Midnight run in Bangkok

Bangkok is home to a number of running competitions including the now famous Bangkok Marathon, the race up the staircase of the landmark high-rise hotel, the Banyan Tree, to its restaurant aptly named Vertigo and the annual Midnight Run, scheduled for 11 October.

The creation of an enterprising hotelier who managed the Amari Watergate in the late 90s and was also a seasoned marathoner, the Midnight Run is not as strange as it might first appear.
As all enthusiastic runners know running in the tropics is also a race against the sun. The window of opportunity to complete a race in an acceptable time in humid Bangkok shrinks fast as heat and humidity build up by mid-morning.
The obvious answer for the Amari Watergate general manager was to create a run that started and finished before sunrise, hence the popularity of the Amari Watergate and BMW Midnight Run that attracts over 1,000 participants.

Now in its 11th year, the run follows an interesting route through downtown Bangkok, around the entertainment and business districts.

The competition is divided into two categories; six and 12 kilometres, the races produce fast times, often resulting in some personal best times. It is also an excellent build up race for the Bangkok International Marathon later in the year.
It could be considered the season opener for local sports events, organised during the cooler months of the year.