‘Negril not forgotten’ - Even as Reggae Marathon forges stronger Kingston foundation

Negril not forgotten is the message from organisers as the Reggae Marathon returns to Kingston for a second consecutive year.

The world-renowned Reggae Marathon moved from Negril to Kingston for its 25th staging last year.

Race director Alfred ‘Frano’ Francis made it clear that Negril remains an important part of the event’s future, despite the move to Kingston.

“We thank the Negril community for 24 years, we have not abandoned them. We went there in July, we gave out over $1.5 million in relief supplies and cash, and we must thank them for being with us from then to now,” he said.

The move to Kingston last year attracted more than 500 additional participants compared with the 2024 edition, with runners coming from the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, Estonia and Uzbekistan.

That success prompted organisers to return to Kingston for the event’s 26th staging.

“The Kingston experience promises to be very exciting … . Kingston is the culture city and we reside in Kingston. Therefore, the logistics is somehow easier and the affordability for persons that live in the Corporate Area who have never come out Reggae Marathon … can come out,” Francis said.

More than 1,700 participants took part in last year’s race.

The December 6 Reggae Marathon will take runners past some of Kingston’s cultural landmarks, including the National Gallery, the Supreme Court and Water Lane’s Artwalk, before finishing along the Kingston Waterfront.

With the race now firmly established in Kingston, organisers are looking to expand that international community while making the event more accessible to Jamaicans.

“The move to Kingston opened a new chapter for Reggae Marathon, but we are not simply repeating what we did last year,” said Aileen Corrigan, chairperson of Reggae Marathon.

“We are looking at how we can continue to grow the event, attract more runners from Jamaica and overseas, and create an experience that gives people even more reasons to come to Kingston, run [in] Kingston and discover Kingston. The response to our first year in the capital showed us what is possible, and we are excited about where we can take it from here.”

Corrigan was appointed chairperson of the Reggae Marathon board earlier this year, succeeding Ian Kelly, as the event enters its next phase of development.

Organisers are also partnering with the Kingston International Festival, with the Reggae Marathon serving as the opening event for the eight-day celebration of Jamaican creativity and culture, which runs from December 6-13. The partnership provides an opportunity to connect the international running community with Kingston’s broader cultural offerings.

The event will also introduce Devon House as the new home for pre-race activities, including registration, packet collection and the much-anticipated Pasta Party. Further details will be announced later. The Finish Line Bash will continue at the Kingston Waterfront following the races.

Chris Issa, CEO of S Hotels Jamaica and a long-standing partner of Reggae Marathon, highlighted the event as an example of how a strong local brand can contribute to the wider story of Brand Jamaica.

Speaking at the launch, Issa said, “Reggae Marathon demonstrates the power of building a strong local brand that can contribute to the wider story of Jamaica. By bringing together Kingston, reggae and international sport, the event offers a uniquely Jamaican experience while giving the city and country a platform to engage audiences from around the world. As we continue to strengthen Brand Jamaica, we must recognise and amplify the home-grown events, businesses, culture and talent that help define who we are and what we have to offer. Reggae Marathon is a great example of how, by building our local brands with purpose and pride, we can collectively build an even stronger Brand Jamaica.”