Run for a Cause, Participate in the 11th Annual End of the World Marathon

August 8, 2022
by belizehubstaff +

December 4^th, 2022, will mark the End of the World 11^th annual Marathon and Half Marathon, where local and international track and field fanatics will gather just before daybreak to race across 26 miles of Sandy terrain along the coast of Placencia, in an effort to raise school tuition for needy students from the village.

The End of the World Marathon, which started out in December 2012, was initially created among the Maya apocalyptic hype, which had predicted that the world would have come to an end on December 21^st. While the end of the world prophecy was significant in Belize where the Mayas have lived and ruled for generations, in the end, the name of the marathon stuck in honor of distinguished writer Aldous Huxley, who wrote and referred to Belize in 1934 and said, ‘If the world had any ends, British Honduras would certainly be one of them.’’

Nevertheless, readers would recall that based on the Maya calendar, the doomsday prophecy had the world in a major frenzy stockpiling food, refining escape routes, and honing survival skills ahead of the alleged date. But as the world was preparing for an imminent apocalypse, locals and visitors in Belize were tying their shoelaces, doing warm-ups, and hydrating themselves at 5:30 a.m., as they used their last moments to support a worthy cause.

Thankfully while the prophecy did not materialize as had been widely broadcasted, the End of the World Marathon in Belize became a huge success, drawing hundreds of participants, businesses, and spectators. To date, it has grown to be one of the biggest and most eventful marathons in the south of the country.

Starting at the village football field at the end of Placencia the race passes through Seine Bight Village and Maya Beach. The halfway point of the race as well as the starting point for the 13-mile half marathon starts in Riversdale Village where the group will make a turnaround and race along the same course back towards Placencia Village.

Advertisment

Worried about keeping yourself hydrated, then you would be pleased to know that the 26.2-mile marathon will be loaded with about 20 water stations along the way and provide participants with an awesome view of the Caribbean Sea.

Proceeds from registration are funneled through the Placencia Rotary Club and are donated to needy students who have the desire to attend high school, university, or vocational trade schools. Over the past eight years, the fundraising efforts have successfully managed to provide more than 200 four-year high school scholarships, 30 University scholarships, and 20 vocational trade school scholarships.

Registration is open to everyone and this year’s activities are already promising to be a huge success.