Before the Marathon

On Sunday, August 31st, the 42nd Mexico City Marathon was held.

On Saturday, the day before the race, Alejandro and I noticed large crowds at the World Trade Center.  Around 30,000 people from around the world were registered to participate in the marathon, and they were signing in.

 This sign shows the route of the marathon. 

The race begins at the Olympic Stadium by the National University of Mexico.  The course continues down Insurgentes Avenue, goes through Chaputepec Park, through the ritzy Polanco neighborhood, up Paseo de la Reforma, and ends at the Zócalo.  It has been called one of the most scenic marathon routes, since it passes so many of the city's landmarks.

There was a large marathon-related expo at the World Trade Center.  Admission was free, so we went in and wandered around for a while.  The exhibitors included vendors of athletic clothing and fitness equipment, health food and supplements.  There were also booths promoting marathons in other cities... in Mexico (for example Mérida and Veracruz), and in other countries (Miami, Toronto and Cali, Colombia).

Each of us bought a couple of t-shirts that caught our eye, even though neither one of us need more clothing.

 

This one was interesting because the designs are based on the art the Tarahuamara, a tribe from the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua who are famous for their skill as long-distance runners.