The Reggae Marathon Dream began with a group of runners who called themselves The Jamdammers. These Jamdammers were dedicated runners who met each week to run around the natural trail edging the Mona Reservoir…Dam…in Kingston.  If you want to get to the roots of Reggae Marathon, this is the place to go for a run! The Jamdammers have regular weekend group runs followed up with socializing after.  Over post-run cups of Blue Mountain coffee and fresh orange juice it’s not hard to imagine how the topic of putting on a marathon could have come up.  It took a group trip to Berlin for the ‘talk’ to turn into action:  “We can host a world-class marathon in Jamaica!”

The Reggae Marathon Dream turns 16 years old this December 3.  From humble beginnings the core values and mission have remained constant:  Providing the best running experience for each and every runner.  That running experience includes the Reggae Marathon Pasta Party Friday night before Saturday’s race, aid stations each and every mile along the closed-to-traffic road course and the beach-side post-race party.

The Reggae Marathon Dream started in Negril and has run along the road the road that hugs the beach resort area every year since.  It provides an almost perfect location for combining a warm weather beach vacation with a virtually flat paved road course.  Some of our Reggae Marathoners call it a ‘Runcation’ and that sums it up very well. You can spend your days lounging on the wide, white sand beach or taking in some of the activities.

For a number of Reggae Marathon ‘Regulars’, their Reggae Marathon Dream started years ago and continues with the annual pilgramage to Negril the first Saturday in December.  My own Reggae Marathon Dream turns 8 at Sweet 16 this December…wouldn’t miss it for all the world!  For those of you coming for the first time, we look forward to meeting and running with you.  If you haven’t experienced Reggae Marathon yet, but are dreaming about it, turn your dream into a reality December 3, 2016 by registering today:  Reggae Marathon Dream Registration.

Until next time…

Reggae Marathon RunninGuy (aka Sugar ‘Tuff Gong’ Bong)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~