The coastal Dominican town of Bayahibe is preparing to welcome hundreds of competitive runners and recreational athletes from across the Dominican Republic and abroad for the 11th edition of the popular Bayahibe 10K road race, scheduled to kick off on September 6. Organized jointly by the La Romana-Bayahibe Hotel Association (AHRB) and the La Romana-Bayahibe Tourism Cluster (CTRB), the race has grown into one of the nation’s premier sports tourism events, designed to raise the global profile of the La Romana region while delivering tangible economic benefits to local businesses.
Unlike previous editions, this year’s race will start 15 to 30 minutes earlier at 6:30 a.m., a timed adjustment crafted to help participants avoid the sweltering peak mid-morning temperatures that often challenge runners on the Caribbean coast. The 10-kilometer route will follow the same beloved starting point at La Punta de Bayahibe, winding along a picturesque seaside path that balances fast, flat stretches ideal for runners targeting personal bests with more challenging hilly sections that test endurance and highlight the region’s natural coastal beauty.
To ensure athlete safety and event smoothness, organizers have arranged comprehensive on-course support, including multiple hydration stations, on-site medical teams, and a multi-agency security detail. More than 80 personnel from six Dominican public institutions—Civil Defense, the 911 national emergency system, the Dominican Navy, the National Police, the Dominican Tourism Police (Politur), and the General Directorate of Traffic Safety (Digesett)—will be deployed across the course to respond to any incidents and manage crowd control.
Regional tourism officials emphasize that the annual race has evolved into far more than a one-day athletic event: it has become a core strategic platform for positioning the La Romana-Bayahibe area as a top global destination for sports and wellness tourism. By attracting athletes and their traveling companions who combine competitive racing with leisure travel, the race drives consistent growth in local hotel bookings, restaurant visits, and participation in other regional tourism activities, creating long-term economic opportunity for the coastal community.