My first memories of Jekyll Island were from when I was a kid. My family drove up from Daytona Beach and my Godmother’s family drove down from Atlanta for a wonderful joint family vacation. I have so many fond memories of our time together there. So I’m very excited to be heading back there this weekend as an adult for the Jekyll Island Marathon & 10k!
It is going to be a busy weekend since Jenn (Runs With Pugs) and I will be doing the Best Damn Race 10k in Jacksonville on Saturday morning before making our way to Jekyll Island for the rest of the weekend.
Considered the “Jewel” of Georgia, Jekyll Island is the ideal location to host the Jekyll Island Marathon (JIM). The JIM course will showcase the natural beauty of the island and take runners past historic landmarks. Runners will pass under the canopies of the majestic live oaks, past the beauty of the salt marshes, and wide open beaches. The course will also transport runners to an earlier time when they pass through the Jekyll Island Club National Historic Landmark. This landmark is one of the largest ongoing restoration projects in the southeastern United States and attracts visitors from around the world.
One of the things I’m looking forward to most is the small size of this race. The have decided to allow only 350 participants in the 10k and 350 in the Marathon. Both races start at the Jekyll Island Convention Center and end at the Great Dunes Park that is right beside the beach.
We are staying at the The Westin Jekyll Island for the weekend as it is the host hotel. Packet pick up for both races and the Expo will be held at the Westin, so that makes things super convenient. They are even offering guests a complementary “grab and go” breakfast before they head to the start line, which just so happens to be right next door to the hotel. How awesome is that?
In addition to packet pickup and the expo, they are offering other fun events like a Meet and Greet Pasta Dinner Buffet on Friday, Cornhole in the Courtyard on Saturday, and a Post-race after party at the Westin. They definitely created this event with the idea that people can make a weekend out of it. With packet pickup and the expo starting on Friday afternoon you have more than enough time to take advantage of all the island, and the Westin, have to offer before and after the race.
*Disclosure: I have been provided with a complimentary race entry and hotel stay for this event. As always, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
So you are doing two races in two days?? How awesome! Good luck!
Yes, we are! Usually Jenn is the one talking me into these things, but this time its me.