The Reggae Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K has joined four other Caribbean marathons to form the Five Island Challenge, sponsored by the Atlanta Life Insurance Company of USA.
The other marathons are: Marathon Bahamas Race Weekend; Run Barbados Marathon Weekend; Bermuda International Race Weekend and Cayman Islands Marathon & Half Marathon Relay.
The organisers of the Five Island Challenge said the new challenge is to encourage distance runners from across the world to thread their way through the palm trees and beaches of the various islands, while enjoying a fun ‘runcation’.
“We at Reggae Marathon are excited to be a part of this challenge as it is bringing a welcome synergy to regional road racing events and competiveness,” said Alfred ‘Frano’ Francis, Race Director of Reggae Marathon.
The organisers, the CES Corporation, said the December, 2019 and January, 2020 dates of the events will allow runners who live in cold-winter spots to escape to the sun.
To successfully complete the challenge, runners must finish each of the five marathons and/or half-marathons within a six-year period, starting with the December 2019 races, of which Reggae Marathon, Half Marathon and 10k is one. It will take multiple years for runners to complete the circuit as some of the marathon events will be held on overlapping dates.
Anyone who has previously completed any of the five races will be given credit for same. Once the series is completed, runners will receive a special finisher’s medal.
Individuals who register for the Challenge at www.fiveislandchallenge.com before July 1, 2019 and register for one of the races before September 30, 2019 are eligible to win a US$100 Visa debit card at each race location in December 2019 and January 2020. The runners must be present to win.
The 2019 Reggae Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K is set for December 8, 2019 and continues to attract runners and walkers from across Jamaica and over 38 different countries. The internationally certified event is in its 19th year and continues to grow. Registration for the event includes bib tag timing, a commemorative runner shirt and gym sack, as well as a specially designed 2019 finisher’s medal.
The Barbados and Cayman marathons are also held on the same weekend as the Reggae Marathon, while the Bermuda Marathon is scheduled for January 17-19, 2020 and the Bahamas Marathon on January 19, 2020.