Marathon tops its stats again

The sporting community comes together this weekend for the 2025 Walkers Cayman Islands Marathon which is set to break its record again for mass participation.

It is on Sunday, 7 December, starting at 4:30am on Seafarers Way. At the start of the week, organisers confirmed 115 full marathoners, 1,050 half marathon entrants and 95 teams entered for the relay. In addition, about 100 persons are expected to sign up the day before the race. There are also around 300 visitors to the island between race participants and their families and supporters. Overall, it’s likely to be the best ever.

With registration numbers tracking strong again 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, NCVO, Lighthouse School and Red Cross.

The race starts on Seafarers Way 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.

Late registration for new sign-ups and packet pick up for registered participants are at the race’s new official packet pick location, Governors Village, on Saturday, 6 December between 9am and 5pm. This is also an opportunity for participants to ask the race directors any questions about race day.

The Kids Fun Run, sponsored by MILO along with Cimboco and Chicken! Chicken! 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. It is free for children aged between 5-11 and 200 kids are already registered.

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 Deloitte pay for staff to participate.

The top male and female full marathon winners will receive Breitling timepieces courtesy of Kirk Freeport as part of their prize. There are lots of other prizes in different categories.

Volunteers are competing too as the popular Cayman Airways Water Stop Challenge is on again. The most enthusiastic, encouraging, entertaining water stop, as voted for by the participants, will win free airline tickets courtesy of the national airline.

“This year’s registration figures point to continued growth, even as the race enters its 23rd year,” said Co-Race Director Rhonda Kelly of Kelly Holding Ltd., owner and organiser of the event.

Caymanian Cynthia Hew is back for the half marathon after several years of low mileage due to injuries and is thrilled to return for the half marathon.

For four years, Charlotte Dahan, Madison Black and Isabella Fantasia have run the Cayman half marathon together for the Red Cross. They turned their friendship into something bigger than the race itself. Now all aged 17, this event marks the girls’ final run before college sends them in different directions.

Sandra Dixon will be participating in her third Cayman Islands Marathon but this year after completing two half marathons, she’s taking on the full distance for the first time. Her mission is simple: to finish the race.

Surena King from Maryland is running the Walkers Cayman Islands Half Marathon in memory of her beloved sister, Terveer. 

Sharon Davies (CAY) had both hips replaced 10 years ago and then walked her first half marathon and continued on to do several more. Last November she had both knees replaced, and now she’s back in training, aiming to finish the half marathon.

For Danryl Franz Sarmiento (CAY), this year marks his final Cayman Islands Marathon as he prepares to leave the island to pursue a new opportunity.