Cayman Marathon Takes Place This Weekend

The 2023 Walkers Cayman Islands Marathon will take place this weekend on Sunday, 3 December, starting at 5am on the waterfront. Organisers are encouraging the public to support this event which raises funds for the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps and the Cancer Society as well as other organisations such as Jasmine, Crisis Centre, CCMI, Alex Panton Foundation, YMCA and Red Cross.

At the time of writing, organisers confirm 65 full marathoners, 865 half marathon entrants and 86 teams entered for the relay. About 100 persons are expected to sign up the day before the race. Organisers will also be welcoming some 350 visitors to the island between race participants and their families and supporters.

Late registration for new sign-ups and packet pick up for registered participants will take place at the Westin Resort (Galleon Ballroom) on Saturday, 2 December between 9am and 5pm. This is an opportunity for participants to ask the Race Directors any questions they may have about race day. Representatives from CCMI, the Addison Kelly Butterfly 5K and sponsors Health City and Sotheby’s Realty will have display tables at the event and sports apparel supplier Sportista will be selling merchandise.

The Kids Fun Run, sponsored by MILO and the Ministry of Youth & Sports, will start at 10:30am at the Government Administration Building on Elgin Avenue and end at Hard Rock Cafe. This event is free for students between the ages of 5 and 11 years old and 250 kids are registered at the time of writing.

The level of corporate support for the event continues to grow each year as companies and organisations such as Health Services Authority, PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Ogier, Ernst & Young, Health City Cayman Islands, Maples and the civil service pay for their staff to participate.

The top three male and female marathoners and half marathoners in the 29 and under, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60 and over age categories will be awarded for their achievements.  The top three teams in the corporate, all-male, all-female and mixed relay competitions will receive awards sponsored by CUC. 

The top male and female full marathon winners will receive Tag Heuer timepieces courtesy of Kirk Freeport as part of their prize. In addition, the Cayman Islands Marathon has partnered with Run Barbados to offer an all-expenses paid trip to Barbados for the top local male and female half marathon champions to participate in the Run Barbados race weekend which takes place the week after the Cayman event. The winners will each enjoy a prize consisting of roundtrip airfare for two to Barbados via the direct Cayman Airways flight, accommodations, ground transport, race registration, meals and activities.

Volunteers are competing too as the popular Cayman Airways Water Stop Challenge happens once again. The most enthusiastic, encouraging, entertaining water stop, as voted for by the participants, will win free airline tickets courtesy of the national airline.

Each year thousands of dollars are raised for various charities and non-profit organisations via the Cayman Islands Marathon as many participants choose to run for a cause and solicit online donations from friends and family members while others simply add a donation while registering. The 2022 event raised almost USD30,000 and this year over USD 24,000 has been raised to date. 

“For so many of our participants this event is more than a race. It’s a milestone, a celebration, a victory over adversity, a way to honour a loved one, the fulfilment of a personal goal, a campaign to raise funds and awareness for an important cause. The reasons why people run 26.2 or 13.1 or 6.5 miles can be so inspirational and at times emotional,” said Co-Race Director Rhonda Kelly from Kelly Holding Ltd., owner and organiser of the Cayman Islands Marathon.  “We are thrilled to witness these powerful moments and count it an honour to be a part of the story.”

Marathon Stories

• Andre Vincent has always hated running and had a complete mental block against it but has decided to face his fears and give the half marathon a try.

• Daisy Morris from Toronto, Canada is running the half marathon in memory of her friend, Liesl, who lived in Cayman and recently passed away after battling cancer for four years. She is raising money for Jasmine who took such wonderful care of her friend.

• Lisa Hindle is determined to give the half marathon her best shot after having emergency spinal surgery last year and suffering nerve damage through her right leg as a result.

• Alexandra Ebanks registered for her first Cayman Islands Half Marathon in 2016 as a weight loss goal and this is now her 8th consecutive half marathon in a row. She says she’s at this race whether she’s running or walking.

• Ems Melland is returning to the race for the first time since having kids. She has run the full marathon twice and the half marathon a few times. She last ran the half in 2016 when she was pregnant with her daughter.