The streets of Argentina’s capital will turn into a race track on Sunday morning as 12,000 runners hit the tarmac for the Buenos Aires Marathon.
Starting at 7 a.m. from the intersection of Figueroa Alcorta and Dorrego, just north of the Rosedal, the 42-kilometer route will take athletes up past River Plate’s stadium and the ex-ESMA as the sun rises.
Runners then turn around and pass the city’s landmarks, including the Obelisk, the Casa Rosada, and La Boca’s stadium, before turning north again to finish back where they started.
Beside the beautiful route, the Buenos Aires Marathon is popular for being a flat course, and the organizers say it’s the fastest marathon in Latin America. That means athletes travel from countries around the world to compete and crush their personal records.
Women’s defending champion Rodah Jepkorir Tanui from Kenya is back this year. She’s expected to compete for the podium against compatriots Pamela Jpkosgei Rotich and Sharon Jemutai Cherop.
Kenyans also dominate the men’s elite section: Paul Tanui, an Olympic silver medalist in the 10,000 meters, will run his first marathon, rubbing shoulders with four competitors who have broken the barrier of 2 hours, 10 minutes: countrymen Cornelius Kibet Kiplagat and Edwin Kiptoo, as well as Fikadu Kebede and Asnake Dubre Negano of Ethiopia.
Along the route, live music from rock bands, DJs and a batucada band will keep the athletes’ spirits up.
The race sold out this year, but spectators are welcome to head to the Palermo parks or other spots along the route to watch — keep an eye out for our managing editor, Amy!
If you’re feeling inspired to lace up your running shoes, Asociación Ñandú, which organizes the race, is holding a 10k in San Isidro, just to the north of Buenos Aires, on November 5.
And if you’re not running, be aware that the roads around the course will be closed — so if you’re taking a bus or driving near the route on Sunday morning, factor in a little extra time for diversions. Runners have to complete the course within six hours, so the route should start to clear by early afternoon.
Cover Photo Credit: Asociación Ñandú