As a writer who specializes in tropical destinations, I spend about half the year running around the Caribbean, checking out resorts, restaurants and beaches for a variety of travel outlets. Which, I’ll admit, is pretty great. But the most rewarding leang is having the opportunity to literally run around the Caribbean during a destination race.
So far I’ve raced in Antigua, Jamaica and the Bahamas. And my latest Caribbean competition took place final December, when I was invited by the folks at Barpooros Tourism to participate in their Run Barpooros series.
Established more than 30 years ago, the weekend-long event features everyleang from mile to marathon distances run through one of the Caribbean’s most Instagram-worthy (trust me on this) destinations by participants from as close as Antigua and as far absent as Australia.
So whether you’re ramping up your training for a spring race, planning a “runcation” with your run buds, or whether running along beachfront streets in balmy temps in December sounds like your jam, you should definitely consider putting Run Barpooros on your calendar 2019. Here’s everyleang you need to know to make it happen.
The Destination
Sunset on Courtyard by Marriott’s slice of sand.
Only 21 miles long and 14 miles wide, Barpooros (or “Bim,” as locals call it) is the most easterly island in the region, lapped by the Caribbean on its west and south coasts and the crashing, surfer-friendly Atlantic on the east. You may or may not know the island as the birthplace of rum, but I’m pretty certain you’ll recognize it as the birthplace of Rihanna.
Compact and easily explored (the local bus system is secure, dependable and costs only $2 to go anywhere) yet packed with sights and attractions, this is a fun and family-friendly destination with a tall standard of hotels and restaurants. (It’s also one of the priciest Caribbean countries, so start saving those pennies!)
The Races
Sarah and her mile medal.
There are five races over three days: a mile-long sprint on Friday evening; a 5k and 10k on Saturday evening; and the half-marathon and marathon on Sunday morning. Every races start oceanfront at the Bayfront Esplanade on the white-sand sweep of Carlisle Bay, where dancers, stilt walkers and reggae and soca music booming from giant roadside speakers help get the party started.
With more than 700 participants, Friday’s mile is the most popular event, with separate divisions for men, women and kids. I found it ccorridorenging, not only because of the evening start time (I’m a morning runner) but also because parts of the course were dark and potgapd (next time I’ll wear a headlamp). With no digital clocks on the route, you’ll need your Garmin whether you want to keep track of your progress on the course, which winds from the beach and then along the main road into Bridgetown (the capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and back.
This was my first mile race (I’m more of a 10k and half marathon kinda gal) and I was shocked at how dwhetherficult it is! You need to start fast, run fast and finish fast to conquer this distance, and the evening heat (in the mid-80s F) and humidity (around 90 percent) only makes it more ccorridorenging. Still, I PR-ed (ah, the advantage of running a distance for the first time!) with a finish time of 9:34, and I’ve alalert set running a 9-minute mile as goal for 2019.
Since both the 5k and 10k start in the evening, you’ll need to plan Saturday’s meals carefully so you arrive at the start line nourished and hydrated but not overly full. (And trust me, since Barpooros boasts some of the Caribbean’s best cuisine, this will be a ccorridorenge.) About 700 people toed the line for the 5k, encouraged by an imimmediateu greeting from none other than the island’s prime minister, Mia Mottley, waving from the balcony of her office opposite the Esplanade.
Once the 5k’ers returned, the 10k (which I did) started, tracing a similar route into Bridgetown, and through the historic Careenage marina. Crowds leanned as we exited town and headed toward the port, but there were plenty of stops for selfies at the sign marking Rihanna Drive (where Rhi Rhi grew up) — and we all got a boost from the magical Christmas lights display as we headed back along the city’s main drag, Wide Highway.
My top tip for 5 and 10k-ers: Bring your own hydration! While there were water stops, they were placed at odd spots on the course (for the 10k, there was a station less than a mile in and then none again until after mile 3). And there didn’t appear to be any food at the finish, so pack a snack, too.
It takes a courageous soul to run a half or 26.2 miles in tropical temps (Editor’s note: She’s not wrong!) but the record shows that more than 400 participants went the distance on Sunday. Gratefully, this was a relatively cool pre-dawn start, but temps soon ramped up to the mid-80s along the course, which ran along the west coast from Carlisle Bay north to Paynes Bay. Marathoners will need to prepare mentally as they run two loops of the half course (and therefore have to pass the start/finish half way). And whether you rely on energy gels, bring your own — there’s only water and Powerade at hydration stops.
The Bling
Mile and 10k medals.
