"Coming to Jamaica to Run"

This article, "COMING TO JAMAICA TO RUN" appeared in 'Hospitality Jamaica', the Tourism Supplement off the Jamaica Gleanor.  I received it from Diane Ellis of the Reggae Marathon who has given great support. It is reproduced in its entirety:

Marketing consultant Christ Morales has a passion for running. A Jamaican / Canadian Morales will be among the hundreds who will gather at the Long Bay Beach Park in Negril in the early hours of December 5, in the light of bottle torches and to the sound of Reggae music as they await the starter’s orders for the ninth renewal of the Reggae Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K.


Morales’ objective is not only to visit Jamaica for its beauty and warmth but primarily to challenge himself to successfully complete the Reggae Marathon in memory of his father who “passed away of complications brought on by his years long battle with diabetes.” He has therefore “decided to dedicate my running to raising money for Diabetes Research in Canada. My goal in 2009 is to raise $10,000.” It will be his first trip back to Jamaica for this purpose.

Like Morales there are many others who will be taking the trip for a similar reason. Sports tourism is one of the fastest growing niches in the industry and despite the recession which, globally, is proving to be a greater challenge than many anticipated, there are those who are committed to going wherever the opportunity presents itself and their passion takes them to improve their fitness or as in Morales’ case “to raise money for a good cause.”


In addition to the local entrants, 2009 will see participants in the Reggae Marathon event coming to the island from countries as diverse as Finland, South Africa, Belgium, Brazil, USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Japan and France. Some, like the Arthritis Foundation - USA chapter will also be running to raise funds. The Yellow Bird Runners, Sisters in Motion and the Running Girlz, the all female running club from Burlington, Ontario, Canada have also registered to participate.

This continues to be good news for Jamaica. According to Tanya Miller President of the Jamdammers Running Club of Kingston, organizers of the event, as since its inception “Reggae Marathon has managed to make an important economic impact contributing over US$5.5 million to the accommodation sub-sector alone. We are awaiting the results concerning the food, drink, entertainment and other sub-sectors”, Miller added.

The Reggae Marathon event is also an example of community tourism at work as the entire area - from Negril to Green Island, has caught the vision and embraced the concept and all are working together to welcome the visitors and ensure that each year’s staging of the event is successful.

According to race director Alfred “Frano” Francis “the entire Negril community, from the many volunteers to the hoteliers, has come together to partner with us to present the main event as well as others like the award winning JHTA World’s Best Pasta Party at the Couples Swept Away Sporting Complex and the Village Bash in the Negril town square on December 4, as well as the Awards and Finish Line victory party on the Negril West End after the race on December 5.”

Further information and updates can be accessed at www.reggaemarathon.com
Negril here we come...:)

42: Marathon distance and humidex in Negril

What have I done?

I started this madness because I wanted to finish a marathon. Now I have to finish 2 on December 5th in Negril!

Nightmares!

I'm getting through it by staying focused on three things: motivation, inspiration and passion. And a ton of growing support from family, friends, business associates and total strangers! Plus, donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association continue to climb. Thank you.

And after much of the year endlessly thinking about and planning for the run in December, I am now only '23 sleeps' away from the start of the race at 5:15 am on Saturday, December 5:

• Picked up my 'Race shoes' at the Running Room Outlet store in Toronto yesterday. Staying with what has gotten me to this point: Adidas Supernova's. Bought the 'Orange' pair this time. A bit of vanity here: wanted to have the shoes match the Team Diabetes singlet given to me by Dave Foster from Wasaga Beach.
• Also picked up a new running hat and gel belt. Nutrition important; minimizing the impact of the sun critical.
• Air tickets booked (Westjet of course to Montego Bay on Dec 2) and confirmed hotel in Negril 300 metres from the start/finish (Foote Prints on the Beach)
• And I continue training with the best group of runners I have ever met in the Wasaga Beach Road Runners. Mike, Eric, Pete, Jim and all the rest: thank you for keeping me me moving with the emails and Sunday morning training runs.

All good on the motivation front.

And then I had a massive inspiration boost: a very, very generous corporate donation to the Canadian Diabetes Association from Gord West and his entire team at Strongbar Industries.(www.strongbar.com). WOW!

I can't even begin to put into words how that felt. Gord and I have been friends since our family came to Canada in 1972. He and his friends Garth, Greg and Brent accepted me, the funny talking Jamaican with the frizzy hair unconditionally. We have been friends ever since.

Inspiration comes in many ways. At mile 23 on Saturday morning around December 5 around 9 am your generous support will keep me going. And yes, I will have pictures at the finish line.

