By IANS,
Mexico City : The organisers of the 30th Mexico City International Marathon expect about 18,000 runners to participate in the race Sep 2.
Mexico City Sports Institute (IDDF) Director Francisco Javier Lopez told a press conference Tuesday that 13,000 runners from 14 countries had already registered for the race, reports Xinhua.
Lopez said 10,000 runners were expected to take part in the full marathon and another 8,000 in the half-marathon, including top-tier athletes from Kenya, Brazil, Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Guatemala, the Netherlands and Japan.
The little over 42-kilometre route will begin and end at the city’s main square, the Zocalo, and take in some 20 monuments, museums and other major landmarks along the way.
The Zocalo, located 2,229 metres above sea level, will be the route’s lowest point, with the highest point at kilometre 15, in the city’s central Chapultepec Park, at 2,286 metres above sea level.
The winner of the men’s and women’s categories will receive a cash prize of 350,000 pesos ($27,000), with an additional bonus of 150,000 pesos ($11,500) if he or she breaks the record of 2 hours, 12 minutes and 11 seconds for men, and 2 hours, 38 minutes and 24 seconds for women.