The 2024 Walkers Cayman Islands Marathon takes place this weekend on Sunday, 1 December, starting at 4:30am on Seafarers Way. With a record number of registrations this year, organisers are asking for the public’s support and cooperation with 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. 

Andre Vincent

At the time of writing, organisers confirm 100 full marathoners, 1050 half marathon entrants and 99 teams entered for the relay. In addition, about 100 persons are expected to sign up the day before the race. Organisers will also be welcoming some 300 visitors to the island between race participants and their families and supporters. For the first time in history, the event will have over 1500 individual participants across the three running/walking events.

Carmel Bragg

Organisers are asking for the public’s assistance during the race by keeping traffic along the race route to a minimum, and in particular those people who live along the route are being asked to secure their dogs in their yards and turn on their Christmas lights (if they have any) from 4:00am on the morning of 1 December. There will be police support and presence on the roads and a few road closures to facilitate the safety of participants. Other measures put in place include EMTs and an ambulance stationed at the start/finish line, Red Cross volunteers at various points on the course and a fully staffed and stocked medical tent manned by sponsor Health City Cayman Islands.

Jaisy Powery and Friends

The race starts on the George Town Waterfront in front of Bayshore Mall and goes through South Church Street, South Sound and Prospect Point Road, after which runners turn around and go back through South Sound and then onto Walkers and Hospital Roads, Elgin Avenue, Edward and Fort Streets and back to Bayshore Mall. 

Karen O Dennis

Late registration for new sign-ups and packet pick up for registered participants will take place at the race’s new official hotel, Hotel Indigo on Saturday, 30 November between 9am and 5pm. This is also 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, the Derek Larner Memorial Run, Quaker and Gatorade 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 the adult start/finish line in front of Bayshore Mall. This event is free for students between the ages of 5 and 11 years old and 180 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 PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Ogier, Ernst & Young, Health City Cayman Islands, Maples and the civil service pay for staff to participate. 

The top male and female full marathon winners will receive Tag Heuer timepieces courtesy of Kirk Freeport as part of their prize. 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 also be awarded for their achievements while the top three teams in the corporate, all-male, all-female and mixed relay competitions will receive awards sponsored by CUC.  

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 2023 event raised over USD35,000 and this year over USD 26,000 has been raised to date.  

“This year we’ve seen a significant and inexplicable growth in registrations which we are so excited about. 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,” said Co-Race Director Rhonda Kelly from Kelly Holding Ltd., owner and organiser of the Cayman Islands Marathon.  

Over the years we have heard so many incredible and inspiring stories and last year we asked participants to submit their personal stories to us, which we documented in a social media series called #WhyWeRun. We like to think that perhaps part of the increase in our numbers this year can be attributed to the connection that many felt through reading about other people’s experiences which then motivated them to create their own story. Whatever, the reason, we’re just thrilled to be a part of the story.”

Marathon Stories 

• The Walkers Cayman Islands Marathon will be Italian Marco Salvioni’s 65^th marathon destination. He has run marathons on six continents.
• Esme Davidge is travelling from Bermuda to celebrate her brother’s 40^th birthday. He travelled to Bermuda to do the Bermuda Triangle Challenge so she’s going to run the Walkers Cayman half marathon. 
• Last year Saige Smith (CAY) completed her first Walkers Cayman half marathon at the age of 14-years old. Since then, she has been unstoppable on her running journey, racking up several wins in her division. Currently, she is division champion for the Deputy Governor’s 5K in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, the CUC West Bay Sunrise 5K and the Wind of Hope, Olympic Day and CIMA 5Ks. She’s also participated in the Addison Kelly Butterfly 5K and the Colour Me Purple 5K. As if that isn’t enough, she’s the division winner for the Ironshore 10k as well as champion girl at her school’s last sports day!

“I run for my mental health (#MentalHealthMatters) and equally important is the fight against bullying. I am on a mission!” says Saige.

Saige also gives credit to Ironshore Run Club and her amazing coach Scott Ruby. “

• Patricia Howard Muschette (CAY) completely ruptured her Achilles tendon in April this year and Sunday’s race will simply prove to her that hard work and consistency pays off. 

“I just need to finish with as minimal pain as possible,” she says. 

• This is Andre Vincent’s (CAY) second time doing the Cayman half marathon. This time he’s running in honour and remembrance of his younger sister who passed away earlier this year. 

