One of the Caribbean’s most accomplished distance runners, Carlie Robinson of Barbados, is preparing to depart her home island this Wednesday for what she calls one of the most high-profile competitive opportunities of her entire professional career. Fresh off a string of strong regional performances that have kept her in peak physical condition, Robinson is gearing up to take on the Mizuno Half Marathon, a featured event held on October 18 as part of the prestigious TCS Amsterdam Marathon weekend. Robinson’s momentum heading into the international race comes off two standout results from earlier this year: she claimed gold in the CARICOM 10-kilometer road race hosted in Saint Lucia this past July, and followed that victory with a solid third-place showing at the Venture Credit Union 5K in Trinidad just weeks later. In an exclusive interview with Barbados TODAY, the veteran distance runner opened up about her months of preparation, long-held goal to compete in the Dutch event, and ambitions for Sunday’s contest. Robinson, a fan favorite and well-recognized name on the Caribbean road racing circuit, emphasized that the Amsterdam race stands as one of the most prestigious international events on the global distance running calendar. “This has been a goal of mine for almost four years, when I first added it to my competitive calendar as a must-do race,” she shared. “I’ve put in months of consistent training all through summer, into September, and now into October. I’ve put in all the work, and I’m ready to push hard for a great result.” Her primary target for the race is setting a new personal best time, an outcome she says is well within reach thanks to the course’s unique characteristics. “The Amsterdam course is flat and fast, which is exactly what any runner looks for when they’re targeting a fast time. Based on my training times over the past few months, I know I’m in good enough shape to crack the top 10 overall if everything goes right,” Robinson explained. Having spent the entire 2024 season training and competing in the warm, humid conditions common to Caribbean nations, Robinson says the cooler autumn temperatures expected in Amsterdam could give her an extra edge on race day. She credits her consistent pre-race preparation and long-time training setup for her excellent form heading into the contest. Robinson has trained for over a decade under coach Leo Garnes as part of his Elite Distance program, which also draws a growing group of young triathletes alongside elite runners. The group puts in three dedicated gym sessions each week, and Robinson says the grind of distance training leaves no shortcuts to success. “Distance running is hard work—there’s no way around the pain and the hours of effort you have to put in. But what I’m really proud of is that I do all of my training right here at home in Barbados. The roads of St. Philip know me better than anywhere,” she said. For Robinson, competing on this global stage also carries an extra layer of meaning: she wants to prove that Caribbean-based athletes can compete with the world’s best without relocating to elite training hubs overseas. “When I line up against top runners from Europe, North America, and Africa in these deep international fields, I get the chance to show that we have what it takes here in the Caribbean. We can prepare for big races right at home and still deliver strong results,” she explained. While Robinson acknowledges she will face stiff competition from elite runners across the globe, she remains quietly confident about her prospects in Sunday’s race. She says a top-10 finish would already be a landmark achievement, marking a strong milestone for Barbadian distance running on the international board. “To put that little Bajan flag in the top 10 of an international race this big would be a win in itself,” she said. “If everything lines up and I have a great day on the course, a top-five finish is well within reach. And if everything goes perfectly and I get a little luck, I could even end up on the podium. Realistically, I’m expecting a top-five or top-10 result, and for me, that’s success.”