NAKHON PHANOM: About 10,000 runners from across the country and abroad took part in the 2019 Nakhon Phanom-Khammouane run at the 3rd Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge across the Mekong river on Sunday morning.
The event celebrated the start of the 9th anniversary of the bridge which was completed and opened on Nov 11, 2011, linking the Thai province of Nakhon Phanom with Khammouane province in Laos.
The run, recognised by the Asian Athletics Association (AAA), was conducted in four categories -- a 42.195-kilometre marathon, a 20.10-km half-marathon, a 10-km mini marathon and a 5km fun run.
Starting from the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge in Nakhon Phanom, the runners crossed the bridge border to Khammouane and followed designated routes before reaching the finish lines of all categories back in Nakhon Phanom.
Participants in the event included Supachai Phosuk, the 2nd House speaker, senator Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew and Nakhon Phanom governor Sayam Sirimongkol.
The bridge is regarded as one of the three important landmarks of Nakhon Phanom. The other two are the Phra That Phanom pagoda and the stunning viewpoint looking across the Mekong river.