KNOWN for his theatrics on the sidelines whenever the Reggae Boyz play, team mascot, the Reggae Tiger, can always be seen jumping and prancing and bringing positive vibes to the crowd.

But come Saturday, December 4, Marlon Wilson — who dons the Reggae Tiger costume — will be transformed into “Reggae Runner”, during the 10th staging of the Welch’s Heart Health Fund Run 2010 Reggae Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K events.

“The Heart Foundation is more than just a worthy cause and anything to do with health and good lifestyle, the Reggae Tiger and the management of Pings totally support a good lifestyle and agree with people living a healthy lifestyle, so we give this our support a 100 per cent,” said Wilson.

“Every year from this started we give our support in every way that we can. We go out there and show people to stay fit and in a hot costume like this, you’re supposed to imagine the heat in the Reggae Tiger outfit in the burning sun,” he noted.

“Last year, I did like 38 laps in the costume and… showing people that by even doing one lap, how healthy you can be,” revealed Wilson.

He added: “The heart is one of the most valuable things in your system, so we give thanks for the run and the Reggae Tiger is for the kids.”

Last year, a whopping 21 nations were represented, which was a big boost for Jamaica’s sport’s tourism, and expectation are high this year.

Approximately $1 million will be available in total prize monies. Entry fees for the marathon and Half-Marathon are US$95 per person and US$70 for the 10K. Deadline for entries close on November 24.

Following the Reggae Marathon, Reggae Tiger will revert to his more familiar role of spurring on the Reggae Boyz during yet another World Cup football campaign.

Decked in the Jamaican colours of black, green and gold, the Reggae Tiger has gained fame and a place with the national football team.

Said Wilson: “(I’m) real anxious, because we have an exciting costume coming out and I feel like the people will gravitate to him (Reggae Tiger)”.

He added: “My manager Lorenzo Pearson, the manager of Ping Fabric, is working on it and you will not only see one Reggae Tiger, you will see two. You will have the original tiger, then the cub tiger. It will be fun because we’re planning a whole heap of things,” Wilson told the Sunday Observer.

The 34-year-old Wilson said he has been around since 1998, but was in the background as the original Reggae Tiger Wally Walters strutted his stuff.

“I was always around, but at first I didn’t find it much fun. The first time I actually wear a costume I was representing the (Soca) Lion from Trinidad against Tiger,” said Wilson.

“I do it for the love of my country even though they haven’t taken me overseas as yet, but I like doing this for my country. It is not a money venture thing; it’s for the love of my country,” he reiterated.