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Koh Samui has long had a holiday reputation for gorgeous turquoise waters and golden sandy beaches with holidaymakers enjoying letting their hair down and living a little, in tropical island style. However Samui has also seen a huge increase in sporting activities with the island becoming home to the great triathlon races with such perfect terrain offering truly challenging courses. This fresh insight into the island has also given birth to a new event and one that has been met with huge enthusiasm and praise, the Koh Samui Reggae Pub Charity Midnight Run.
Two charitable organizations
It has been organized to help raise money for two charitable organizations, the children from the autistic school on Koh Samui, where money raised will go towards helping them fund the building of a new school and the hugely worthy island cause, the Green Project supported by the Hotel Associations.
As a first for the island we as a family really wanted to get involved. Kya, our daughter goes to one of the islands international schools and has been an active fund raiser for the autistic school with sponsored swims and always giving her time to visit the school to play with the children and donate her toys and clothes to the kids there. The added twist of being able to dress up created a fun element for us as we prepared the perfect running costume with mad face paint looking like Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 and Thing 2.
Good Spirited Fun
Starting at midnight, the race began and finished at one of the longest standing landmark bars, The Reggae Pub. Situated proudly on the banks of Chaweng Lake in a commanding position, the evening air was filled with the buzz and energy of the 600 runners and over 1000 supporters that had turned up to follow the event. We had registered for one loop of the 5Km race but there were a lot of takers of the two loops of 10Km, which finished also at the Reggae Pub.
An Island Team Effort
All participants enjoyed a brilliant start given by the deputy Governor Mr. Chalosak Wanitcharig from Surat Thani who came for the occasion with the Mayor of Koh Samui, Mr. Ramnate Chaikwang, the owner of the Reggae Pub Mrs. Amporn Ubonsathit and Khun Saipayom Somsuk from the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Koh Samui.
The streets were filled with flashing colorful cars pumping out tune after tune with their huge sound systems, which really egged us on, exuding a wonderful ambience for us, the midnight runners. The night’s sky became a kaleidoscopic canopy of colours with a fantastic firework display that was mirror imaged on the surrounding lake, almost seeming in perfect timing to some of the music being played, what a phenomenal sight.
However the real energy charge came when we entered the Chaweng beach road where we received tremendous cheers and salutes from the buzzed up enthusiastic crowd in the Soi Green Mango. This was for us truly one of the best moments of the race creating a special feeling that will stay with us forever! After this the course took us back towards the Reggae Pub, where as a united and very happy family we crossed the finish line with fellow runners with a truly exalted feeling.
Winning Glory
Winners of each category, including family teams, and the best fancy dress received prizes and trophies. However everyone who crossed the finish line received a special commemorative medal for taking part, which was brilliant.
An incredibly successful event, for very worthy island charities, making for a wonderful first Midnight Run and a great sporting evening. Perfectly rounded off by all of us enjoying a fun party in true island style at the Reggae Pub. The air was filled with a united ambience and incredible sense of achievement, what a great event, we can’t wait to take part next year!
Media Partners of the event were:
Samui Channel
Samui Vision Co. Ltd.
Siam Map Company
Optim Communication Agency
IT Graphix
United Publishing
