I think of every one of the runners at Reggae Marathon as friends.  It makes for a bit of a challenge eating at the Reggae Marathon Pasta Party Friday night at Couples Swept Away Sporting Complex, but I like it that way.

I came to Reggae Marathon in 2008 with my Wife as my sole support.  After arriving at our hotel on the beach in Negril, that alone feeling vanished within moments when we met a fellow runner, Bob and his lovely wife Deb.  He introduced us to many more runners including Burt Carlson.  He even waited for me to finish well after most runners had finished.  We don’t see each other as much as we’d like to but I count him as a friend.  Since then, I’ve enjoyed introducing and connecting runners from all over the world who come to race at Reggae Marathon.  Old friends, new friends…we’re all friends!

Where to make new friends?  On the beach of course.  Negril is referred to as ‘The Capital of Casual’.  And they’re serious about keeping that designation.  Most days while on vacation in Negril you can stay in bathing suit/shorts,  T shirt and sandals.  Of course you’ll want to dress up for evening dining but stay with ‘Smart…and Cool Casual’.

It’s easy to make friends relaxing on the beach enjoying a cold Red Stripe. The icebreaker for me:  “Why did you choose Reggae Marathon?”.  The answers are always interesting and have led to making many new friends.  Last December for instance we met Reggae Marathoner Margaret walking back to her hotel on the beach.  Once we started chatting we learned that Reggae Marathon 2013 was her 13th consecutive Reggae Marathon…she had run in every single one of the Reggae Marathon events! (Read her story here:  Margaret and her 13th Reggae Marathon).   Margaret was already booked for Reggae Marathon 2014.  I look forward to meeting up with her again this December.

So whether you come with friends or to meet new friends, whether you’r in a group like Black Girls Run (in the photo above) or Reggae Runnerz you’be sure to enjoy running and sunning with friends at Reggae Marathon.

Until next time…