Grand Cayman, 7 November 2017 – The Department of Tourism recently launched a year-long campaign that will showcase the Cayman Islands as an ideal destination for weddings and honeymoons. The Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon has actually been in the romance business for years, attracting lovers from all over the world who want to celebrate their love by running a full or half marathon. From marriage proposals at the finish line to honeymoons to actual wedding ceremonies planned around the race, the Cayman Marathon has become a celebration of love, life and, of course, running.

This is indeed the case with Brittany Kahl from Denver, Colorado who says both the love of her life, and her love of running are bringing her to Grand Cayman in December. Kahl and her fiancé, Adam Kremers, are getting married on Grand Cayman just two days after the marathon. They are both running the full marathon together, and then will be on the island for the whole week with both of their families. This will be her first ever full marathon, although she has done several half marathons. The couple have been training hard in the hopes that one or both of them will be able to qualify for the Boston Marathon. The Cayman Marathon is a Boston qualifying race.

“The Caribbean has always been a special place to both Adam and I, and we can’t imagine a better place to celebrate our love, and run a marathon than along the ocean in the Cayman Islands,” said Kahl. “Running is one of my greatest loves, so really, I’ll be celebrating two of my greatest loves that first week in December.”

Mark Hoey and Emma Hampshire from Cork, Ireland will be enjoying their honeymoon on Grand Cayman and incorporating their love for running into the trip.

Hampshire shared how they found the Cayman Islands and the Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon in the book ‘50 Races to Run Before You Die’ written by Tobias Mews.

“This marathon caught Mark’s attention because Tobias [the author] suggests that the island would make a perfect honeymoon destination. We thought it would be quite a long way for us to go just to run a race, so incorporating the two seemed like a good idea,” said Hampshire. “When Tobias described his Cayman Marathon experience, he talked of passing pristine white beaches, enthusiastic supporters all the way and exceptionally good aid stations. This all sounds like a run we’d enjoy, but I think what really sold the idea was finishing the race and strolling back together on the beach with its warm refreshing waters, to enjoy the rest of our honeymoon.”

Hoey says he has always been a keen runner, and decided to run his first marathon in 2013. Hampshire followed suit, taking up running and training. They both completed the Dublin Marathon that year.

“Mark got a time of 2:28 and I was just some hours behind with 4:28! We have both ran a good few half marathons, and Mark won the Dublin half in 2011 68 minutes and 50 seconds.”

Hampshire may be moving a bit slower for the Cayman Marathon as she will be three months pregnant at the time of the race. She says her plan is to take it nice and easy and just enjoy it.

One person who is down with Hampshire’s plan is Tammie Meisner from Woodridge, Illinois, who will be celebrating life on Sunday, 3 December. She turns 50 on the day of the race, and is coming to run the marathon with her friends because this is what she wanted to do to bring in this milestone.

“I’m very excited to be visiting the Cayman Islands for the first time AND running the marathon,” said Meisner. “I’ve been planning this trip/marathon since hearing about it from a friend of mine who ran it in 2007. He will be running this year as part of our group. Once we found out that it was going to be on the day I turn 50, I knew then that it was meant to be.”

Meisner has completed many marathons, including Boston. Her first long run was in October 2012 and Cayman will be her 18th one. She estimates that she’s run at least 15 half marathons, several 10ks and multiple 5ks.

Meisner won’t be travelling light. What started out as a few people coming to run with her has turned into approximately 30 people (spouses included) joining in the birthday fun. She says the group will be representing the Chicago Area Runners Association Wheaton (CARA) group along with Marathon Maniacs and Half Fanatics. The group consists of approximately eight marathoners, six half marathoners and two relay teams.

“The Cayman Islands’ sports tourism product is showing consistent growth, and as organisers of the Intertrust Cayman Marathon, we are proud to contribute to this vital component of the local economy,” said Rhonda Kelly, Co-Race Director. “Our event attracts a few hundred visitors each year from all over the world, many of whom have come to these shores specifically to run our race. Some of them are repeat runners who enjoyed their first experience, and have returned numerous times with more family members and supporters or recommended the race to others. This is a testament to not only the quality of the event itself but also the reputation the Cayman Islands has gained for being a first-class destination with something to offer everyone. We look forward to welcoming these runners to the Cayman Islands, and making sure they enjoy some true Caymankind.”

The 2017 Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon, Half Marathon, 4-Person Relay and Kids Fun Run takes place on Sunday, 3 December. Online registration is available on www.caymanislandsmarathon.com.

The Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon is a Kelly Holding event and is sponsored by Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Flowers Bottled Water, BOB FM, NetClues, Webster’s Tours, Gatorade, Health City Cayman, British Caymanian Insurance, Cayman Cabana, Westin Grand Cayman, Bliss Living Yoga, Smoothie King, Cayman Airways, Ministry of Youth & Sports, CINICO, Cayman National, Massive Equipment, FastSigns, CUC, Phoenix Group, Cayman Compass, KPMG, Caybrew Light, Milo, Quaker, Explore Cayman, Netclues, eCay Trade, Mike’s Ice, Cost-U-Less, Reviv Wellness and Island Companies.

For more information email [email protected] or call Rae Lopez on 345.623.8822.