Irish Jog runners and fun walkers alike gather again for the latest staging this weekend.
The annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K Irish Jog is set for Friday, 15 March, at 5.30pm at Grand Cayman Beach Suites. The actual day is two days later, but staging it on Fridays is more practical.
It is co-sponsored each year by Butterfield Bank and Grand Cayman Beach Suites.
The Irish Jog has established itself as one of Cayman’s most popular fun run and walk events, attracting hundreds of local and overseas participants – from serious athletes to walkers pushing baby strollers.
As virtually everyone dresses in green, it will make the course even more colourful than it is. Leprechauns have been sighted during this race in the past and more are welcome to join.
David Shibli won the Irish Jog last year. Shibli’s time was 18 minutes, 37 seconds and the previous year Scott Brittain – who returned to Australia soon after – cruised to his fourth consecutive victory in 17:55.
Tristan von Kirchenheim finished second in 18:55 and Derek Larner third in 19:10. Claire Critchley was the first woman home in 20:12.
This year marks the 21st anniversary of the jog. Race favourite is Dominic Corbin, who in recent months has become Grand Cayman’s short-distance master. He won the Valentine’s Mile easily last month and the Care 5k last week at Camana Bay in 16 minutes, 58 seconds.
“The Care 5k run went well and seeing lots of people run with dogs is always good to see,” Corbin said. “My training is now starting to slow down as I’m leaving the island at the end of the month. But I’ll usually workout five days a week, but those days are tough … a lot of gym workouts and trying to put in hard runs.
“I’ll slowly be transitioning to the track in the coming months, so I’m sure my training will need to change for that,” he added. “I’ve never run the Irish Jog before and it seems to be a run everyone has marked on their calendar. It’ll be my last one, so fingers crossed I’ll run a fast time.
“My long-term ambition is to run the 1,500 metre under four minutes and if I reach that goal then I’ll want to run the mile in 4:10.”
Irish Jog participants will receive a T-shirt and have the chance to win spot prizes awarded on a draw basis. Prizes include sunset sails, dinners for two and spa services. As always, there will be free hats, face stickers, wigs and other fun wear for everyone. Complimentary refreshments will be available afterward.
Entry is $10 per person. Proceeds will be donated to the Sunrise Adult Training Centre.
Registration is open from 9am to 4pm on Wednesday and Thursday, 13 and 14 March, at Britannia Golf Course, as well as from 9am to 5.15pm on Friday at the same location.
For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call Rebecca Ebanks at 815-7797.
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