Ultra-marathon attracts largest line-up

(CNS): Now in its fifth year, Cayman’s own 50K ultra-marathon Off the Beaten Track attracted 367 participants willing to tackle this one of a kind off road race, which included 19 individual runners and 58 relay teams.  First place in the men’s race went to David Lim who finished in 4:33:27, while Helki Weber was the first woman home and the fifth individual racer overall to cross the finish line on Seven Mile Beach with a time of 5:06:07.  The race which took place Sunday February 23 began at the end of Beach Bay Road, in Bodden Town and took the runners on a winding cross country course through that district.

The course took runners through fields and trails to Grand Harbour then through George Town via the airport and across Esterly Tibbetts highway to Seven Mile Beach to Calico Jacks before hitting the West Bay Road. The course carried on through West Bay via Batabano and Barkers then back through West Bay via Birch Tree Hill and down to West Bay public beach where runners made the final leg along the shore to the finish line at Tiki Beach.

Competitors raised over $14,000 in what was the biggest turnout so far since the race was created by Ultra-marathon veteran Kenneth Krys in 2010.

“I am so pleased with the outcome of this year’s race,” he said.  “We had our biggest turnout ever in relation to runners and sponsors.  As a direct result our two charities, Cayman Meals on Wheels and Facing Africa will benefit even more from the increased proceeds.
“I want to extend my sincere thanks to all of our sponsors, donors and over 65 volunteers that helped out this year, as this event would not be possible without their ongoing and generous support”, Krys added.

Meals on Wheels, a local charity that is supported throughout the year by the staff of KRyS Global, provides nutritious meals to the elderly and infirm, specifically in area of West Bay, George Town, East End and Bodden Town. The proceeds will go towards covering the operational costs and costs of meals for many of the islands’ elderly residents. Facing Africa has been the chosen international charity since the race’s inception in 2010 and is dedicated to helping children in Nigeria and Ethiopia who suffer from life-threatening facial disfigurements resulting from the disease, NOMA.

Major sponsors of the event are race organisers, KRyS Global and longtime sponsors Tower and Brown Rudnick.  Supporting sponsors this year were Ritch & Conolly, Cayman Active and Race Caribbean.  Ignition sponsored a local youth team and Grand & Eisenhofer (NY) was the breakfast sponsors.

For more information about this race, visit www.offthebeatentrack.ky