Through all of this this though, one individual has kept-the-faith. Has kept the passion burning. She has kept me running with her line, "Run Christopher, run". Without her passionate support...often at great personal sacrifice...remember the story of her driving me to the start of the Toronto 1/2 Marathon?...I would not have made it through this year.

Thank you so very much, Sally. I love you very much.

Sally's deep passion has kept me motivated and inspired to keep going when things looked dark and crappy this past winter. "We're we are almost at this finish line".

42 x 2 on December 2. Bring it on!

Until next time...

Reflections on our trip to Jamaica

Graffiti is the most effective way to communicate with the people of Kingston. And not the ones who live in the mansions on the hills behind the gates and guard dogs.

Sally and I just got back from a week in Jamaica. We went to attend the 50th wedding anniversary of close family friends. And yes, I got in some really hot weather running for the Reggae Marathon December 5.

It was my first time 'bak a yaad' in over 10 years and Sally's first. We had a blast! But were constantly reminded of the divide between rich and poor. The gap seemed larger. My memories of growing up in Kingston haven't dulled with time. But the current economic and political realities of Jamaica in 2009 play out very starkly on the streets.

Some other reflections from our trip:

• Driving on the streets of Kingston is a...bit exciting! Not for the faint-of-heart. "Type A" personality from even little old ladies once they get behind the wheel.
• Car horns! Used liberally. In greeting. In anger. In frustration. Get used to it.
• Where do the wild goats on the streets come from?
• Where do the wild dogs on the streets live?
• Yes you can still go to a very safe, family beach in Kingston. We did and had the BEST fried fish and festival ever cooked. I can still taste the 1 lb Red Snapper! Sally loved hers done up as Brown Stew.
• Buses pass cars. Even on the tight, narrow, winding road up Mount Diablo on the way from Kingston to Ocho Rios. We took the Knutsford Express Luxury coach and learned a lot about 'overtaking' Jamaican style. http://www.knutsfordexpress.com/
• Jerk Chicken and Jerk Pork taste best in Jamaica. We make it better in Canada but nothing beats the taste of Jerk eaten with fingers right from the grill. At the Jerk Centre in Ocho Rios Sally and I worked our way though a tasty meal within hours of landing http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2885669-ocho_rios_village_jerk_centre_kingston-i.

We left the activity of Kingston for a couple of days of real R&R in Ocho Rios. It was exactly as I remembered. Busier of course (the car horns never stop) but just as beautiful.

From our condo window at Fisherman's Point we had a panoramic view of the crescent of white sand. http://www.fishermanspoint.net/. I didn't run along the beach (too stressful on the joints) but did manage some road runs up the coast to Dunn's River Falls.

Can you say HOT? Even at 7:30 am in the morning the blazing sun got my attention. Seriously! Already thinking about how to better prepare for the Reggae Marathon in 4 weeks.

Despite the 'challenges' we observed, we had a great time. Can hardly wait for December 2 when we come 'bak a yaad' for the Reggae Marathon.

And if you haven't got round to it yet, there is still time to donate. Follow this link for instructions: http://mykalsreport.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-donate-to-reggae-marathon-run.html

Until next time...

I got high on Sunday

And it only took 2:12:15. That was my time in the Goodlife Toronto 1/2 Marathon on Sunday. Started well and finished strong

The high began around the 5 km mark when I crested the uphill grade from Hogg's Hollow. That was one mean hill.

It stayed through the 15 km mark when I realized there were only 8 km to go. But it really intensified as I began the final stretch up University Avenue to the finish at Queens Park.

"HUGE" thanks to all the support from the Wasaga Beach Road Runners. So much training advice on our Sunday morning runs in Wasaga Beach. It all came down to one key thing: I ran MY race. I ran at my pace, didn't get sucked in to following faster runners early on, and had enough to finish really strong.

These shots were taken my #1 Support Person, Sally. She is not a morning person. Let me emphasize that: she is NOT a morning person.

We stayed overnight in Toronto at a fabulous hotel near the airport, Hotel Indigo to minimize the travel Sunday morning. Even with that we still got up at 5 am.

I must rephrase: I got up at 5 am to get the coffee ready.

Without that I shudder to think what the morning would have been like.

But she is a real trooper and actually got into the intensity of the day to take some really great shots.

And did it ever feel good to put this medal on. The feeling is still indescribable.

We had a celebration dinner later Sunday afternoon. Ribs! Pigged out on them actually. And the Guinnes...ahhhh....

Yes, I was still on my runners high.

My focus now turns to the Reggae Marathon on December 5 in Negril. I will run MY race there.

Check out how you can support my fundraising for my cause, Canadian Diabetes education and research. http://mykalsreport.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-donate-to-reggae-marathon-run.html

Until next time...