race history
What started as a loose collection of runners at Kingston’s local reservoir (affectionately called “The Dam”) in June 1995, became a club, the “Jamdammers”. The original motley troop included a bank CEO, a Rastafarian businessman, a real estate executive, a layout designer, a grocer, a Guyanese economist, a former Peace Corps volunteer, a French diplomat and others — all of whom discovered the wonder of running and the benefits of maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle and set about infecting Jamaica and the world with the zeal for running.
This led the club to participate in a number of Marathons overseas, in addition to supporting the local Cement Company Marathon in Kingston. When The Cement Co announced that it would no longer fund a local Marathon past 1999, the Jamdammers Running Club gave birth to the Reggae Marathon which would be the perfect medium to blend the love of our sport with the unique Jamaican culture while advancing the development of sports tourism in Jamaica.
The inaugural Reggae Marathon event in 2001 saw runners from over a dozen countries participating, along with a strong contingent from the American Stroke Association. Over 1500 visitors arrived in Negril for the inaugural race in2001. And since year 1, we have been commended by participants for great hospitality and best runner care. By 2008 Reggae Marathon was ranked among the top 10 marathons by The London Paper!
Each successive year of the Reggae Marathon event has built on the remarkable successes of the 2001 and 2002 races. With a ‘buzz’ about the Reggae Marathon event throughout the worldwide running community, the event boasts international representation from some 20 different countries and has enjoyed participation of charity groups such as:
- American Heart Foundation – Stroke Association
- Strides for Hope
- Running Girlz of Canada
- Yellowbird Runners
- Arthritis Foundation – Joints in Motion - USA & Canada chapters (repeat participants)
The event has earned the enviable reputation, by successive race reviews, of hosting the world's best marathon pasta party. The Pasta Party, presented in association with our Negril partners: the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association- (Negril Chapter) sees friendly competition among some of their award winning chefs who come together to prepare a sumptuous gourmet extravaganza!
Central to our race is the pulsating Reggae Music from powered sound systems to live Reggae Music along the course adding to the unique vibes of the Race, for which we keep getting rave reviews. Special performers over the years have included: Third World, Tami Chin, Elephant Man, Etana, Ray Darwin and Marcus I and the unforgettable Silverbirds Steel Band who placed 1st in an international band competition in 2009.
Course Records set in 2001 are yet to be broken.
