Food, Glorious Food!

"I run to eat".  Where have I heard that before?  From just about every runner I know.  A variation:  "I run to drink".  Combine the two and ...

Food, glorious food! And beer of course.  Running is the only thing that keeps this runner from expanding up to size 42 pants with an elastic waist and a drawstring.  I do love to eat and drink!  In my head I eat well;  some of my non-running friends think I live on gels and energy bars;  what I really eat is too much and too salty!  Just like in this chart below:

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Reggae Marathon Experienced

16 years in the making;  35 countries and counting.  Reggae Marathon in Negril, Jamaica.  What began as a dream hatched by the Jamdammers Running Club in Kingston, Jamaica has now grown into an annual event that draws runners from all over the world to enjoy a running vacation in the beach resort area of Western Jamaica, Negril.

'What is the Reggae Marathon Experience?" was the  question asked over cold Red Stripes by a non-runner who was experiencing Reggae Marathon for the first time.  A simple question loaded with nuance and depth probing to the heart of business and branding.  As a lifetime runner working in the marketing business, I was hooked.

First of all, Reggae Marathon is a running event.  Three running events are included:  Full Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K.  That by itself is not absolutely unique...many races include multiple distance events to appeal to a broader group of runners.  It's extremely well organized.  Runner care is top notch from start to finish.  This is a big deal!

Reggae Marathon is a 'Destination Running Event'.  There is a large and growing group of runners who choose and plan for races in 'Exotic Destinations'.  The Mauritus Marathon is probably one of the most remote and exotic destination running events on the planet!  Jamaica with it's oversized ego and national braggadocio around running is exotic...and a relatively short plane trip to get to for Europeans and Americans from North and South. The miles long beach of white sand and warm sea water is well known as a fun and relaxing destination for beach loving vacationers.

Mashing up running and vacation is at the heart of the Reggae Marathon Experience and the key to the success of the Brand.  The last few years has seen an explosion of groups of runners self-organizing around the trip to Reggae Marathon to connect and re-connect with their running friends. Social Media has helped:  Runners connect online all year anticipating meeting up 'for reals' on the road and on the beach in Negril.

The Reggae Marathon Experienced!

Chris M Morales

chris.morales@bell.net
@ChrisMoralesTO

647 393 3855

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Are you Experienced?

I got hooked on Reggae Marathon when Bob Moore and his wife Debbie took Sally and I under their wings at my first Reggae Marathon 8 years ago. I finished well after the crowds and musicians had left for the morning. But there they were in the blazing mid-morning sun waiting for my finish!  As the photo here shows, I was spent!  I even forgot to get my finisher medal!  Sally grabbed it for me.  I ran the race but she earned that Finisher Medal!  That was my first Reggae Marathon Experience...the start of an 8 year run.

The Regae Marathon Experience is highly personal. Each Reggae Marahoner enjoys their own personal experience but there are three main ingredients:  People, Music, Negril.  Combine with your own special 'spices' to create your own Reggae Marathon Experience.  But be warned... Once experienced it becomes an obsession!

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

Mobile Marketing 2017

We're obsessed with our mobile devices:  1.8 hours per day spent on our mobile devices connected to the Internet. Combine that with the statistic that 78% of Facebook users are mobile only and the opportunity for business owners is clear:  Think Facebook Mobile First!  

Chris M Morales

chris.morales@bell.net
@ChrisMoralesTO

647 393 3855

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Reggae Marathon RunninGuy Exposed

You have a dirty mind!  I know what you were thinking.  Some of you have actually noted I over-expose since I like running in tights ('Men in Tights...now that was a good movie).  But let me get back on on topic.  After many years behind the scenes of Reggae Marathon's Social Media, I moved out of the shadows and into the limelight with the first Facebook Live event on January 2.  And I must say, it wasn't as clunky as I feared...but you be the judge of that...I know you will!

You'll find me in Negril December 2, 2017 at 5:15 am lined up with 2,300+ runners from all over the world at Reggae Marathon!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

The Holy Grail of Online Marketing

It's not how fast your website loads, it's not how well your website renders on a smartphone.  These and other technical factors are important in online marketing but one of the most important factors in online success for a brand are Consumer Recommendations.  92% of consumers report that word-of-mouth and recommendations are the leading influncers of their purchase behaviour in a survey from the Zocalo Group.  Social Media expands the reach of these recommendations...word-of-mouth on steroids!

Chris M Morales

chris.morales@bell.net
@ChrisMoralesTO

647 393 3855

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

The secret to running fast

The secret to running fast is..Jamaican cooking.  We've all heard the Jamaican folklore about the source of Usain Bolt's speed:  Roast Yam!  It's true!  At least it is for my running friend Dan Cumming.  He has a 'many generations ago' connection to Jamaica and a more recent one when he visited Jamaica 40ish years ago and 'ate local'.  He's a pretty good distance runner and that's an understatement!  It must be the Jamaican cooking!

In a cooking frenzy recently, Dan prepared the following mouth-watering Jamaican dishes. Since he lives in White Rock, British Columbia, finding all the ingredients was a bit of a challenge he noted. Two days of preparation and cooking followed...and the results:

Roast Jerk Yam.  I love roast yam.  I remember it from road trips around Jamaica as a kid.  Country vendors roasted who yams over open charcoal fires and served them fresh.  Doing it up jerk-style is a nice twist.

Pumpkin Soup.  I love a nice, thick vegetable soup, especially this time of year in Canada when it can be cold and dreary outside.  This will warm you up for sure.

Jerk Chicken and Jerk Pork.  My two favourite words when it comes to Jamaican cooking.  Jerk Pork in particular brings back memories of road-side Jerk Pits in and around Port Antonio.

Beef Patties.  I've never tried to make beef patties at home.  Truthfully we have a couple of Jamaican patty places in Toronto who make really good patties.  Nice going Dan!

Stamp and Go.  Dan, Al and I had some Stamp and Go last December in Negril.  Delicious then...sure these were tasty too.

Curry Goat.  While I'm not a super fan of goat, seeing Dan's creation in the photo above pushed my taste buds into high gear.

So...the secret to running fast is to regularly eat all the above.  Dan, all we need now are the recipees..

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

Top Digital Marketing Trends for 2017

It's always fun to forecast trends. It's impossible to predict the future but always fun trying.  Here are some digital marketing trends predicted for 2017:

Chris M Morales

chris.morales@bell.net
@ChrisMoralesTO

647 393 3855

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Must. Have. Coffee

Must. Have. Coffee.

This is not a debatable.  First thing in the morning, after my first glass of water and before my early morning run, I must have a cup of coffee.

I like a Costa Rican blend from the Lowlaw's President's Choice label.  That's reserved for the brewed coffee maker.  For my single serving before running, I turn to our trusty single-serving Tassimo. Double Caffe au lait hits the spot.  Jamaica Blue Mountain is a special annual treat at Reggae Marathon every December...it's a nice goal to have.

I can't honestly say I'm a nicer person after a cup of coffee.  I can confirm though that pre-coffee I'm a sleepy-headed stumble bum.  I chalk up my last broken foot incident (The Boot Returns) to a meeting with an ottoman pre-coffee.  A coffee maker in the bedroom?  Hmmm...could I convince Sally?

There are side effects of course to too much caffeine. But I only drink a couple or three cups each morning...side effects be dammed!  There may come a day when I have to reduce my caffeine intake but today is not that day (I stole that from a movie).  For now is Coffee.  Must. Have. Coffee!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy