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Paralympic Athletes Laud New Mexico City Half Marathon Route
🇲🇽 Mexico /Sports

Paralympic Athletes Laud New Mexico City Half Marathon Route

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Paralympic athletes Gonzalo Valdovinos and Michel Muñoz praised the new route for the Mexico City Half Marathon.
  • Both athletes found the course, which started at the Hemiciclo a Benito Juárez and finished at the Angel of Independence, to be comfortable and advantageous for their performances.
  • Valdovinos, a three-time wheelchair champion, noted the new route's inclines favored his racing style, while Muñoz, competing on a skateboard, appreciated the flatter surface compared to previous cobblestone routes.

The redesigned course for the Mexico City Half Marathon has earned praise from Paralympic athletes Gonzalo Valdovinos and Michel Muñoz, who found the new layout conducive to their performances. The race, in its nineteenth edition, commenced at the Hemiciclo a Benito Juárez and concluded at the iconic Angel of Independence, traversing parts of the Bosque de Chapultepec.

The route is much better than last year. It's better marked. [...] I'm happy to have won again.

— Gonzalo ValdovinosCommenting on the new Mexico City Half Marathon route after winning the men's wheelchair category.

Gonzalo Valdovinos, who secured his third consecutive victory in the men's wheelchair category, acknowledged the route's sustained incline. However, he explained that this feature played to his strengths, enabling him to finish with a time of one hour, three minutes, and fifty-one seconds. "The route is much better than last year. It's better marked. [...] I'm happy to have won again," Valdovinos shared, adding that the uphill sections were particularly beneficial for him.

Michel Muñoz, a Mexican representative at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics who competed on a skateboard, echoed Valdovinos's positive assessment. He completed the 21.0975-kilometer race feeling strong, despite its demanding nature. Muñoz noted that the new route's predominantly flat surface was a significant improvement over previous courses that included cobblestones, which he found detrimental to his back and hips. "I liked this route more. The truth is that the surface as a whole is flatter. I can maintain a more consistent rhythm," Muñoz stated.

I liked this route more. The truth is that the surface as a whole is flatter. I can maintain a more consistent rhythm.

— Michel MuñozDescribing his experience with the new Mexico City Half Marathon course while competing on a skateboard.

Both athletes highlighted the improved course marking and the overall suitability of the terrain for their respective disciplines. The positive feedback from these elite athletes underscores the success of the route modifications aimed at enhancing the race experience for all participants.

While there are many ups and downs, one just needs to be cautious, but everything is fine. It was difficult because the climb is longer, and the challenge was to maintain the pace.

— Gonzalo ValdovinosDiscussing the challenges and advantages of the new Mexico City Half Marathon route.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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