12-year-old Banglamung student Wichaya Kamorawong
said he couldn’t sleep well the night before the fun run.
Jetsada Homklin
A few Kenyans captured the spotlight, but the annual King’s Cup Pattaya
Marathon also captured the imagination of thousands of runners, young and old,
slow and fast, Thai and foreign.
The full 42.2-kilometer marathon drew just 730 participants - 614 men and 84
women. But their average finish time was 4:54:53.19, showing not everyone was
aiming for the King’s Cup, won by Alex Melly of Kenya with a time of 2:25:32. In
all, however, 10,000 people participated in July 27’s many races, which included
half and quarter marathons, plus a 5 km. “fun run.”
70-year-old Thammachart
Sangkawong ran in the full 42.2k marathon, saying that exercising every day is a
way to stay out of the hospital.
The 2014 race was the eighth for 70-year-old Thammachart
Sangkawong, who completed the full 42.2k marathon. “I think exercising every day
is a way to stay out of the hospital,” Thammachart said. “And also I joined the
marathon this year because I want to meet fellow runners that used to run
together and come from various places.”
He said he found the event day atmosphere cheerful, but suggested Pattaya
officials better publicize the race next year.
At just 12 years old, Wichaya Kamorawong and Boossagorn Charoenpongsiri are new
to running, participating this year in the 5 km fun run. Both said they were
excited and impressed.
“I could not sleep well last night,” Wichaya said. “My friends, my teachers and
I woke at two in the morning. Exercising is very beneficial and much better than
playing games.”
Boossagorn, a student of Srisuvit School said she wanted to run to get strong
and “exercise my patience.”
