BRADES, Montserrat – Do you want to become a “volcano runner”? Log on to the recently launched website of the Montserrat Volcano Half-Marathon, www.volcanorunner.com and register for one of the world’s most unique road racing events. Now in its second year, the Volcano Half-Marathon will take place on Saturday November 27th, 2010 on the tiny British Overseas Territory of Montserrat located in the north-west Caribbean.
The race is organised by the Montserrat Running Club Inc (a not-for-profit organization), and will be in support of the local child support and advocacy group Childline. At a press conference on May 26th, 2010 at the Governor’s Office in Montserrat, the main sponsors for the event were also presented. These sponsors are the Montserrat Tourist Board, LIME, United Insurance/ Jacquie Ryan Enterprises, the Governor’s Office and the Government of Montserrat’s Sports Department.
The strenuous event involves a route that passes some of the key tourism attractions on Montserrat, with views of the active Soufrière Hills Volcano and some of the areas it has impacted. Points of interest along the route will include the Blakes Football Field, Montserrat Cultural Centre, the new town centre in Little Bay, Runaway Ghaut, the entrance to Sir George Martin’s AIR Studios and the Belham River Valley which is covered in volcanic rubble. The course is a very hilly one, with spectacular sea-views including the neighbouring islands of Antigua, Guadeloupe, Redonda and Nevis.
In addition to the 13.1-mile Volcano Half-Marathon course, fun runners and walkers will be invited to participate in a section of the route stretching approximately five miles.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the first three overall winners of the Volcano Half Marathon with EC$1,000 as first prize, EC$750 for second and EC$500 for third. The first female and first youth finishers will also receive EC$500. The first runner to complete the Fun Run will receive EC$150 and the first walker to finish the course will get EC$100.
Registration for the Half-Marathon costs EC$50 (US$18.50) for residents and EC$100 (US$38) for non-residents. This includes a race T-shirt and a souvenir medal produced from volcanic material for all finishers. There is no entrance fee for Fun Run Participants although they can purchase T-shirts.
For further details and registration information on the Montserrat Volcano Half-Marathon is available from www.volcanorunner.com Persons can also become fans of the Volcano Half Marathon on Facebook and receive updates at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Montserrat-Volcano-Half-Marathon/
About Montserrat
Montserrat, the only country outside of Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day as a national holiday, is a lush green and mountainous island of approximately 39 square miles that lies in the Eastern Caribbean chain of islands. Known fondly as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, this pear shaped island is a traveller’s paradise for nature lovers, divers, adventurers, family and villa vacationers, and honeymooners. This British overseas territory boasts the spectacular Soufrière Hills Volcano, a modern day Pompeii in the form of its buried former capital city Plymouth, alongside lush, green mountains, world class nature trails, deserted dark sand beaches, untouched reefs and a quiet friendly charm reminiscent of the way the Caribbean used to be. For more information on Montserrat and its breathtaking scenery and unspoiled, unpolluted coral and volcanic vistas, visit www.visitmontserrat.com.
