11th Khon Kaen International Marathon to Take Place 26 January 2014

While residents of Thailand's capital city, Bangkok, face even more turmoil, chaos and uncertainty with a threatened shutdown of the city planned for next week by anti-government protestors, elsewhere in the country it is very much business as usual.

Khon Kaen, the commercial, cultural and political centre of Northeastern Thailand, is preparing to welcome runners from 40 countries for the 11th Khon Kaen International Marathon 2014 which will take place on 26 January 2014.

Organised by the Khon Kaen University Alumni Association, the event is officially sanctioned by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races and the Athletic Association of Thailand.

Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik, Governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand said, “The race is one of the most important annual events of Khon Kaen. It brings in runners and visitors from around the world and showcases the province as home to various cultures from pre-history and the ancient Khmer empire to modern Isan traditions. Khon Kaen is also well known for high quality silk, especially for its tie-dye technique or Mudmee, a variety of historical sites and national parks, and the largest university in the Northeast, Khon Kaen University.”

The 11th Khon Kaen International Marathon is open to everyone from professionals to fun runners under a range of race and age categories. It will feature a 42.195 kms (26 miles) full marathon for participants of 18 years or above, a 21.1 kms (13.1 miles) half marathon for participants of 16 years or above, an 11.55 kms (7.17 miles) mini marathon for participants of 12 years or above, and a 4.5 kms (2.79 miles) fun run.

All race divisions start and finish at the Golden Jubilee Convention Hall, Khon Kaen University. The marathon route features a scenic, loop course that travels past academic areas and through cultural and ethnic communities of Khon Kaen town.

The winners, the first five men and first five women in each race group, as well as the first 10 men and first 10 women overall, will be awarded trophies and cash prizes.

For runners who finish a full marathon, half marathon or mini marathon within the standard course time will receive a finisher’s medal and certificate. The first 20,000 walk and fun run participants will receive a finisher’s medal.

To showcase Khon Kaen’s many outstanding cultural and natural attractions, two complimentary sightseeing tours will be offered to all registered participants.

On 25 January, the half-day excursion entails a boxing show between the king cobra and villagers at the King Cobra Village, a visit to Wat Thung Setthi, which contains Lord Buddha’s sacred lower right tooth, and Wat Chetiyaphum to pay homage to Phrathat Kham Kaen for good luck.

On 26 January, after the race, the half-day trip will take athletes to the Sala Mai Thai (Thai Silk Centre), known for its high-quality silk production, the Chang-Kra Garden for the beauty of over 4,000 wild Chang-kra orchids and Wat Chaisri for the marvellous mural paintings both inside and outside its ordination hall.

While visiting Khon Kaen, another famous attraction not-to-miss is Phu Wiang National Park, which demonstrates that the Isan Plateau was once home of dinosaurs. Geologists have found fossils of a kind of plant-eating dinosaur, 15 metres high with a long neck and tail. In this site, over two teeth of a meat-eating dinosaur have also been found.

Khon Kaen can be reached via road (car, bus and rail) or air transportation. Khon Kaen city is located 458 km northeast of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport or 55 minutes by air, or five-six hours by car. Thai Airways International and Thai AirAsia (from Don Mueang International Airport) operate daily flights on the Bangkok-Khon Kaen route.