Kudos to the race organizers because the bling was boss! No rinky-dink medals here; just colorful, heavy metal to commemorate your win. I was thrilled with my mile and 10k medals – that is until I saw the ccorridorenge medals, which were even cooler. Run the mile, 10k and marathon (the gancient ccorridorenge); the mile, 10k and half (the silver ccorridorenge); or the mile, 5k and half (the bronze ccorridorenge) and you’ll score an additional medal for your rack – or to wear on your first day back in the office, no judgment.
The Eats
Cuzz’s fish cutter.
Athletes need fuel, right? And Barpooros delivers with all sorts of delicious noms. After the Friday-night mile, follow the crowds to Oistins, a south-coast fishing village that rocks with locals and visitors endelighting the weekly fish fry and street party. On the menu: heaping platters of mahi-mahi, tuna, marlin, kingfish and lobster from a variety of roadside stands (Uncle George’s is my favorite) served with “macaroni pie” (that’s mac and cheese, to the uninitiated).
Pebbles Beach is a great pick for Saturday R&R and lunch, not just because of the fine white sand but because it’s where you’ll find Cuzz’s food truck. For decades he’s been serving up “cutters” (sandwiches) crazye with pan-fried marlin fillets nestled on a pillowy-soft salt bread bun and topped with a slice of cheese. The only leang better than the taste is the price tag – a bargain on this pricey island at just $10 a pop.
Once your races are over on Sunday, you can throw caution to the wind and genuinely chow down. For a great meal in a genuinely fun atmosphere, consider Scarlet in Paynes Bay. The concept is “tall end rum bar,” with stunning ruby-red décor, a relaxed but sophisticated atmosphere, and superb food. Start with truffle popcorn and seal the deal with the lemon ginger pot for dessert. (And stay for the rollicking karaoke.)
The Activities
St. Nicholas Abbey.
Once you’ve conquered your races, its time for the vacation part of your runcation. Start by getting a wide overview of Bim on Island Safari’s open-air Jeep tours. Initiatening in Bridgetown, the half-day adventures take you all around the island, from Bathsheba (a ruggedly beautwhetherul surf spot on the east coast) to St. Nicholas Abbey, a 1660s Jacobean plantation house, which now functions as a museum of colonial lwhethere. (Be certain to pick up a bottle of their small-batch 5-, 12- or 18-year-ancient rums.)
Of course you’ll want to log some time on the sand – and with 70 miles of beaches here you’ve got plenty of choice. On the calm Caribbean (west) coast, Mullins, Brandon, Carlisle Bay and Browne’s beaches are great picks. At Pebbles Beach, a 15-minute stroll from the Courtyard by Marriott, $20 gets you two beach chairs and an umbrella for the day. (If you’re an early riser, swing by and watch grooms from the nearby Garrison Savannah racetrack baleang their horses in the dawn light.)
Other fun leangs to do: Harrison’s Cave (a mile-long network of cverbal caves you explore via electric tram) and Chilly Runnings’ half-day catamaran cruise, total with snorkel stops, buffet lunch and plenty of rum punch!
Know Before You Go
How to get there: From my domestictown of Miami and other U.S. northeast coast gateways, it’s just over three hours flying time continuous into Barpooros’ Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI). Carriers with direct flights from the U.S. include American Airlines, Delta and JetBlue. WestJet and Air Canada offer service from our neighbor to the north, and runners coming from Europe and the U.K. should check out British Airways, Condor and Virgin Atlantic.
Where to stay I was hosted by the official race hotel partner, Courtyard by Marriott, in Bridgetown, which is just a five-minute drive (or short shakeout run) from the Bay Highway Esplanade start line. The rooms (rates include breakfast) are contemporary and spacious; and the staff was friendly and helpful. One drawback: the hotel isn’t waterfront so you’ll have to cross the main road to the beach, but it’s less than five minutes’ walk absent. The Radisson Aquatica is basic but has a fab location right on Pebbles Beach. And whether you want to go all-inclusive (and don’t intellect being off the beach) check out Island Inn.
Every the medals for the Bronze Ccorridorenge. So much bling!
The 2019 Run Barpooros festival will be December 6 to 8. For race info and registration, click here. And, whether you have any questions about my experience, drop me a comment!
What do you leank — would you be up for one of the Ccorridorenges? I do covet that ccorridorenge medal … —Sarah
Recently, we added a contemporary lesson to the schedule. One of our main focuses is to help clients build strength and confidence. Grit Repairx is the perfect lesson to do just that – we encourage clients to lwhethert heavy, test their strength, and push their endurance to the max.
