Start of the Havana Marathon, the Marabana.    Photo from Archives

Havana, October 27 (JIT)-- The main Cuban marathon event, the Havana Marathon (Marabana), will start and finish on November 20 in front of the Ramón Fonst Multipurpose Hall in Havana.

This was confirmed to JIT by Carlos Gattorno Correa, director of the National Commission of Marabana-Maracuba Races and Walks (CNCC), in charge of organizing the race.

"We conducted a diagnosis of the circuits where Marabana was traditionally run, reaching the conclusion that it was necessary to make important changes," he added.

Gattorno pointed out the need to change the starting place for one that offered greater capacity and organizational facilities in a sports facility, with spaces for logistics and with benefits for the runners given the altitude of the terrain in the first 10 km.

Also of great interest were the locations of sites to hold cultural activities and establish points of supply and attention to the runner.

"The study was conducted by five specialists in race event organization, who have worked on marathons in different continents. Four of them are official measurers for the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), and three serve as judges for the international technical organization, referees for walking and sports for people with disabilities," noted Gattorno.

"The competent bodies of internal order, transit, transportation and roadways of the Havana government's insurance group were consulted to reach a consensus regarding the immediate future of Marabana, an emblematic event of Cuba's racing system," the executive concluded.

Therefore, there will be important changes in the routes of the different distances that Marabana organizes, such as the marathon (42.195 km), the half marathon (21.0975), the 10 and five kilometers.

CIRCUIT SPECIFICATIONS

Half marathon and marathon route 

Start and finish: Sala Polivalente Ramón Fonst, located on Avenida Independencia between Carlos III and 19 de Mayo, extreme left traffic lane.

Right turn on Carlos III looking for the extreme right lane until Belascoaín; continue along Reina Street until Águila, left turn until Dragones, right turn along Dragones until Prado; along Prado until Ánimas, right turn until Monserrate; along Monserrate until Cárcel and from there to Avenida de los Estudiantes until Malecón.

Continue along Malecón until above the tunnel in front of Restaurant 1830, to Calle 24 until Calle 11, turn left until Calle 12, turn right until Calle 23; along 23 until Calle 26, turn left along 26 until the Ciudad Deportiva traffic circle; along Avenida Independencia to Santa Catalina, turn left along Santa Catalina to Primelles, turn left along Primelles to Vía Blanca, turn left along the extreme right of Vía Blanca to the Ciudad Deportiva traffic circle; turn right onto Avenida Independencia along the extreme right lanes to Calle Aranguren, joining the left lanes to the finish line.               

10-kilometer race course 

Start and finish: From Sala Polivalente Ramón Fonst in traffic direction extreme left.

Turn right at Carlos III looking for the extreme right lane until Belascoaín to continue along Reina street until Águila, turn left until Dragones, turn right along Dragones until Prado and from there to Ánimas, turn right until Monserrate and from there to Cárcel; from there to Avenida de los Estudiantes until Malecón.

Along Malecón, north lane to return to Cárcel street by south lane to Prado and from there to Dragones street, right turn to Águila, left turn to Reina and right turn to Belascoaií. On Carlos III, extreme right lane until the intersection with Zapata, from there to Carlos Manuel de Céspedes street, turn right until 19 de Mayo and turn left until the finish line.

5-kilometer race course 

Start: From the Ramón Fonst Multipurpose Hall, in the extreme left traffic lane. Turn right at Carlos III, looking for the extreme right lane until Belascoaiín. Continue along Reina street until Águila, turn left until Dragones, turn right along Dragones until Prado; along Prado until Ánimas, turn right until Monserrate; along Monserrate until Cárcel and from there to Avenida de los Estudiantes until Malecón, where the finish line will be. 

Route of the popular race

Saturday, November 19, start at 10:00 a.m.