One of Cayman’s most gruelling athletic events has returned for 2018 with the 9th annual Off The Beaten Track (OTBT) taking place on Sunday February 25th, 2018.

This one of a kind race will lead participants on a 50KM ultra-marathon through tropical bush, sandy beaches and the back roads of Grand Cayman. Kenneth Krys, CEO of KRyS Global, has tackled the gruelling Marathon des Sables race in Morocco, after which he started Off The Beaten Track to emulate this style of race.

Participants can enter as a solo runner taking on the whole 50 kilometers or as a relay team of 6, each running on average 8 kilometres. Entry is USD$100 for solo runners and USD $300 for relay teams, however, early bird registration discounts will be available until January 31th 2018.

“With the course changing every year, regardless if this is your first time running Off The Beaten Track or if you have participated previously, the new course is always a fun challenge,” race founder, Mr Krys said.

“It is also extremely important that this race be used as an opportunity to support charities making a difference in the Cayman Islands community,” Krys said.  “This year the local beneficiary charity will be selected differently than how we have done so in the past. Each major sponsor will select a local charity of choice to be promoted during the race, with a random draw on race day to choose the winner. This enables up to six charities to gain awareness leading up to and on the day of the race.”

Off The Beaten Track also benefits international beneficiary, Facing Africa, an organization that sends medical supplies and surgeons to Sub-Saharan Africa to help children battling a devastating disease called Noma, which causes facial deformities in young children.

Major sponsors of the race include KryS Global, Brown Rudnick, Tower and Island Heritage.