The following is an excerpt from the Cover story ‘Running in Paradise” featured in Running Magazine (Austria) January 2005.

Running and music fit well together. In the Reggae Marathon you run in the footsteps of Bob Marley. We were inspired by the Jamaican vibes and were part of a dream event. . .

. . . I am running with Wolfgang Buchegger who is running his first half marathon. As most of the participants jostle for position they are pushed forward by the reggae beat. Even though it is pitch black, we are wide-awake and surprisingly there are many spectators at this early hour who cheer us on. The calm areas along the route change into real reggae hot spots. It is never boring. Young men along the route have tuned in to the reggae sound with the sound systems in their cars, playing the best of the Jamaican National Hero Bob Marley. Bob Marley would have turned 60 this year.

The morning temperatures are quite comfortable and the route is relatively flat and easy to run. There are water stations at every mile with enough water for everybody. Gatorade and water are filled into plastic bags which you can pry open and douse oneself during the run. This time there are no bananas. Ivan is to blame - the hurricane that created devastation all over the Caribbean, and especially on the banana farms. So it will take a few more weeks until bananas can be reaped. Importing bananas is a no no. Jamaicans are proud to produce most of their foodstuff on the island.

It’s getting lighter and the sun shows her face

As it starts to get lighter and the sun burns on our bodies, we are quite happy that we are only running a half marathon. We can see the beautiful white sand of Negril shining in the sun. For a long time this part of the island has been untouched due to the difficulty in reaching. Today, it is a mix of leisurely resorts, plantations and poor neighbourhoods.

With or without bananas we feel well supported all along the course. And at the finish there is a special delicacy for everybody. A local man cuts open a coconut with his machete for each runner. We enjoyed drinking the delicious juice with a straw.

Another highlight was the pasta party on the eve of the race. The top chefs from the surrounding resorts organize a carbo cuisine with sumptuous pasta variations. This is a very positive contrast to the boring foodstuff presented at many other marathons.

Overall there is everything in place that is needed for a quick marathon. Finishing times of all participants go immediately on-line and the whole organization of the marathon appear relaxed and perfect. And all this for only 384 runners who reach the finish!

Victorious times are secondary here

Of course there are winners here too. Jamaican athletes belong to the fastest of the world. In the marathon however they don’t reach to the level of their sprinters like Merlene Ottey, Linford Christie, Donovan Bailey or junior world record holder Usain Bolt. So a runner from the Caribbean islands St. Vincent and the Grenadines seized the opportunity. In his fourth run in Jamaica, the 29-year old Pamenos Balentyne left two of the local runners behind after 16 miles and ran to claim an unthreatened victory: “It was my goal to win the race for a third time which I achieved perfectly”. The record time of 2:28:05 was secondary. The Jamaican woman, Arieta Martin, posted a winning time of 3:14:05. The two Reggae Marathon champs received a Bob Marley and Rita Marley trophy respectively.

The same was true for us. The times were not a topic. We felt relaxed as Gods in France – running, sun, beach, sea and a hotel resort which did not leave any wish unfulfilled. The early start gives us the time to refuel lost energy with a Caribbean breakfast. Papaya, mango, pineapple, different types of melons and wonderful other fruits whose names I don’t even know but all with a very intense flavour. That’s the perfect aftermath of a marathon. The finishers’ medals dangle around the necks of all the participants. We too are proud of having been part of this event, which perfectly unites music and a healthy lifestyle.

As we take off a day later from Montego Bay with Air Jamaica, we can still feel it. The spirit of Jamaica flies with us into the European winter. Keeping the spirit up here in the cold. Thinking alone of Reggae Marathon lets you warm your heart. Yah man, perfect.

With Running to Jamaica

The Magazine
Running and PUMA Austria Magazine, start in December 2005 on a reader’s trip to Jamaica.

Other quotes
“. . . The efficient start and finish area would do justice to many city marathons, there’s chip timing, shuttle busses to pick up and drop off at hotels along the course, a three-day open-air pre-race expo and then there’s the pasta party. The Reggae Marathon likes to bill its pre-race party as the world’s best, a claim that’s hard to dispute.”
Runners’ World (UK) June 2005
Feature article “Reggae, Steady, Go”

“ . . . the Reggae Marathon is an ideal destination race with authentic local flavor.”
Running Times (USA), April 2005
Feature article “Should’ve Been There”

“Overall there is everything in place that is needed for a quick marathon. Finishing times of all participants go immediately on-line and the whole organization of the marathon appear relaxed and perfect.”
Running Magazine (Austria) January 2005
Cover story ‘Running in Paradise”

For More information about Reggae Marathon call 0699 17042195