The 35th edition of Marabana, the main marathon race in Cuba, is getting closer and closer and there are reasons to think that it will have special borders, because it will be face-to-face again with the particularity that only Cuban runners will participate.
And it is that with COVID-19 still lurking, no oversight is allowed, hence the organizers, with Carlos Gattorno as their guide, strive to ensure compliance with each of the measures to avoid contagion with this disease.
In this regard, Gattorno, director of the Marabana / Maracuba project, told the Cuban News Agency that as part of the sanitary protocols, the runners will at all times remain with their nasobuco and can only remove it when they reach the Malecón area; while when entering the goal they will put it on again.
He specified that the start on Sunday, November 21, at eight in the morning, will be organized by blocks of 300 runners previously ordered and identified with the number they were given, an amount that is due to the fact that physical distance between the walkers can be guaranteed and walkers in the departure area.
Hands will also be disinfected and the temperature taken for all participants, who will be given a bottle of water before the start of the race for hydration, he pointed out about this always important element.
Health is paramount for us and to that end we are working, without neglecting any detail, said the experienced manager, experienced in “a thousand organizational battles” of such events.
Held in 2020 virtually due to the pandemic, this year Marabana will have a limit of three thousand runners, who will run the distance of 13 kilometers (km), starting on Monserrate Avenue in front of the equestrian statue of José Martí in the park March 13, and finish in the Coliseum of the Sports City.
In addition, taking into account that it is the beginning of face-to-face races in Cuba, it will be convened in a participatory, non-competitive way, for this reason there will be no awards and it will constitute a party for the reunion of Cuban walkers after two years of sanitary restrictions. due to COVID-19.
Another reason for joy is that that same day 21 Maracuba will be held in all the provinces, municipalities, population centers and mountains of the country, with a distance to travel of three km.
These activities for peace, in rejection of the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States against Cuba and in support of the Revolution, are part of the commemorative celebrations for the 502 anniversary of the founding of the Villa de San Cristóbal de La Habana and They also greet November 19, Day of Physical Culture and Sports.
In the case of Marabana, Gattorno pointed out that a few days after its 35th edition, the number of people who raise their numbers on the Facebook page @andarinescubanos continues to grow, as a sign of interest in participating.
In turn, he explained that the collection of the number will be from 17 to 19 next at the project offices, in the Sports City coliseum, and mentioned as a very important element that each person must carry their card with the complete vaccination scheme against COVID-19.
Then, everything is being ready for the reunion of lovers of long-term races, and although it is true that they will be less than usual, those who are present will say Yes to Life through the practice of physical exercise, an option always beneficial for the body and mind.
Likewise, each participant will be in charge of preserving that spirit that identifies the event, showing unlimited will and transmitting a clear message, I can.
And it is the protagonists, without distinction of race, age or physical condition, they are part of the large family of Marabana, made up of thousands of walkers that hopefully in 2022, there will be many more in the streets of the capital of all Cubans.
