Early run: Runners take off at 5 a.m. Saturday during the third Tamarindo Beach Marathon at the northern Pacific beach town of Tamarindo, Guanacaste.

Photo courtesy of Rachel Lebeaux

TAMARINDO – In its third year running, the Tamarindo Beach Marathon drew a field of nearly 900 participants to this northern Pacific coastal community on Saturday, including some of Costa Rica's top runners.

Beginning on a dirt road just south of the town's main drag, the race followed main roads north as far as Brasilito. Though spectators were sparse, runners pounded along to the music of howler monkeys and enjoyed a splendid sunrise over empty fields.

A combination of a 10k, 21k, 20k and full marathon (42k) races opened the field to runners of all types and abilities.

Bernard Kimwetich Sangoka of Nairobi, Kenya, had the first place time for the full marathon clocking in at 2:37:16, but he started late. Because Costa Rican Adrian Canossa crossed the finish line first, he was awarded the first place prize for an end time of 2:38:05.

The women's full marathon was won by Costa Rican Sonia Rojas (3:32:29) of San José, followed by fellow Costa Rican Jackeline Chaves (3:37:07), of La Aurora, Heredia (northwest of San José ).

The top male and female winners of the half marathon were Francisco Cháves of San José (1:10:14) and Gabriela Traña of Alajuela (1:22:35). In the 30k race, Carlos Zamora of Alajuela pulled in first place (1:59:43) and Josefina Sancho (2:29:29) of San José won it for the women. In the 10k, Roger Coto of Cartago won it for the men and Eva Gordon of Guatemala won the women's race (43:11).

The Tamarindo Beach Marathon, which is still in its infancy, began in 2007 when a group of Costa Rican athletes decided to expose some of Costa Rica's treasured landscapes to the international athletic arena.

“The main idea and purpose behind the marathon (was to) establish an internationally certified race that would attract both national and international athletes to visit and enjoy one of the most beautiful sceneries of Costa Rica's natural paradise,” the founders wrote on their Web site. “Furthermore, the race would serve as an opportunity for rural communities to participate in a local athletic event and engage in a health and active lifestyle.”

Since last year, the field has nearly doubled in size, drawing runners from the United States, Argentina, France, Germany and Mexico.