The ‘Laguna Phuket Marathon 2026 Presented by Supersports’ held at the spectacular Laguna Grove on Saturday and Sunday saw runners compete over a range of distances designed to encourage participation from as many people as possible.
This included the “Sunset Runs” of a 2-kilometre junior run, a 5km fun run, and a 10km mini marathon, all held on Saturday between 4pm and 7:30pm, and the “Sunrise Runs” of a 21.097km half marathon and the 42.195km full marathon held early on Sunday.
The varying routes passed through lush tropical rain forests, expansive rubber and pineapple plantations and the historic Thalang district, before looping along the breathtaking Nai Yang and Layan beaches just as the morning sun illuminated the Andaman Sea, creating a memorable experience for all involved.
Organisers explained how the event was strategically positioned to showcase Phuket as a year-round destination, with the marathon proving that the island’s “Green Season” – characterised by cooler breezes, vibrant tropical foliage and refreshing occasional showers – is the perfect backdrop for outdoor sports and wellness travel.
The event also featured an official Running Club Affiliate Program, designed for teams of 10 or more which rewards larger clubs with complimentary race entries, a dedicated Club Zone Tent and a free club banner. Crucially, this initiative also helped raise B40,000 in funds from participating clubs for the Children First Fund (CFF), which helps underprivileged children in Phuket.
Dominant
Chinese athletes were dominant in both the men’s and women’s main race as Zhipeng Huang took the men’s title in an impressive 2 hours 45 minutes and 35 seconds, while compatriot Ling Wu won the women’s race in 3h 3m 46s.
Elsewhere, Thailand’s Hadee Dendu won the men’s half marathon with a time of 1h 17m 36s, with Chiaki Morikawa of Japan claiming the women’s title in 1h 19m 11s.
Sergei Zyrianov of Russia won the men’s 10km mini marathon with a time of 35m 5s and Sharon Tan of Singapore claimed the women’s race in 41m 6s.
In the 5km fun run Cian Ehrismann of Ireland won the men’s race in 16m 58s, with Soraya Saait of Thailand triumphing in the women’s with a time of 19m 53s.
Theo Lancelot of Thailand won the boy’s junior 2km run with a time 6m 48s, while Alicia Siao of the United States won the girl’s title with a time of 8m 28s.
Longevity
Prior to the race start on both days a moment of silence was observed to allow all attendees to mourn and express their respect and gratitude to Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati, who sadly passed away on Thursday, June 11.
Phuket Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn oversaw the start of Sunday’s main race activities, flagging off the full marathon at 4am and the half-marathon an hour later.
Governor Nirat was joined at the opening ceremony by representatives from various public and private sector entities, including: Siriwan Seeharach, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office; Somchai Semmanee, Director of the Phuket office of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports; in addition to executives from Laguna Phuket and GAA Events Co., Ltd., the event organiser.
In a speech prior to the 4am race start Governor Nirat praised the longevity of the event, which over a 20-year time span has become established as a leading road race for serious and amateur runners alike from all over the world. Similarly, the race has played a significant role in promoting Phuket’s image as a world-class sports city and tourist destination, he added.
The race also played a significant role in stimulating the local economy, explained Governor Nirat, with the influx of local, national and international athletes, coaches, officials and supporters resulting in significant economic activity and tangible vibrancy across the island.
Warm hospitality
The Governor then praised and thanked the extensive network of partners, sponsors and associated organisations that collaborated to make the event a success, something that reflects Phuket’s potential as an international active lifestyle destination for sports, health and wellness, in addition to its capacity to host international sporting events to the highest standards.
He was keen to extend special thanks to all agencies that worked closely together to oversee safety measures, traffic management, and medical services to ensure the smooth running of the event in order to create a positive impression on participants and promote Phuket’s image as a Sports City and a world-class sports tourism destination.
In regards to event security, the Phuket Provincial Police provided personnel and equipment for inspecting suspicious objects and ensuring security along the entire race route, including a face recognition system. Additionally Thalang District provided 213 members of the Volunteer Defense Corps who were stationed at various points along the race route, while tourist Police Division 3 provided personnel and vehicles to escort the leading athletes.
In terms of medical and public health, the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office provided emergency medical vehicles with staff to care for participants throughout the competition, while the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO) and local administrative organisations provided mobile toilets, LED screens and cleaning services at the various event areas.
Finally, Governor Nirat welcomed all runners to the event, particularly those who were visiting from overseas, and wished everyone the very best of luck for their respective races. He concluded by saying he hoped everyone managed to enjoy some time to explore Phuket and savour its natural beauty as well as the warm hospitality of its residents and that he looked forward to welcoming all participants at next year’s event.