Marabana is Havana’s annual marathon. Typically an exercise for me in making resolutions to get fit and participate in the race the next year, or a reminder that last’s year’s resolution is now forfeit. Actually, around 2,750 people from 73 countries were motivated enough this year to get to the starting line for the 7am start of the 27th International Marathon of Havana (Marabana) last Sunday. This is run alongside the Maracuba Marathon which takes place all across the country and has massive participation.
The marathon kicked off at 7:00 am sharp on November 18, 2012. November is a month that has a special meaning for Cuban sports—the National Day of Physical Culture and Sports is celebrated in this month—and for Havana, which was founded on November 16 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site also in this month.
2012 Race winners
32 year old Yailen Garcia, from Matanzas, was the first woman to reach the finish line, covering the distance in 2 hours 45 minutes and 27 seconds. Garcia’s mark is one of the best registered for the race; the Marabana record is hold by Emperatriz Wilson, also from Cuba (2:43:39). The first man to hit the finish line was Jorge Luis Suarez who won for the second time improving his time and his personal record to 2 hours, 23 minutes and 19 seconds. The half marathon was won by Santiago de Cuba’s Dailín Belmonte in the woman’s category while Richer Perez was the winner in the men’s.
