On December 4th, the Reggae Marathon was once again held in Negril, Jamaica to a turnout of over 1700 participants from around the world, exceeding organizers’ projections by 20 percent. The event’s successful, in-person return – after being held virtually last year – re-emphasizes what makes it unique to its counterparts across the globe.
Foreigners Fall in Love
Like many foreigners who participated for the first time, popular American vegan influencer, athlete, entrepreneur, and film director, John Lewis, aka Bad Ass Vegan, was mesmerized by the event. “It honestly was the best time that I’ve had in a half-marathon; it was the best experience. And, I honestly feel like I could have run faster,” he lamented, after completing the race.
“For anyone that’s run a Boston or New York Marathon… that temperature man, it’ll wake you up,” he laughed. “I don’t care how tough you think you are, compared to those road races, the Reggae Marathon was refreshing,” Lewis asserted. “That’s the number one thing, especially in Jamaica, you can’t go wrong. Anyone who says they didn’t have a good time in Jamaica, they’re just not a fun person!”
A Celebration of Reggae Music
According to event organizers, music is one of the main draws of this dynamic sports and wellness tourism experience. “The music is our signature,” explained Diane Ellis, director of sponsorship for the event. The ‘Reggae’ in Reggae Marathon is more than adding flavor to an event’s name. “At each segment of the event, there’s live music,” she continued. Over the two days, participants are treated to bands and live acts. The festival has served as a breeding ground for ‘who’s next’ in Reggae and Dancehall, with luminaries such as Kabaka Pyramid and Elephant Man taking the stage early in their careers.
A Runner’s Paradise
Also, Jamaica is known for running. Arguably some of the best sprinters in history are produced on the island, across both the male and female divisions. However, the country has never put a strong emphasis on long-distance running. Before the Reggae Marathon, there was only one prestigious long-distance event on the entire island and when its organizers packed up, there was a void left on runners’ calendars.
The Jamdammers Running Club of Kingston craved an event that would cater to their discipline. This group of long-distance enthusiasts would compete in international events, but wanted to bring that experience home. The Reggae Marathon started as a humble event, but has become a pillar of sports tourism, each year bolstering revenue for hotels and attractions, while supporting the local community of Negril.
Good Vibes
According to Lewis, there are aspects of the experience that are hard to put into words – a vibe about the Reggae Marathon, and maybe even the island itself. After the race he found himself walking with the crowd towards the beach. “I’ve run events in South Florida and there’s no flock of people going to the beach and getting in the water. Everyone was just happy for each other. That felt good, even though I was glad to have beat some people,” he chuckled.
As for whether he’ll return to the Reggae Marathon in future, Lewis says yes, he’ll be back for the 2023 race, for sure. “It’s funny, I didn’t find out about the race until three months out, but now, I’m dedicating the year to showing up in the best shape ever, to knock this one out.”
