Irie Girls Race-cation

“Irie…means to be at peace, to feel good, and to have no worries.”

Bri McIntosh

One of my dearest friends, Bri McIntosh, began this incredible women’s running retreat in 2019. I was fortunate enough to attend last December, and it was nothing short of spectacular! The week is focused around the Reggae Marathon, which offers distances of 10k, a half marathon or full marathon. I signed up for the half marathon, but I’ll be honest, I chickened out and did the 10k. The race itself was a ton of fun, starting before sunrise, reggae music along the course, and crossing the finish line on a beach with plenty of fresh coconuts to go around. Oh, and BEER! Everyone who finished was given a voucher for a well-deserved Red Stripe. Coconut water, beer, and beach? What more could I ask for?

Oh, I know! Quality girl time. Sorry guys, no men allowed! This week is all about the ladies, about supporting and holding one another up as we strive for our goals. “Empowered women empower women.” I saw this recently on the vast inter-webs, and unfortunately I don’t know who to give the credit to. (If you do, let me know in the comments, thanks! <3). This quote sums up the retreat: women are fierce as individuals, but bring us together, and we’re a force to be reckoned with. Supporting one another allows us to push even further beyond our wildest dreams, and to have a sisterhood to lean back on when things don’t go as planned, or perhaps more importantly, to celebrate one another’s milestone achievements. The Irie Girls Race-Cation brings women together in solidarity to create community and offer unconditional support, not to mention some well deserved R&R from the stresses and anxieties of everyday life.

Bri is one of a kind, and I feel so honored and proud to be her friend. Besides organizing and creating this retreat from scratch, she works in the public health sector, plays a huge role in a non-profit, Cornerstone Jamaica, she is raising a wonderful daughter, and still has time for self-care. How does she do it?! (Bri, if you’re reading this, you are simply amazing!). Bri has launched a brand, called “More Than They,” and it’s the principle that “your body can do more than they think it can (morethanthey.com).” We determine what we are capable of, not the media, not stereotypes, not friends or family; nobody but ourselves. So if you’re interested in an empowering all women’s wellness retreat, consider signing up! Bri supplies a training plan well in advance of the race, so that you may train adequately, and she offers a payment plan for the trip, so you don’t need to come up with a lump sum, AND, she provides varying options for the trip; different activities to choose from for “free time,” and different housing arrangements, depending on your preferences.

Go check out her website More Than They and see if this is something you’re interested in doing. Unfortunately, the event has been cancelled for 2020, *stupid covid,* but I can tell you now, I’ll be signing up as soon as I can for 2021! Come join me!

P.S. I barely did any training at all, but I managed to run my fastest 10k to date (1:09:33)! I only ran one 10k before this race, so it’s not much to compare to, but I certainly felt accomplished! I ended up being 7th in my age group. I never would’ve thought I could manage to be top 10. Maybe there is something good about aging? What’s that saying? I get better with age like a fine wine? Decade number 3 here I come! I’ve never felt more alive. 🙂