Each year the Reggae Marathon – an annual 10K, half marathon, and marathon held in Negril, Jamaica – partners with US-based, Black-owned travel company, The Black Onyx Group Travel (TBOG Travel) to offer a unique travel experience that includes participation in the race, plus a relaxing and culturally immersive vacation, in arguably the most charming seaside village on the island.
The global running community has coined this running-centered travel experience ‘function.’ TBOG Travel and Reggae Marathon have partnered to host functions in Jamaica since 2012.
According to one of the Reggae Marathon’s directors, Diane Ellis, in recent years, TBOG Travel has continually brought the largest group to the event, hosting up to 500 people annually. These participants are mainly Jamaicans living abroad and Black Americans.
“We love to have this group,” Ellis shares while expressing enormous gratitude to the TBOG Travel team. “They are fun-loving and bring a lot of vibes to the event. They know how to have a good time, and many are repeat participants. More importantly, this group gives back. They support charities in Negril and surrounding communities and provide much-needed funds to the local Green Island High School.”
TBOG Travel is a trailblazing travel company with over 25 years of experience. The agency provides customized travel packages tailored for Black travelers with offices in New York, Philadelphia, and Dallas. Its annual runcation is offered under its Reggae Runnerz package, created especially for the Reggae Marathon. Travelers enjoy the race and then venture out to explore Jamaica’s rich culture, beauty, and good vibes.
We caught up with TBOG Travelseeker Lisa Laws while she was in Tanzania hosting a travel experience that included climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, exploring the Great Migration in the Serengeti on Safari, and luxuriating in Zanzibar (#TravelGoals).
Laws, a Jamaican-American, shared the function experience that has attracted thousands of Black travelers over the years.
What made you fall in love with traveling and racing events like the Reggae Marathon?
Laws: My family is in Montego Bay and Kingston, so II ‘frequently in the country. Back in 2012, I was in Negril on vacation, and a good friend of mine, the owner of Negril Treehouse Resort, Gail Jackson, told me about a racing event called Reggae Marathon. As a fitness fanatic, I was immediately interested. During that time, some of my friends were also coming to Jamaica for vacation, joining me in participating. After some completed the full marathon, others completed the half marathon or 10K, we all agreed that we would attend the Reggae Marathon the following year. The next year, I booked a couple of rooms, and suddenly the group of twelve turned into 200 people. This gave me the idea to create a package that included a weekend of events leading up to and after the marathon while working with local tourism service providers, like JUTA, JTL, and Chukka Adventures.
Why is the Reggae Marathon a popular travel event among Black travelers and diaspora members?
Laws: Jamaica is the most affordable and accessible travel destination in the Caribbean, so Black travelers love that. But also, the running community loves to run at different racing events around the globe. So, putting together an experience in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, in a place like Negril that has one of the best beaches in the world, and running the Reggae Marathon – which is a Boston Marathon qualifier with seamless logistics – is what I know draws them to running in Jamaica.
What can a first-time Black traveler expect from the Reggae Runnerz experience?
Laws: The function is a five-day experience full of activities. We start on Thursday with our meet and greet, where everyone gets to mix and mingle. Friday includes tours and excursions to attractions such as a Rastafarian cultural tour, a catamaran boat tour, and ATV. Friday evening is our annual lip sync battle, where Runnerz signs up as a contestant and performs for the title of lip sync champions. Saturday night is the WWorld’sLargest Pasta Party, hosted by Reggae Marathon. And, on Sunday night after the race, we have a themed party with live performances from local and international acts such as Beenie Man, Sanchez, Doug E. Fresh, and Third World.
I try to provide a cultural experience. It is essential to showcase Jamaica beyond the stereotypical tourist side; there is more to Jamaica than people know. The history, the culture, and most importantly, the people!
The feedback has been fantastic yearly! This will be my 11th year, so I always welcome feedback. The Runnerz always come up with new ideas on improving certain parts of the experience – and many have created volunteer opportunities to help and manage certain aspects of the runcation. For example, the registration check-in and lip sync battle are run by the Runnerz themselves. This has become the Runnerz event. That is why it is so special.
This year we will be handing out many 10-year medals for those who have been coming for ten years. This has become a family reunion and a yearly travel experience for so many!
Tell us why could you should join the Reggae Runnerz experience in one sentence.
Laws: The Reg? ae Runnerz experience affords you a one-stop shop to experience the most beautiful island in the Caribbean – to run, have fun and give back to the local community.
Run where the sun meets the sea at the Reggae Marathon in Negril, Jamaica!
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