Big turnout for Off The Beaten Track 2013

(CNS): Cayman’s toughest running race, Off the Beaten Track, a 50K relay and ultra-marathon, took place on Sunday 24 February with 36 relay teams and fifteen hardy individuals all vying for the first place honours, making a total of 231 participants in all, including the Cayman Islands Governor Duncan Taylor, who competed  in a team from his office. Ken Krys (left), CEO of KRyS Global and founder of the race, said he was delighted with the strong turnout. “This is our fourth year of Off The Beaten Track and we had by far the best support ever this year,” he said. “The design of the race is to really challenge runners to their limit and we were impressed by the volume of people willing to take on that challenge."

He added, "The course was not easy – it took participants literally off the beaten track, through bush, along the beach, through water and generally via some very demanding conditions.”   

Andrew Keast crossed the line as the fastest individual male running the entire gruelling 50K in an amazing time of 4:31:15.  Helki Weber came in on an extremely impressive time of 4:57:22 as the fastest individual female. Having begun the race with an injury Christopher Burke showed great determination pushing through the first five legs before retiring to prevent further injury. 

Individual runners James Murray and Lauren Christie, who finished with times of 4:47:18 and 6:35:54 respectively, are undertaking the famous Marathon Des Sables later this year. Known to be the most grueling race on earth, Marathon Des Sables takes place in Morocco over six days. Krys developed the idea for Off The Beaten Track after competing in 2009.

The relay team first place went to ‘Cayman Cruisers’ who finished in an incredible 3:42:23. Conrad Proud, last year’s fastest male, was part of this winning team and he was joined by fellow team mates Mike McDonald, Greg Meaker, Hayden Isbister, Steve Peel and Jon Shillito.

The first place all male team was PWC Twig & Berries with the Ricardo Argrella, Erik Fell, Matthew Volkwyn, Delphi Scheepers, Ryne Staback and David Lilley.  Just minutes following the first place all female team, Ogier Girls, crossed the finish line. The Ogier Girls have participated all four years of the race with team members including: Lisa Kehoe, Claire Lloyd-Hickey, Daniella Skotnicki, Tess McLean, Michelle Bailey and Claire Hughes.  The team ‘From the Governor’s Office’ with Governor Duncan Taylor running the 5th leg finished 10th place overall. 

KRyS Global also had two if its own relay teams, one humorously called ‘I got 99 problems but stitch ain’t one’ with Krys himself participating in the final leg and the finishing in a healthy 35th overall. The second team, The Green Mambas, finished at 30th overall in just 5:09:53.

The course spanned across the island from Savannah, making its way to  West Bay in six leg with each relay team member running approximately 5 miles each.

Proceeds this year went to benefit Facing Africa, Cayman’s ARK and National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). Facing Africa is a charity dedicated to helping children in Nigeria and Ethiopia who suffer from a disease, NOMA. 

Krys said he was extremely grateful to everyone who participated and volunteered to make the event such a huge success.

“All these charities which do such important work will benefit tremendously from the support that we received,” he said. “We want to say a very big thank you to everyone who took part. Your efforts will go to make a real difference in the lives of those far less fortunate than our own.”

Major sponsors of the event include the organisers, KRyS Global and long term sponsors, Tower Marketing and Brown Rudnick.  Daniel Saval from Brown Rudnick travelled from New York to attend this one of a kind event and give moral support to The MDRs which were sponsored by the law firm. CML joined the team as a major media sponsor covering the entire event from start to finish. 

Visit the website for more information www.offthebeatentrack.ky and www.facebook.com/offthebeatentrackcaymanislands.