The Magens 2 Magens Road Race returned to St. Thomas on Saturday for its 10th annual running, drawing nearly 400 runners and walkers and marking a rebound to pre-pandemic participation levels, organizers said.
The event, organized by the Virgin Islands Montessori School and International Academy, featured a 10-kilometer race through the hills of the Peterborg peninsula and a one-kilometer “Fun Run” for children ages 10 and under. Both courses began and ended near Magens Bay, where participants gathered for an awards ceremony and beach picnic.
Michael Ennis, a co-director of the race, said the event is designed to push participants beyond their comfort zones while strengthening family and community bonds.
“The real importance of this event is that you’re doing something outside of your comfort zone,” Ennis said. “It’s not an easy run. You’re going up the hills of Peterborg, down the hills of Peterborg. To see kids and adults running together, seeing kids running with their parents, completing this kind of course together, that’s bonding. That’s something they’re never going to forget.”
He said the event also serves as a way for the Virgin Island Montessori School and International Academy, a private school, to reconnect with the broader island community.
“Being a private school, we can sometimes get disconnected from the community, and we really wanted to be able to bring people in,” Ennis said. “This is an event hosted by VIMSIA, but it is for the community.”
David Arpazie, the athletic director at the Virgin Island Montessori School and International Academy and a co-organizer of the race, said the event has grown into a key community gathering focused on health and wellness.
“This is our way of getting the community together and just experiencing health, wellness and healthy living,” Arpazie said.
Participation increased significantly from last year according to Arpazie. “We had a 30% increase from last year, so I think it went really well,” he added “We had great sponsorship, we had great volunteer work.”
Arpazie said the race also plays an important role for students at the private school, helping connect them with the broader St. Thomas community. Students in grades six through 10 are required to participate as part of their physical education curriculum, either by running or walking the course.
“This is a community event,” Arpazie said. “So we want next year, we want more schools to participate, and we have more involvement with a larger community base.”
The race’s community focus extended beyond participants. Local youth groups, including Girl Scouts Troop 44508, took part in the festivities. Millie, a troop member, said the group uses proceeds from cookie sales to fund activities and charitable donations.
“Last year we saved for a camping trip on St. John. This year we’re going zip lining, and the extra money we have, we donate to the Humane Society,” Millie said. “You can never buy too many cookies!”
Sarah Ravis, also with Troop 44508, said they were grateful for the community’s support. “We’re just thankful to the Virgin Islands community and to the Montessori School for allowing us to come out here, support our community, and have the community support us,” she said.
Brad Kappel, race director, said the event has grown into a St. Thomas tradition since its debut in 2013, drawing participants each year for the challenge and camaraderie.
“The race supports the school’s athletic teams and scholarships, but it’s also about promoting health, family-friendly activities, and community spirit,” Kappel said.
At the award ceremony, he added, “Everyone always tells me they love the energy in the place and they love the camaraderie and how everyone supports each other and cheers each other along.”
“This is from the Virgin Islands Montessori School and International Academy, but it’s also about supporting the broader community,” Kappel said. “We want to promote health, healthy events, and just the community spirit of it all.”
Kappel said the event gives young people a chance to challenge themselves and build confidence. “Many of them don’t think that they can even do this, but they persevere. They get through the finish line and they find out that they can do things that they didn’t think that they could do.”