“She was my biggest cheerleader when I told her I wanted to try the half marathon last year. Now she isn’t here physically so it will forever be a lasting memory to keep doing it and try to improve my previous time.”

• Siyi Lai from New Jersey (USA) and her family have made it a Thanksgiving tradition to travel to warm places. She will be completing the half marathon while enjoying Cayman’s weather. 
• Kristine Amato from Maine (USA) will be completing her first half marathon since undergoing foot surgery.
• Luke McGahren (CAY) is using the four-person team relay to shed a few pounds before he gets married next year. 
• Tralene Williams from North Carolina (USA) is running the half marathon as part of the Five Island Challenge. She’s already completed Jamaica, Bermuda and Bahamas.

Tralene has been physically active all her life but started running in 2009 when she trained for her first half marathon. She says she started running because she never thought she would be running, and now it’s become an essential part of her life. She also has anxiety and hypertension and running decreases her anxiety and blood pressure levels.

“There’s something spiritual about the rhythm of my feet hitting the ground and the fresh air filling my lungs,” says Tralene. “I have learned so much about myself through running: how to push through discomfort, set goals, and find joy in the little things. I know I will keep running for as long as God grants me life and the ability and strength to continue to move.”

• Kedeshia Thomas (CAY) is running the half marathon to convince herself that her ‘check knee’ light is not a real thing.
• Sulekha Tummala (CAY) is walking the half marathon as a member of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman to raise funds for the club’s projects.
• Bruce Marson (UK) has an old school friend who lives in Cayman and whom he last visited 35 years ago. 

“It seemed a great opportunity to catch up with him and his family while also running in a lovely part of the world,” said Bruce.

• Many in Cayman’s running community will remember Wendy Freeman (UK) who’s coming back to Cayman after a long time away. She and her husband lived in Grand Cayman for 5 years; they took part in the event and also enjoyed volunteering at packet pick up with friends. This will be their first trip back since 2011, and they are excited to be able to show their son around, who will be participating in the Milo Kids Fun Run. 

“I turned 50 this year and I will be retired by the time I run the half marathon. Running the Cayman Islands half marathon with my sister, then relaxing in Cayman after will be a great way to celebrate both milestones as the race atmosphere was always fantastic,” said Wendy. 

• Caymanian athlete Khailan O’Connor thought it would be beneficial to participate in the full marathon because he is going to Puerto Rico shortly after the race to represent the Cayman Islands at the FIBA 3×3 Basketball Tournament. 
• Richard Bancroft (UK) turned 40 this year so he’s completing a list of 40 challenges to complete in his 40^th year. The Walkers Cayman Islands half marathon is one of them.
• Henry Murray from Colorado (USA) is on a mission to run a half marathon in the 50 United States of America and 13 Caribbean islands. 
• After running his first full marathon 25-plus years ago, Steve Williams from Oklahoma (USA) was looking for inspiration to lose weight and run another marathon. He says Cayman seemed like the perfect place. 
• Brian Roffey (CAY) is running to raise money for Jasmine in honour of his late wife Leisl Richter.
• Lauren Davis from Virginia (USA) is running her first half marathon and doing it alongside her mom. 
• This is a three-peat for half marathoner Karen O’ Dennis, who’s coming from Pennsylvania (USA) to run Cayman. 

“In 2014, this was my first half-marathon and I celebrated my birthday on 4 December. The course and all things about the race were an awesome experience! In 2015, I returned to run the four-person relay with friends and of course celebrated my birthday.  Again, the race, the coordination and all things in between were flawless! In 2024, I am returning again to do the half-marathon and will be celebrating my retirement and birthday this time. I love this race, the people, the island and I know it will be another outstanding experience.”

• Cayman residents Kimberly Doyley-Simmonds, Alexandra Anitoaie and Jackson Ngamate are all celebrating their birthdays on or around race day. 
• Carmel Bragg and five of her friends are travelling from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia (CAN) to run the full marathon. They are a bit concerned about the heat but they are also looking forward to seeing our beautiful island. Race day will be run streak day 2,168 for Carmel and she’s looking forward to spending it on a beach after the run.
• Christoper Long from New York (USA) trained for the Walkers Cayman half marathon last year and sustained an injury two weeks before the race. He thought he would have time to recover but after three miles in realised it wasn’t going to happen. 

“I ran half the race and walked the rest to finish. This year I hope to complete it in full,” said Christopher. 

