Cuban runners are celebrating again. The 35th edition of Marabana and the 20th edition of Maracuba will be held on Sunday, November 21, in person for Cubans and virtually for participants around the world.
According to the digital portal jit.cu, this time runners and walkers will race only 13 kilometers through the streets of Cuba's capital city and three kilometers in other provinces and municipalities.
Marabana will begin at 13 de Marzo Park on Monserrate Avenue and will run along Cárcel Street to Malecón, continuing to the 1830 restaurant, turn onto Calzada, and taking 12th Street, to 23rd Avenue and 26th to Boyeros, and onto Santa Catalina to conclude at Ciudad Deportiva.
Since this is the re-initiation of in-person races, this year’s event will be a participatory race, with no prizes awarded, serving as a celebration for Cuban runners to re-unite after two years of necessary isolation.
This race will also represent an expression of appreciation for the country’s efforts to ensure vaccination of our entire people.
Only 3,000 runners will be present at the start, who, before picking up their race bibs, must all confirm, on paper or digitally, that they are fully vaccinated.
According to organizers, there is no limit on the number of walkers, who may complete up to seven kilometers and will join the race at kilometer one, after the runners’ start.
Another measure outlined in the call is that participants will start in blocks of 300 runners, previously ordered and identified by bib number, to ensure physical distancing from the start, in accordance with the country’s pandemic protocol.
Also established is the provision that all participants will wear facemasks, which may be removed on the stretch along the Malecón to the finish line, where they are expected to once again use a protective face covering.
The blocks of participants will be separated by railings; body temperature will be taken at the entrance, while steps are being taken to ensure that hands and shoes are disinfected.
