Placencia Belize, Larry Waight Reporting:
For many, the end of the 13th Baktun in the Maya Long Count Calendar, December 21, 2012, was a prediction of end times. Didn’t happen. To commemorate the event, the annual “End of the World Marathon” was organized in Belize, the heart of the Maya civilization.
This year’s marathon is scheduled for December 7 in picturesque Placencia, a town nestled up against the white powdery beaches and azure waters of the Caribbean Sea.
The event kicks off on Saturday, December 6, with registration and the traditional pre-race carb packing dinner. Sunday’s race events include a full marathon, half marathon, and two miles fun run.
The completely flat course is a loop along the Placencia peninsula, rapidly becoming one of the choice vacation destinations in the Caribbean. Runners will be alongside the sea at several points in the race.
See also:This Breathtaking Video By Discovery Channel Will Compel You To Visit Belize
All entrants who complete the course will receive a commemorative finisher’s medal. Over $10,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in both the men’s and women’s marathon, with special awards also given to the victor in age classes: under 29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 & over.
At the conclusion of the marathon, an after party will keep winners and contestants reveling well into the wee hours.
Race registration is open until midnight EDT on October 15, 2014, and all registrants will receive a race tee, and have a chance to win prizes donated by local sponsors. Minimum age requirements are 18 for the full marathon, 16 for the half.
Race participants can plan to experience the wonders of Belize, arriving early or staying post race with an all inclusive race package from Chabil Mar Villas.
For water enthusiasts, Belize is home to the world’s 2nd largest barrier reef, a spectacular underwater environment for divers and snorkelers, and home to turtles, rays, nurse sharks, dolphins and moray eels. Playfully darting between the reef and onshore mango groves, communities of sea manatees inhabit the area from November to January.
See also: 9 Delightfully Geeky Facts About Placencia Belize
One of the top things to do on a Belize vacation is the very unique caving tubing. On inner tubes, you’ll float through the Maya underworld, viewing amazing stalactites and stalagmites, “curtains” made entirely of crystal, cave drawings, and even skeletal remains. Up on the surface, the Maya world offers many surviving structures to visit, including ceremonial centers, tombs, and a complete astronomical observatory. Seek answers on where the Mayans came from, and what happened to them.
The special package put together by Chabil Mar Villas includes everything race participants need or desire. It includes your round trip flights between the international airport at Belize City and Placencia, ground transfers, race registration, five nights in a luxury villa, five breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Your package includes a half day snorkeling trip and a choice of one of three specially designed land tours.
Chabil Mar is an exclusive, boutique resort, with just 19 villas and one honeymoon suite facing the Caribbean. Guests can expect to be pampered in luxurious accommodations at a resort full of amenities tailored to discriminating travelers.
