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4th Annual Freedom Run & Obstacle Course blows through Su’igaula

Participants in  SPW’s 4th Annual Freedom Run & Obstacle Course.
Source: SPW press release

Utulei, AMERICAN SAMOA — Despite the adverse weather conditions blowing through the territory this past Saturday, the community showed up in droves to participate in South Pacific Watersports & Fitness’ 4th Annual Freedom Run & Obstacle Course.

“It was a great day, we had such an awesome turn out and everyone really got into the spirit of what the race is all about.” says Paula Stevenson-McDonald, owner of SPW in Utulei. “You saw tremendous individual accomplishments as well as an awesome display of teamwork that truly made the event a real success.”

The 2019 Freedom Run & Obstacle Course includes a long and short course to accommodate the different fitness levels of the race participants.

The long course, or 3-Peaks course (9 miles), challenged runners to first run from SPW in Utulei to the WWII cannons atop Blunt’s Point, and then to Pago Pago and up to the Fagasa Pass or mafa, then make their way back to Utulei and up to the Tramway. The short course, or 2-Peaks course (4 miles), does not include the Fagasa Pass.

Both courses end at Suigalula Beach where an obstacle course awaits runners for the big finale. The obstacle course consisted of ten obstacles including a tire run, pipe crawl, balance beams, mud crawl, bucket carry, net crawl, barrier jump, zigzag maze, tire flip and finally a wall climb over a 20-foot container.

Also present were teams from various organizations like Team Aeto, US Navy Recruits, US Marine Recruits, and Team Pacific Horizon.

“We continue to put on these races to support our community’s efforts towards battling obesity and the non-communicable diseases that are crippling our people. So, we thank everyone for participating and for challenging yourselves.

Big shout out too to Coach Pati Pati of Samoana High for bringing the Shark’s football team out to compete, it made it that much more special!” says Stevenson- McDonald.

She also thanked their premier sponsor for the event, McConnell Dowell, who is in their 4th year of support of “this awesome race for the community.”