Veteran marathoners and running enthusiasts from across the globe have arrived on Saint Lucian shores for an intense long-distance race on January 6th. The Eastern Caribbean Challenge 2025 is being jointly hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture, and Information, and the Ministry for Youth Development and Sports.
This marks the fourth occasion that Saint Lucia has welcomed a cruise tour operator specializing in sports cruise packages, reinforcing the island’s growing reputation as a hub for sports tourism. The challenge, organized by Z Adventures, a global marathon adventure-travel company, is a six-country marathon series that brings together distinguished long-distance runners from around the world.
The Saint Lucian leg will take place in Beausejour, commencing at 9:00 a.m. The marathon will follow a 26-mile (42.2 km) circuit, starting and ending at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. Following the grueling run, the participants will engage with aspiring young athletes from Saint Lucia’s Sports Academy, offering mentorship and inspiration to the next generation of track and field stars.
The Eastern Caribbean Challenge is part of an extraordinary endurance feat that sees competitors completing six marathons in six different countries over the span of a week. The challenge kicked off in Guadeloupe on Sunday, January 5, where participants boarded the MSC Virtuosa, a luxury cruise liner that will transport them to Saint Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, and Martinique. The final leg of the series will take place in Martinique on Saturday, January 11.
This year’s event features 35 elite Marathon Globetrotters from 15 different nations. These runners, all recreational athletes, are on a mission to complete marathons in as many countries as possible. Some hold world records in long-distance running, while others have achieved the remarkable milestone of completing marathons in over 100 countries.
The competitors range in age from 32 to an inspiring 82 years old, demonstrating that endurance running is a lifelong pursuit. Among them are professionals from diverse backgrounds, including medical doctors, engineers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and teachers—individuals who balance demanding careers with their passion for globetrotting and marathon running.
The return of the Eastern Caribbean Challenge to Saint Lucia is a testament to the island’s commitment to sports tourism. The event’s previous edition took place in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted international travel. Now, with its resurgence, the challenge underscores Saint Lucia’s ability to host world-class sporting events and attract global athletes to its shores.
With sports tourism emerging as a key sector in the country’s economic and cultural landscape, events like the Eastern Caribbean Challenge not only boost international visibility but also provide opportunities for local athletes to engage with world-class runners.
