The third Angkor Beer Sihanoukville International Half Marathon will be held on Sunday, with the port city expected to attract close to 1,500 participants for this charity run.

The organisers have slightly modified the route this year by diverting the half marathon runners away from the busier section of the town surrounding the main market.

“Keeping in mind the safety of the runners, we have made this change, but they will not miss the beaches and breathtaking scenery en route,” National Olympic Committee of Cambodia secretary general Vath Chamroeun told the Post.

“The response so far has been very encouraging and I am hopeful of reaching the target of 1,500 participants we have set. I expect the numbers for both the overseas runners and locals to go up [compared to last year’s race].”

Apart from the 21km run for men and women, which will begin at Occheuteal beach, supporting events include a 10km run and 3km fun run and walk.

As a dress rehearsal for Sunday’s showpiece, several exciting biking races to suit all ages and abilities are also on the cards.

The Sihanoukville run is the first of four half marathons in Cambodia’s international calendar. The three other running events for charity are the Bokor Mountain Half Marathon, the Phnom Penh Half Marathon and the Angkor Wat Half Marathon.

For the first time in Cambodian sports history, a full marathon will be run around the world heritage site of the Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap later this year.