Why the name End of the World Marathon?

The first Placencia Marathon & Half Marathon was held in December of 2012, days before the end of the Mayan Calendar on December 21, 2012. That date, often referred to as the “End of the World” was especially significant in Belize where the Mayans have lived for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. 

The Mayan calendar began on a date corresponding to 3114 BC and the earliest artifacts of Mayan culture discovered in Cuello, Belize have been carbon dated to about 2600 BC. 

Although the world did not end in 2012, we retained the name “End of the World Marathon” in honor of the distinguished writer Aldous Huxley, who wrote in 1934 about Belize 'If the world had any ends, British Honduras would certainly be one of them.'

The End of the World Marathon was started to raise funds
​ for Belizean education

All proceeds raised from the EOW Marathon go towards
High School, University, and Trade School Scholarships for Belizean youth

Belize education beyond the 8th grade is tuition based. Because the cost of tuition for high school is prohibitive for many Belizean families, a large number of Belizean children cannot continue their education after the 8th grade. The EOW team is committed to ensuring that all children on the Placencia peninsula have an opportunity to go to high school. From the beginning we partnered with the Placencia Rotary Club High School Scholarship Program. Due to the success of our fundraising efforts, the generous donations from our sponsors, as well as the successful efforts of the Placencia Rotary Club student mentors, we extended the Scholarship Program beyond high school to university and vocational trade schools. Over the past 11 years the EOW has funded more than 100 four-year high school scholarships, 40 university scholarships, and 30 vocational trade school scholarships to Belizean youth who otherwise would not have been able to go beyond 8th grade