The 15th edition of the Marathon of the Iguazu Falls gathered three thousand runners with the best stage of one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
On Sunday, May 5, promoting sport and health in relation to the nature of the Iguaçu National Park, the 15th half marathon of the cataracts and the 8k Challenge of the Iguazu Falls were held. The race, which is already traditional in the sports calendar, brought together three thousand athletes from eight countries and 326 cities in the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu.
The runners and companions arrived before the sun rose to attend the event. Families and friends were able to accompany and encourage athletes in a special space, next to the beginning and arrival of the race.
The majority of the participants were from Brazilian runners. Among the eight countries present, the neighbors of the border, Paraguay and Argentina were the most representative. But the race also had athletes who traveled to run in the Iguazu Falls, among them were participants from Spain, the United States, Germany, Colombia and Australia.
The first to cross the 21 km route was Derlys Ayala from Paraguay, who won the race for the second consecutive year. “It is a very special half marathon for the National Park circuit. It is characterized by beautiful landscapes, humidity and a heavy path. It is a great honor that we can compete and even won for the second consecutive year. I hope to return in the next edition”.
Representing the women, the 21 km champion was Maria José Sotelo, from Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. “The race in the park is something that I like a lot. I like up and down, so this circuit is something I wanted, it is a gift, my first half marathon of the cataracts. This atmosphere makes me perform and squeeze to the fullest”.
In the 8K challenge edition, the winner was Marcos da Silva Suzarth, by Foz do Iguaçu. “It is unique to run at home, I live here 18 years ago. It was a beautiful victory. The route is wonderful! Running in the National Park does not have the same. I want to thank my family, God and the Athletics Institute of Foz do Iguaçu. I hope to live this experience again”.
The winner of the 8K challenge was Elaine Vieira Cardoso Quintão, from Minas Gerais. “It was a challenge for me because I am used to running in my city. On the way, I felt the weight of the test and it was a challenge, but overcome. I am very happy, all efforts are worth, all dedication. Every moment of weakness, I thought about my children, that I left them in Minas Gerais. A lot of dedication, but it was worth it”.
For Munir Calaça, director of Urbia Cataratas, the race is an inspiration. “First I thank our entire team for planning and execution. It was a perfect execution. Only praise, and this puts us at another level, especially for this event that we have the expectation of making it more international than it is. Today was marked, and we are prepared for this, for the international test”.
José Ulises, head of the Iguaçu National Park, revealed the importance of the event. “Sport in nature is the possibility of increasing the interest of society in the existence of protected areas. So, when we have human activities, cultural activities, the interest of people in the protection of this place increases, from the love of the Iguaçu National Park. Therefore, it is in this sense that it can be understood that there are possibilities to associate environmental conservation with sports activities. Then people receive the half marathon with great joy. ”
It should be remembered that the event was declared as neutral carbon, thus collaborating with the preservation of the planet and the reduction of the impacts of global warming, the 15th half marathon of the cataracts was a neutral carbon event, for the acquisition of credits of ONU carbon. It consists of the neutralization of all test gas emissions for the purchase of these carbon credits. The impact reduction also addresses new measures that will be taken, with an operational settings plan for the event.
The 16th edition of the Media Marathon of the Falls already has an established date for 2025: it will be May 18. And after the historical edition of the 15, the organization promises an even better event, which combines nature and sports in the Iguaçu National Park.
