The Correcaminos Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10k is probably the most anticipated and popular event on Costa Rica's race calendar today. For this, its seventh edition, it debuts the flagship distance of long-distance athletics with the 42.195 kilometers of the marathon between Cartago and La Sabana and sets a new participation record with 5,140 officially registered athletes.
The most popular distance continues to be the half marathon, which will have 3,000 participants, but demand for the marathon exceeded all expectations. The 500 initial registrations available were consumed in just two weeks and the organizers had to open more spots. In the end, there are 1,290 people registered to line up in the cold at 5 a.m. in Cartago and attempt to overcome Ochomogo and everything else on the way to the finish line in La Sabana.
The 10k distance also grew and will receive 850 runners for this edition. The Correcaminos has not stopped growing since the 800-plus athletes who signed up for its first edition, due in part to the prestige that the organization has earned as one of the best-organized events in the country and one that takes the best care of its athletes.
— RELATED: WHY RUN A MARATHON?
This weekend there will be about 300 people working, including volunteers, timekeepers, flag bearers, and others, according to Gustavo Álvarez, the event director. Traffic control, one of the most difficult tasks for any organizer, and even more difficult when trying to safely move thousands of people between Cartago and San José, will be monitored by the typical squad of traffic officers plus about 60 additional people who will help place cones, barriers, and direct cars in order to protect the athletes.
Marathon
The marathon, the queen distance, will start at 5 a.m. from the small lake at TEC, in Cartago. Remember that there will be starting corrals:
Elite Corral: Men under 3h00', women under 3h15'.
Corral A: Men expecting to finish between 3h01' and 3h30', and women between 3h15' and 3h45'.
Corral B: Men expecting to finish between 3h30' and 4h00', and women between 3h45' and 4h05'.
Open Corral: Men expecting to finish in over 4h00' and women in over 4h05'.
Each athlete's bib number will carry the letter corresponding to their corral, and without it they can only enter the open corral. At the Correcaminos Expo you can request your password to attach to your bib and be able to enter the corral most appropriate for your time expectation. Remember that being in one corral or another is not better or worse, it's simply more convenient because there will be all the athletes who are aiming for a time similar to yours, and therefore it is important, civilized, and honest to respect and position yourself according to what has been established.
— RELATED: STRATEGY, IS IT BETTER TO START FAST OR CONTROLLED?
There will also be pacers, or rabbits, to help you run the marathon in a certain time. There will be pacers for 3h30', 3h45', 4h00', 4h15', and 4h30'. Remember to talk with them at the Expo to find out what their race strategy will be.
Half Marathon
The half marathon will also start at 5 a.m., from Tres Ríos. A total of 3,000 runners are registered for this distance and will be grouped into six corrals:
Elite corral: Men aiming to finish in under 1h15' and women in under 1h30'.
Corral A: Men aiming to finish between 1h15' and 1h30', women between 1h30' and 1h40'.
Corral B: Men between 1h31' and 1h45', women between 1h41' and 1h50'.
Corral C: Men between 1h46' and 1h55', women between 1h51' and 2h00'.
Corral D: Men between 1h56' and 2h10', women between 2h01' and 2h10'.
Open Corral: Athletes who will take more than 2h10' or who don't have the corral mark on their bib.
Also remember to confirm your corral at the Expo and talk with the pacers if you plan to use them as a reference in the race. There will be pacers to finish in 1:30, 1:35, 1:40, 1:45, 1:50, 1:55, 2:00, 2:05, 2:10, and 2:15.
The 10k
The 10k will start at 8:30 a.m. in front of the Bar Association building. There will be no starting corrals for the 850 people registered in this distance.
The Expo
The Correcaminos Expo will be at the indoor track of the National Stadium, Friday, July 8, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 9, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. To pick up your packet you only need to bring your ID, although the process is faster if you bring your order number or receipt. You cannot enter the track in heels or with food. There will be parking for about 200 cars at the north entrance.
— RELATED: WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET ON RACE DAY.
The Expo is very important because not only do you pick up your packet there, but you also get the password to enter your respective corral, coordinate with the pacers, and register for the transportation service on race day for marathon and half marathon runners. On race day, buses will depart starting at 3 a.m. only from the Colón Building, and there will be no stops along the way. The last bus is expected to depart at approximately 3:30 a.m.
At the Expo there will also be commercial booths with the most recognized athletic brands, from watches, shoes, and clothing to equipment, supplements, specialized clinics, and travel agencies. It's a whole world of offers and items for runners, apart from the joy of spending time with hundreds of athletes from the event. At 6 p.m. on Friday the elite athletes will be there to chat with them and take photos.
Look for our detailed course analysis for each distance coming soon.
WE ALSO RECOMMEND YOU READ:
— COURSE ANALYSIS OF THE CORRECAMINOS MARATHON, HALF MARATHON, AND 10K.
