Running News Daily

Registration for the 2021 Virtual Reggae Marathon race is open and runners from 17 different countries have already shown interest in participating

Each participant has been charged to recreate the Reggae Marathon experience wherever they are in the world. However, some runners have expressed their desire to travel to Jamaica to run the race along the established Negril route during the run period, November 13 to December 5, 2021.

According to Alfred ‘Frano’ Francis, race director: “Another exciting feature for this year is that marathoners participating in this year’s Reggae Marathon can use their participation to qualify for a position in the virtual rankings platform of the 2022 AbbottWMM Wanda Virtual Age Group World Rankings.”

The AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Rankings comprises a one-year qualifying period during which athletes in nine separate age groups can compete in marathons across the world to earn ranking points.

Mr. Francis explained that at the end of the qualifying period, the top runners in each age group will get invited to the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships. The rankings cover age groups from 40 to 80+ for men and women.  More information on how to qualify for an invitation is available at: Virtual Rankings (worldmarathonmajors.com)

The first such championship was held as part of the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon on October 3 this year. The race involved a combination of qualifiers from the first and second editions of the rankings.

Reggae Marathon is one of 250 international marathons offering this unique opportunity to athletes.

As in past years, the organisers of the 2021 virtual race event continue their support of Reggae Marathon’s charity partner, the Heart Foundation of Jamaica. Runners can make direct donations to the Heart Foundation or have their race distances covered by sponsorship. This year’s fundraising efforts have already received a boost by the efforts of  two young runners from Jamaica, whose results are celebrated on the event’s website’s fundraising page: https://www.givengain.com/e/reggae-marathon-half-marathon-and-10k

Mr. Francis noted: “The addition of the Virtual 5K is another exciting feature of this year’s event, and though the Reggae Marathon event has had to go virtual again this year, we have left no stone unturned in our efforts to give all our participants a great running experience and an opportunity to make their mark in more ways than one.”

(11/11/2021) Views: 1,131 ⚡AMP
by Running USA

2021 Reggae Marathon goes virtual

The Reggae Marathon organisers have opted to present a virtual run again for 2021 with the mass event cancelled.

The virtual race will take place during November 13 – December 5. All runners are encouraged to recreate the Reggae Marathon vibe wherever they are located.

Last year Reggae Marathon successfully staged its first virtual race with over 500 participants from about 30 countries.

There are a number of 2021 local and international participants, who have already booked travel and accommodations for Negril.

They are being encouraged to use the Reggae Marathon Course along Norman Manley Boulevard which will be available for individual runners November 13– December 5 to establish their personal Reggae Marathon experience.

(10/01/2021) Views: 1,292 ⚡AMP
by AIMS

Registration is now open for local and international participants in this year’s Virtual Reggae Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K

Participants are invited to register via www.reggaemarathon.com and choose their virtual event. Registration remains open until November 30 and runners/walkers can complete their choice of event between November 14 to December 6.

“The virtual event is a first for Reggae Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K now in its 20th year.  We decided to go virtual so as not to disappoint the thousands of local and international participants who were looking forward to arriving in Negril for the event this year,” said  race director Alfred Francis.

Under the new arrangement, each participant anywhere in the world will be able to run their own individual race between November 14 and December 6 and submit their times.  Each runner or walker will  receive a digital finisher certificate and runner’s bib, while post-race, each will get a medal, signature Reggae Marathon T-shirt and branded tote bag.

Francis also disclosed that going forward the Virtual Reggae Marathon will be held along with the physical race.  “We are excited about this new feature and the possibilities in store for our charity partner, the Heart Foundation of Jamaica,” he noted.

Organisers say that since its inception in 2001, the Reggae Marathon has had 24,890 participants, with 13,169, or 53 per cent, being entries from over 40 countries.

(09/19/2020) Views: 1,491 ⚡AMP

Reggae Marathon will go virtual this year

Reggae Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K  will go virtual this year. That is the decision of the organisers, the Jamdammers Running Club of Kingston, supported by their partners and stakeholders. 

“COVID-19 has altered the ‘runscape’ worldwide, and Jamaica is no exception.  With the rise in positive cases locally and globally, we took the decision to cancel the physical participation this year, in the interest of the international and local participants, with the objective of staying safe.  However, we look forward to returning to the normal participation in 2021,” said Alfred Francis, race director.

Francis further added that “this is the first time in its 19 years of running that Reggae Marathon is being cancelled. 

"We had put many plans in place to celebrate the 20th staging, but we have had to rethink them in light of the negative impact of the pandemic.  We will have additional information on our website for persons who have already registered and are looking at the various options offered in light of the cancellation.“

Since its inception in 2001, Reggae Marathon has seen 24,890 participants, of which 13,169 or 53 per cent were visitors from more than 40 countries worldwide.

(08/29/2020) Views: 981 ⚡AMP

The Reggae Marathon was Japan's Daichi Okano third marathon and first win

Okano, 26, despite being autistic, has been running competitively since the age of 15. However, this is his third competitive marathon and his first win clocking 2:47:17. He expressed that he enjoyed running the marathon, although it got a bit hot near the end. "My body felt light, I felt good this morning, so I was just able to keep my form and composure. It was my first time, but I had a really good run and I enjoyed it," said Okano, who was speaking through an interpreter. "It was hot, got pretty warm, but (it was) nothing too much out of the ordinary, so I was able to enjoy myself and have a good run," he added. Okano, who was running outside of Japan for the first time, said he is looking forward to competing in Jamaica again next year.  (12/03/2018) Views: 1,408 ⚡AMP

Ministries Endorse Reggae Marathon

Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, and Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange, have applauded the Reggae Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K events for their significant contribution to sports tourism in Jamaica within the last 16 years. (11/28/2017) Views: 4,252 ⚡AMP