Dave Rodney
Contributor

Sports, fitness and marathon lovers can look forward to a riveting, action-packed weekend in Jamaica this March 8 to 12 as the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Kingston Chapter hosts Kingston City Run, a new marathon that will take place in the capital city.

The event was officially launched in Kingston a few days ago. It will feature a half marathon and a 5K. The organisers have configured the race routes to showcase some of the most attractive parts of Kingston.

The designated race routes will also provide spectators with ample opportunities to cheer on their favourite runners, some of whom will be local but with a contingent of participating guests also coming from overseas.

The route will take runners along the city’s prime attractions such as Emancipation Park, Devon House, Hope Botanical Gardens, Bob Marley Museum, Vale Royal, Jamaica House and Kings House.

In the case of Devon House, the race will actually take runners through the property with its old great house, allowing them to take a close-up glimpse of Kingston’s finest example of 19th century Jamaican architecture. A unique thriller of the runner’s weekend will be the first ever ‘mascot’ run where both individual and corporate mascots can run for fun.

“The inaugural Kingston City Run is slated to be an annual event, marrying Kingston’s natural assets as the hub for where Jamaica’s top athletes work, train and live”, Nicola Madden-Greig, area chairman of the JHTA Kingston Chapter affirmed. “Kingston is the entertainment and cultural capital of the Caribbean and Kingston City Run will highlight these attractive features in a unique way’," she continued.

Weekend packages that include airport transfers, a welcome carnival party, pre-race warm up training and after parties are available as are optional tours of Kingston, Ocho Rios and Port Antonio.

Participating hotels are The Courtleigh Hotel & Suites, The Altamont Court Hotel, Wyndham Kingston, Jamaica Pegasus, the Spanish Court Hotel, Knutsford Court and Hotel Four Seasons.

Visitors are also encouraged to savor Kingston’s night life at some of the city’s trendy sports bars such as Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records on Constant Spring Road and Cuddyz in New Kingston, owned by legendary West Indies cricketer Courtney Walsh.