• Catherine Mulder’s (CAY) close friend tragically took his own life earlier this year. He was passionate about running and had completed the last two Walkers Cayman half marathons. Catherine will be running the race in his honour and raising money for men’s mental health
• Katrina Kaeser from New York (USA), along with her dad and sister, have run Cayman several times and are back again this year. 

“We completed the half marathon last year. A few short months later, my dad found out that he had heart issues and needed bypasses, a new valve and to fix a hole in his heart. He is doing great but not fully back to marathon distance. However, my sister and I are back and will be running for him as he drops us off at the start and cheers us along. Everyone needs a good cheerleader and hero and our dad is ours!”

• David Hirsch’s daughter Emily moved to the Cayman Islands and took a job with Walkers, the race’s title sponsor. He says will be travelling from Illinois (USA) for the second year to run the half marathon with his favourite middle daughter. 
• Louane Silva (CAY) is one of the race’s veterans. She has run Cayman for 14 years, conquering the full marathon three times, the half marathon eight times and the team relay three times. She also volunteers the day before the race at packet pick up and this year she’s doing the half and captaining a relay team. 

Louane says she really enjoys taking part in the event and sometimes she tries to make it more special and sets a purpose for her training by fundraising for charities. This year she is bringing awareness to the Cayman Islands Humane Society. 

• Kelly Criss from Texas (USA) ran Cayman back in 2018 and then again in 2023. She and her friend Lenne and their husbands Marc and Mike respectively are coming back to do it again. 

“Lenne and I have been running together for over 10 years. We have done several Disney and Rock and Roll Series race but our favourite place to visit is definitely Grand Cayman. So, when we heard about this race we definitely had to do it! Lenne is one year ahead of me and will be doing her 4th Cayman half marathon and this year will mark my 3rd one. We always have such a wonderful time on the island and miss it terribly!

• Cornell Miller from New Jersey (USA) is running his last marathon before he turns 40 on 2 December. 
• Katherine Fleming from New York (USA) says the way to see a place is to run it. 

“I started running for fun and something to do on vacation. Since then I’ve run more full and half marathons than I can imagine and I love every minute of it.” 

• This will be Dino Hydes’ (CAY) third year doing the half marathon. The last two years his mom has been out there in the early morning hours supporting him. Sadly, she passed away this summer so he’s doing this run for her. 
• The Walkers Cayman Islands Marathon will be Virginia native (USA) Xavier Chacon’s 82^nd marathon. 
• Former Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee is returning to run for Jasmine on a relay team.
• When asked if she had a story to share, Jaisy Powery (CAY) simply said “my friends made me do it”. 

“The story behind my marathon journey actually started with a few friends and our Saturday routine—yoga followed by coffee. Maribel, Angela, Jessica, Ann and I often talked about signing up for the Cayman Islands Marathon, but it was just conversation—until one day, Angela pulled out her phone and signed up right then and there! With some good-natured peer pressure (and maybe a bit of FOMO), we all ended up registering.

Honestly, if it weren’t for my friends, I might not have taken this step toward such a big lifestyle change. What started as a casual conversation has now become a commitment to better health and a reminder of how important it is to have people who push you, motivate you, and hold you accountable.

I’ve learned that we’re stronger together, and this marathon is just one example of the support and encouragement we share as a group. I’m excited for the challenge ahead, but even more grateful for the people who made me believe I could do it!

Online registration is now closed but late registration for the 2024 Walkers Cayman Islands Marathon, half marathon, four-person relay and Milo Kids Fun Run will take place at Hotel Indigo on Saturday, 30 November from 9am to 5pm. 

The Walkers Cayman Islands Marathon is also sponsored by the Department of Tourism, Health City Cayman Islands, Ministry of Youth, Sports & Heritage, CG BritCay, Cayman Airways, Logic, Flowers Bottled Water, Gatorade, CUC, Compass Media, Milo, Netclues, Wata, FastSigns, Massive, Credit Union, Quaker, Cayman Physiotherapy, Kelly Holding Events & Communications, Caybrew, Mike’s Ice, Kirk Freeport, Tag Heuer, Cost U Less, What’s On Cayman, Hopscotch Productions, McAlpine and Marshall’s Rent-A-Car.

For more information about the race, call 623.8825, email [email protected] or visit CaymanIslandsMarathon.com. Follow @CaymanMarathon on Facebook and Instagram for news and updates.