Ya, mon.

While the first snow of the winter was falling in Washington, D.C., a torchlight ceremony complete with Rastafarian drummers marked the start of the third Reggae Marathon in Negril, Jamaica. The temperature, at 5:15 a.m., was 75 degrees.

A little more than three hours later, Denise Knickman from Baltimore crossed the finish line at Long Bay Beach to win the women's race in 3:04:48.

"These are easily the toughest conditions I've ever raced in," an exhausted Knickman said. "But I think I did okay."

Indeed she did, beating second-place finisher Ulrike Puchner from Austria by nearly ten minutes. Anneli Sodergards from Sweden was third in 3:18:18.

Jamaican favorite son Linton McKenzie (43), won the men's race in 2:36:46. His nephew, 21-year-old Gregory McKenzie, was second in 2:43:53. Carlos Olivares from Venezuela took third in 2:45:59. In all, nearly 400 runners from 13 countries participated in the marathon and half-marathon.

The elder McKenzie called his effort "a good training run--it wasn't too hot and I felt strong the entire way." One man's ceiling is another man's floor.

Mike Woodman (38) from Baltimore finished fourth in 2:46. He traveled to Jamaica with Knickman, who won the trip from Cool Runnings at the Philadelphia Distance Run in September.

"It's a different kind of race down here," Woodman said. "Not exactly like running through Baltimore. A bull got onto the course around 15 or 16 miles, and all I could think was that I've got this red shirt on. Fortunately, he wasn't too interested in me."

Different sums up much of how things go at the Reggae Marathon, the ultimate destination race. Drinks every mile came in sealed baggies--how do they do that?--which non-natives particularly seemed to enjoy. Spectators lining the course were as likely to dance for the runners as to shout. Bob and Rita Marley statuette trophies were presented to the winners of the men's and women's race, respectively. And temperatures were well into the 80s by the time most runners finished.

At the finish line, with the waves crashing on a pristine beach only a short stagger away, volunteers hacked open fresh coconuts with menacing-looking machetes to provide natural refreshment to the runners. A variety of more traditional fresh fruit was also available. And of course, once the business end of the trip was over, the fun in Jamaica was only beginning. The last mile of the course, which hugs the western coast of the island, is virtually lined with a variety of all-inclusive resorts, from the quiet Point Village to the sophisticated Sandals and Swept Away resorts to the world-famous and hedonistic Hedonism II.

Tourists and even non-runners visit the Caribbean to get away, and if a half or full marathon eases the conscience and makes an early winter getaway a travel option, the Reggae Marathon may be just the ticket. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the U.S., the Caribbean generally and Jamaica in particular have been hit hard by the decrease in travel, so attractive travel packages are available, according to the Jamaican tourist board, which is a race sponsor. And the marathon is run just prior to the start of the winter tourist season, when flights (Air Jamaica, mon) and resort rates are very reasonable.

This year's fourth Reggae Marathon is December 4. Pack the running shoes, swimsuit and suntan lotion--now.