol Chichester.
Drivers are asked to respect the runners, as they will be starting in the dark and using public roads.
For the first time, the race course is certified by the Association of International Marathons and Road Races and the International Association of Athletic Federations. As a result, runners who make specified times may qualify for the Olympic Games, the Boston Marathon, the IAAF world championships and other major marathons.
Runners may pick up their race packets from 10 a.m. to noon Monday in Christiansted at the Florence Williams Public Library. A course tour is scheduled at noon.
Top finishers in the race will share $2,600 in prize money. For information, call 643-2557 or email Wallace Williams.
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