Evans goes ultra distance for TT Marathon

EXPERIENCED TT distance runner Sjaelan Evans welcomes the new virtual element to the 2021 TT International Marathon (TTIM).

Owing to the covid19pandemic, this year’s participants will not be allowed to physically run/walk/jog the usual 26.2 mile distance from St Mary’s Junction, Freeport to the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain.

Instead, runners can choose one of the four allotted distances and complete the trek in one session by/or before January 24. They must track their distance covered via special running apps and then upload their respective times to the TTIM’s website.

Participants must complete the race all at once, running or walking. As the results come in, runners will move either up or down the online leaderboard with the winners of each category announced after the final submission.

For the first time, an Ultra Challenge has been included. This distance spans 35 miles/56kilometres and can be undertaken as an extension of the original marathon distance. As is customary, the half-marathon (13.1 miles) and a 3.1 mile distance will also be contested.

These changes were made to the 39th edition in compliance with new health guidelines laid out by the Ministry of Health and, by extension, the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA), who adjusted their races into a virtual event.

Evans, a regular TTIM contestant and last year’s 26.2 mile women’s second place finisher, has opted to take up the Ultra Challenge this time around.

On January 24, at 1 am, the 35-year-old runner and a group of friends will set off to compete their respective distances from the Chaguaramas Convention Centre. The group will utilise a nearby off-road cycling and running trail and maintain mandatory social distancing during their efforts.

“After we complete the distance on the road, our times will be uploaded to Strava (running and cycling app) automatically. When it’s uploaded you can view your leadership status.

“Our smartwatches are equipped with GPS so once we’ve completed the distance it will automatically upload. I have covered 35 miles before but this would be the first time I’m going at it in an official race,” she said.

Evans is known for her participation in UWI’s Half Marathon and also represented TT at a 10k in Guyana two years ago.

Having recently ran 35 miles in celebration of her birthday in December 2019, Evans welcomes the inaugural Ultra Challenge.

“I imagine I’d be the first female attempting the Ultra because I don’t know much females who would want to cover that distance. I’m definitely a long-distance athlete and I train by running a lot and putting in the required distances. Covid19 will not detract me from participating,” she added.

TTIM enthusiasts can also support the cause by purchasing a branded tee-shirt in which part proceeds go to the Voice of Lupus Foundation. Participants will also be awarded with a digital medal and race certificate.

After the dust settles, the marathon committee will present TT Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis with a cheque for the funds raised. These finances will be used towards the TTOC’s #10Goldsby2024 Athlete Welfare and Preparation Fund which was designed to assist potential and confirmed Olympians at the 2021 Games in Tokyo, Japan.