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1st PACIFICO INTERNATIONAL MARATHON
By Shana Hugh
By 4:30a.m., November 14, the streets were deserted. At 4:00a.m. curfew had banned all unauthorized vehicles from the race route: along Sábalo Cerritos, through Camarón Sábalo and along the malecón to Olas Altas. All but a few stray people had cleared the streets and those remaining were slowly making their way home from the taco stands, the only businesses still open on this special morning. It was a different sort of picture of Mazatlán: a sort of "calm before the storm." But what an impressive storm it was. With the 6:30a.m. start time quickly approaching, the streets filled up in a hurry. Participants in the first Grand Pacifico Marathon jogged their way to the start line in front of the El Cid hotel while anxious spectators followed close behind. The turnout was incredible. Far surpassing all expectations in both competitors and crowd participation, an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 onlookers cheered and cheered in support of the 2,617 athletes competing in the challenging 42km race. The route was a tough one, especially in the relentless heat and humidity, but was definately a scenic course. The extraordinary circuit began and finished outside the hotel El Cid, along Camarón Sábalo. It continued north, past the Marina Mazatlan and down Sábalo Cerritos, then back down Camarón Sábalo, through the Golden Zone, up and back down Rafael Buelna, and along the picturesque malecon to Olas Altas, before doubling back to the starting point. The course provided a unique landscape to both athletes and spectators, including 20km of seaside competition. The following morning, dozens of photos and stories, recapping the exciting race, were splashed across the newspapers. Although no one broke the national record of 2:12:30 for the men's division or 2:34:14 for the women's, Wilson Musto of Kenya came close with a time of

2:16:41. In the women's division, Maricarmen Díaz of México triumphed with a time of 2:45:38. As a result, each winner walked away with a brand-new Mercedes Benz A-class. Although Musto and Díaz received much of the glory, winners in the Open, Masters, Veterans and Physically Disabled categories were awarded their share of the 508,000 pesos in prizes. But it's fair to say that the day was a victory for all competitors, who ran 42km in an average temperature of 19 degrees celsius (66.2 degrees fahrenheit) and in an astonishing humidity rate of over 60 percent. In addition to the hard work of those who participated in the 42km marathon on November 14, credit is also due to the courageous and dedicated runners of the half marathon (21km), which was run simultaneously with the 42km run, and the runners in the 10km race held the previous day. The two-day event hosted a multitude of talented athletes. (My personal congratulations to all competitors. My own daily 3km jog on the beach leaves me gasping for air. I have nothing but admiration for the mental and physical training and perseverance required for a race of this magnitude.) The first Grand Pacifico Marathon was a huge success. Affectionately termed the "Carnaval of Sports," or "carnaval deportivo," the Pacifico Marathon had all the makings of a successful Carnaval. With music, celebrations and an overwhelming crowd of enthusiastic, cheering people, standing among the spectators was like watching the Carnaval parade, only this event started and ended on time. By noon, the streets had returned to the hustle and bustle of "anyday" in Mazatlán, with the sounds of whistling pulmonias and general chatter. All that remained of the race were the blue route lines on the road and the excitement of a second Grand Pacifico Marathon next November.

 

 

Waiting for the race to begin

 

 

 

 

And they're off!...

 

 

 

 

A view of the route

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