Massive Support for Road Dogs’ Run of Nations

A Historic Leap for Sporting Excellence in the Turks and Caicos

- Contributed

The streets of Grace Bay were transformed into a vibrant display of athletic excellence and cultural pride on Saturday, January 17th, as the Road Dogs Running Club hosted the inaugural Run of Nations. With more than 250 people in attendance, the event has been hailed as the "running event of the year," with supporters noting a world-class atmosphere that rivalled major international marathons.

Some of the participants join members of the Road Dogs team for a photo op.

Inspired by their participation in the Fort Lauderdale Marathon, the Road Dogs aimed to bring that same high-energy, professional experience to the Turks and Caicos Islands. The result was a race day that many described as having an atmosphere akin to a major U.S. sporting event, complete with a live DJ, professional hosting, and an elite level of competition.

The event featured both 5K and 10K courses, but the highlight of the morning was the setting of the inaugural 10K course record. Andres Davila claimed the title with a blistering time of 44:41, securing the $500 Record-Breaking Bonus presented by the Turks and Caicos Banking Company. Other top finishers included Lynn Robinson, who took first place in the Women’s 10K, and Daniel Redmond and Eunice Missick, who topped the Men’s and Women’s 5K categories, respectively.

Beyond the competition, the Run of Nations was an event with a heart. The Road Dogs Running Club is proud to announce that the event also raised funds for the Potcake Place K-9 Rescue. This contribution highlights the club's commitment to supporting the local community and its beloved animals. Supporters and participants are encouraged to look out for more information regarding the official donation presentation in the near future.

President of the Road Dogs Running Club, Leo Lightbourne, expressed his profound gratitude and shared the organisation's long-term vision.

"The turnout we saw today signals a massive shift in public interest toward wellness and competitive sports in TCI," said Lightbourne. "Using our experiences from Fort Lauderdale, we wanted to deliver a world-class event. This is just the beginning. Our ultimate goal is to evolve the Run of Nations into a flagship event on the national calendar and bring a full marathon to the Turks and Caicos Islands in the near future."

This historic event was made possible through the support of a dedicated network of sponsors including Turks and Caicos Banking Company (TCBC), Experience Turks and Caicos, Apex Safety Solutions Ltd., Solutions Experts Ltd., Grace Bay Market, Mr. Groupers, TCI Financial Services Commission, Stanbrooks Corporate Services Ltd., Crime Stoppers TCI, KIA Motors, Garnier, Goldsmith, Flamingo Pharmacy, Island Grub, and Carquest.

Additional support was provided by Master Tech, Provo Beverages, Let’s Move Turks and Caicos, Open Thought, Super-P The Entertainer, BTSW Productions, Let Me Clear Your Yard, Walkin’s Service Station, Cactus Cafe, Luxe' Ri Faces, Pikliz Takeout Bar, Subtronic Sound Reinforcement, Spa Seclude, Magnolia, and Yuni-Verse Creative Media.

The Road Dogs Running Club thanks every runner, walker, volunteer, and spectator who turned Grace Bay into a symbol of "Many Nations, One Goal".