Jamaica Journeys: Tales, Tips, Testimonials, and More (2025)
14. Reggae Races Adventure
Negril Beach at Sunrise after the Race
“So, lads, you won’t believe what I did recently in Jamaica. Let me tell you, it started with me lying in a hammock for three days straight, trying to shake off this nasty cold I took there with me from England. I was staying in this place called Endless Summer Villa in Silver Sands Jamaica, just staring at the sea and swinging under coconut trees. Proper paradise, yeah? But then I thought, ‘Tej, mate, you didn’t come all this way just to lounge around. You ran a half marathon in England just the other day, why not do one here?’ Big mistake - or so I thought at first.
The plan was to head to Negril for this Reggae Half Marathon thing. The name alone sold it. Reggae and running? Why not? So, Friday night, I head to Negril to stay with some family friends, Gary and Anna. Lovely people, but you know how it is - Gary, who decided to walk the 5K Race, couldn’t stop going on about how he used to be some kind of water sports legend back in the day. Anna, meanwhile, kept reminding him that the race started at 5:15 a.m. and asking if I even owned an alarm clock.
Before dinner, I swung by the race venue to pick up my kit. They give you a goodie bag with a t-shirt and snacks - proper tourist stuff, but I wasn’t complaining. The place was buzzing with runners of all sorts. Some looked like they’d been training their whole lives, and others, like me, looked like they were wondering what they’d signed up for.
Fast forward to race morning. It’s pitch black, and I’m standing in this massive crowd. The locals were having a laugh, chatting in Patois, and looking like they’d already run the race and come back for more. I tried to pick up bits of what they were saying—you know, stuff like ‘Yuh ready fi dis?’ and ‘Dem cyaan manage di heat!’—but honestly, I just smiled and hoped I didn’t look too clueless.
Anyway, race starts, and I’m off. They had reggae music blaring along the route, which was brilliant, but the heat, even that early, was no joke. By mile eight, I was questioning all my life choices. But then, out of nowhere, I spot the finish line. I cross it, and I swear, I’ve never been happier to see a coconut water stand.
Now here’s the funny bit. After I chugged my coconut, I wandered down to the beach for a dip. Yeah, the races finishes on the Negril Beach - wicked! I still had my medal on, of course, because priorities. It’s a brilliant solid medal mates, not some cheap thinny stuff!
As I’m walking out the water, this woman - a pro photographer spots me. Next thing I know, I’m doing my best James Bond impression—water dripping, medal glinting in the sun. Not planned, mind you, but I’m sure it’ll show up somewhere on Instagram with a caption like, ‘Runner emerges victorious.’
“Then came the ice bath. Oh, man, that was brutal. I sat in it for what felt like a year, stifling the urge to cry like a puppy, while the guys running it encouraged me, ‘Good for you, man!’
Good for me? I wasn’t so sure.
“There were yoga and massages on offer, but I thought, nah, breakfast is more my style. I found some food, stuffed my face, and started the journey back to Silver Sands.
“By the time I got back, I was knackered. So, naturally, I climbed back into my hammock. And as I lay there, staring at the coconut trees and listening to the waves, I thought, ‘Tej, you absolute legend. You ran a race in that Jamaican heat, jumped into the whole reggae experience, and still came out alive.’
“Would I do it again? Hmmm. I am glad I did it! Worth every bit of effort. And hey, now I’ve got a great story to tell you lot over a pint!”
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13. The Jamaica We Dream About: A Stay at Silver Sands Jamaica
“I can’t even explain how much Silver Sands brought back memories of growing up in Jamaica. You know how, as a pickney, every little thing felt magical? Like those days when you’d spend hours at the beach, and the sand would get in yuh hair and between yuh toes, and all you could hear was the sound of waves and the breeze in the palm trees? That’s what it felt like at Silver Sands.
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The beach? Lawd, it was like one of those postcards that people use to advertise Jamaica. Soft, white sand, and the water so warm, clean and clear… it reminded me of those public holidays when we’d get the whole family together and go to the North Coast. But Silver Sands wasn’t crowded, just peaceful.
The villa was a perfect fit for our family. We used to have to squeeze into Granny’s house, but this villa had room for all of us. Trust me, it was like Christmas, but without all the chaos.
And having a cook? That was a blessing. Every morning, waking up to the smell of ackee and saltfish, dumpling, and fried plantain took me right back. She even made gungo pea soup one evening, and mi swear it taste like Mama’s. Best part? She showed me how to make proper oxtail - the real Jamaican way. I’ve been trying for years to get it right over here, and now I finally know.
We spent a lot of time on the patio, just sitting and talking - real ole time runnings, you know? …watching the sun set over the sea, with a sorrel drink in hand and the sound of tree frogs in the background. It reminded me of when we’d sit outside as kids, listening to the big people laugh and talk while we played.
And the kids? Dem nuh waan leave. They ran up and down the beach like how we used to run in the yard back in the day. Pure joy. And we took them to Dunn’s River Falls, and mi had to laugh at how the tourists hold hands going up the Falls. We neva did that! But it was nice to see them having fun and enjoying the natural beauty all around. The Falls were just as big and exciting to the kids as it was to me when I was little like them.
This was more than a vacation - it was like reconnecting with a part of myself I didn’t even realize I was missing. Silver Sands - not just somewhere to stay; it’s a very special place, it feels like the Jamaica we dream about when we’re living far away.
Mi already telling everybody: if you really want to go back and feel Jamaica in yuh heart, this is the place to do it. Trust mi, it’s worth every penny.”
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