TORONTO September 15th 2015. It is exciting to see that the Run Barbados Marathon Weekend is back up and running on the weekend of December 4th to 6th. It has been re-energized with a new team at Barbados Tourism Marketing and a new organizing group led by Zary and Kristina Evelyn and Peter Gibbs. Barbados is such an AWESOME destination, and the weekend offers a distance for everyone, from Fun Mile Friday to 5K, 10K, Half-marathon and Marathon over Saturday and Sunday. View the full race weekend agenda here.
It’s a very special reward at the end of the Canada Running Series year, just as the snow starts to swirl in the North. I recommend that we all check it out! I see they’re still using the slogan I created: “Come for the Run; Stay for the Fun” – and it’s a good one! That’s right, Run Barbados and I go WAY back.
It all started in 1984 when then head of Athletics Ontario, Cecil Smith, asked if I wanted to go down and check it out, with the view to setting up a tour group of elite and recreational runners from Canada. I ended up taking a tour group to Run Barbados for more than a decade! Canada and Canadians became a HUGE part of Run Barbados. Richard Lee, who now coaches Natasha Wodak, Dylan Wykes, Catherine Watkins and Kelly Wiebe at the BC Endurance Project, placed 4th in the 10K in 1985; his future wife, Olympian Sue French (Lee) did WAY better, winning the women’s 10k that year in 34:53. Jeff Martin from St. Catharine’s won the marathon that year too! Toronto’s Laura Konantz won the women’s marathon in ’86 – the first of several victories for her – while Toronto Olympic club’s Peter Maher took the men’s marathon title that year.
We raced with some of the world’s best in those years: Irish Olympian John Treacy, 1982 London marathon champion Hugh Jones [who won Run Barbados Marathon SIX times], New York City Marathon legend Orlando Pizzolato. I actually did the Run Barbados Marathon twice, and the 10K a bunch of times. But it wasn’t all about the run. It was always about the fun too. Longboat Roadrunners’ Brian Eley, who still works on our CRS race crew met his wife Carmel in Barbados, fell in love and has been happily married ever since. Olympian May Allison and husband Mark went as a young couple in the early ‘90s, Toronto Olympic’s Laura Konantz beame a perennial marathon podium finisher, and in more recent years the likes of Matt Loiselle have starred in the 10K and half-marathon. Longboat’s Kevin Hayes and wife Melanie became regulars and Kevin designed posters and t-shirts for Run Barbados, as well as making trips to Bert’s Bar in Rockley an annual tradition.
Somewhere along the way, in the late 90s, the event lost its way, and our tour group took a break. Then from 2000 to 2003 I actually got a contract as Race Director, to revive the event, and we had SO much fun! We even had “Queen Catherine Ndereba” and her family join us for the 10K and on the beach in 2003. So many great times! Rope swinging on the Jolly Roger. Battling the surf at Bottom Bay. Catching more than a few rays on the pink-sand beach at The Crane or in Worthing or at Accra. Daiquiris at Bert’s Bar. Ian McQueen [who’s been part of our CRS Course Crew for 25 years] and Kevin leading cycling expeditions up to Speightstown and around the island.
And now, after another lean spell, Run Barbados IS BACK!
There are some special fare offers from Air Canada, hotel deals, and Bajan tunes, seasoning, Banks beer and a run or two calling! Let’s check it out, and get Canada back at Run Barbados!
BONUS: WIN one of two Trips to RUN BARBADOS MARATHON WEEKEND, including hotel (accommodations will be provided by Sugar Bay Barbados and Bougainvillea Beach Resort), airfare, race entry, shuttle and food! Winners will be drawn from all entrants in the full marathon distance and announced after STWM Race Weekend!
