Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s Manager of Sports Tourism, Kamal Springer, welcomed the strong finish to Run Barbados, highlighting record-breaking participation across several race categories. “The fun mile was outstanding, we had well over 1,000 participants, around 1,100,” Springer said, praising the heavy involvement of families, youth, and local communities. “We also saw growth in the 5K and 10K, and both the half marathon and full marathon were sold out, which is always an excellent indicator.”
Springer said overall race registration exceeded 2,500 athletes, surpassing even some pre-COVID benchmarks.
“Last year, participation hovered around 2,300 to 2,400. Pre-COVID numbers were closer to 2,200. This year we’ve now stabilized and moved beyond that threshold, with continued growth.”
The return to the south coast route, Springer explained, was both a strategic and practical decision. “We had been considering both the east coast and south coast routes for a while. The east coast offers stunning scenery, greenery and heritage elements that international visitors love because it’s different from most city-based races. But Bridgetown and the south coast bring cultural relevance and accessibility as the heart of the island,” he said. “Due to unforeseen circumstances, the decision was made to bring the race back here this year. Final decisions for 2026 will depend heavily on spectator and runner feedback, which is critical to shaping the future of the event.”
He underscored the growing importance of Run Barbados as a major tourism and marketing engine for the island. “Run Barbados is a key flashpoint in our tourism calendar,” he noted. “We start promoting from January straight through the year. At the same time, we push messaging about other sporting activities, using this event as a platform to attract wider attention to Barbados as a sports tourism destination.”
He added that the presence of international media during the event amplifies Barbados’ global reach, creating opportunities to promote other sporting ventures. “With world certification now in place, we can attract another category of runners, those using the race as a qualifier for major marathons or college recruitment opportunities. That brings families, longer visitor stays, and greater spending, benefiting the wider economy,” Springer explained.
With the curtain now down on Run Barbados 2025, tourism officials say the future calendar remains packed, including Barbados Sailing Week in January, international World Surf League events, expanded football and cricket activities, and the highly anticipated CPL Finals, scheduled for the island in 2026. “Barbados is in a strong position,” Springer remarked. “There’s always something happening on the island, and sports tourism continues to be a powerful driver of growth.”
As the final medals were handed out and participants returned to the beach to celebrate, organizers say the success of this year’s race confirms that Run Barbados has fully regained its global momentum, setting the stage for even bigger editions ahead.
