Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

YOU ARE on your own! That's the message the organisers of the 2006 Reggae Marathon and Half Marathon sent to overseas athletes on Wednesday.

Unlike previous years, the organisers will not invite any overseas, runners, said race director Alfred Francis at a press launch at the Altamont Court Hotel in New Kingston.

"The majority of our participants are coming in from overseas but we are not inviting any elites," Francis said.

He said the elite impacted on the budget in a negative way.

"We invited them, we paid their airfare, accommodation and in most cases they take home the prize money and we have decided we can have a fantastic event with none of the elites," he said.

"The majority of our participants are recreational runners who travel the world, have a vacation and run a marathon. "Our primary focus is the healthy lifestyle concept, but also the economic impact such an event can have on Jamaica," said Francis, the chairman of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) Road Race committee.

What works best

"We are going with what works best for us and I think improving our entertainment component of the event, compared to inviting elites, is paramount. So we are going to improve the entertainment component where the event is concerned," he said. Francis, however, made it clear that the event is open to anyone who wants to enter, wherever he or she is from.

The male and female marathon winners will walk away with $75,000 while second and third will pocket $50,000 and $25,000 respectively.

In the half marathon, the winners will take home $37,500 while second and third will get $25,000 and $12,500.

The schools will share between themselves prize money of $120,000.

Maurice Bryan, Digicel's sponsorship and promotions manager, said his company welcomed the opportunity to join forces with the Reggae Marathon once again.

He said apart from monetary sponsorship, Digicel will be providing wireless access with the timing mechanism used for the races.

In addition, he said: "We will be sponsoring the 'Village Bash' the night before the marathon where Digicel will provide the entertainment."

Rising stars finalists

He said some of the Rising Stars finalists will be there. President of the JAAA, Howard Aris, endorsed the event by saying his association would do anything to facilitate long-distance running.

He also praised the Jamdammers Running Club for its contribution to the sport.

World Junior Championships 400m silver medallist Sonita Sutherland, who also endorsed the event, wished the participants all the best.

"One of the greatest things about marathons is that its not about running fast or crossing the line first to be a winner," Sutherland said.

Eight groups from the United States-based marathon training team, the Wellness Community's Strides of Hope, will form part of the close to 400 persons who will be taking part in the sixth staging of the event, set for Long Bay Beach Park in Negril on December 2.

Like previous years, Francis said partici-pants from Europe, the United States and the Caribbean, among other countries, will lien up for the start at 5:00 a.m.