I went to Saipan for my 2024 marathon because I could not find one in Guam this year. Allison and the boys were busy and we wanted to avoid paying for extra flights. I worked Thanksgiving so my XO let me use this to exchange special liberty for Friday. I had to leave Friday as packet pick up was 1600 and one flight goes to Saipan per day from Guam. I stayed at the Saipan Hyatt, which we stayed at last time in Saipan. I love sitting on the balcony watching the ocean. I read "The White Pill" on Friday. I read the history of CNMI on Saturday. The marathon stopped and ended 100 meters from the Hyatt. Packet pick-up was 0.5 miles from the Hyatt. The course is nice. We started at 0430 so the sun was rising as I finished. Miles 14 to 20 are stunningly beautiful. Limestone cliffs, pink clouds, the sound of the ocean, lots of trees (sour sop coconuts, flame trees). Friday dinner was a good Japanese buffet. Saturday dinner will be a Chamorro BBQ.
I took 4th overall. 1st of 40 to 44 yr male. I was running a 7:30 pace for 3:21 time. Not my best but not my worst. Next year maybe we can do this with Allison and the boys. They have 5k 10k and half marathons also.
CNMI is a nice place suffering from the demise of the garment industry. The loss of ANA flights has hurt tourism. They tried gambling but the FBI closed their casino for money laundering (photos below of a big money building next to urban decay). Nonchamorros cannot own land in CNMI. Mess with Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations at your peril! Reading the book from their old Supreme Court Justice you can see they have tried to seek rents through their unique convent of free association. This works until Congress gets pissed at near slavery in garment factories or blatant money laundering.
They can let anyone own land and facilitate true wealth or they can find the next scheme. The marathon brought in 80 runners. The half marathon was much larger but not huge.
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