Marathon CDMX in Ciudad Mexico, Mexico of course complete, and my 7th country. Have you ever had everything go so well only to have it completely ruined in the end? That was the case with this race. Not my performance, it was a train wreck from the beginning, but the marathon itself was great, lots of course support, they even spaced out the water tables so that everyone doesn’t crowd them. Some light hills, but the elevation of 7500 is not to be discounted. The weather was relatively mild (low 60s), and I’ve never seen so many people handing out water, cola, honey, nutella, gummies, etc. Mexico City seems to love its marathon, all the major sites of the city itself seem to be incorporated into the course. I don’t usually love big city marathons, only one comes to mind, Chicago, but I loved this marathon, and then like Fredo, it broke my heart. The race starts at the Zocalo, and ends in the Olympic Stadium, but does not seem to offer busses back to the start, only the metro, which is free to marathoners. Unfortunately that bus line was an hour and a half long. Coupled with the metro time it took me longer to return to my hotel than the marathon winner took to finish the race.
The start.
El Chapulín Colorado
Some of the great support
The Angel of Independence
If you were hoping for more clever signs in Spanish, you would be wrong.
Awesome mascot!
So Jumbotron for the corrals, ok typical for a big city marathon, but they just turned it to Canal Once so we were watching a cooking program while we waited to start. Weird.
A vertical garden created as part of the green city initiative, VerdeMX
The underground tunnel into the stadium.
This is why they say don’t drink the water, kids. Seriously though, interesting way to create a fountain on Chapultepec Avenue.
No worries, it’s a marathon emotional support dog.
View of the cathedral in the zocalo from the marathon.
The finish on the Olympic track
Una calaca
The Plaza of the Constitution, commonly called the Zócalo, or Plaza Mayor. Once again, open square cathedral in the center, not unlike the Plaza de Armas in Santiago, very Spanish colonial.
I saw these guys in Vegas.
The revolution will not be exercised.
I think you’re confusing films, bro.
Luchador Super Muñeca
Palace of fine arts
Some on course entertainment.
The NFL is reaching out to Latin American audiences. Good luck.
Bib
Close enough. Fun fact: Spanish naming customs use a given name, then your father’s surname, and your mother’s surname. When the first surname is very common one will often use both (e.g. Gabriel Garcia Marquez) as such they are properly addressed by the first surname, Mr. Garcia por ejemplo.
Shirt front
Shirt back
The medal
A word of praise for my hotel. I’ve been a diamond member (30 stays minimium a year) with Hilton for years and I find it nearly impossible to get a late checkout. In Olathe, Kansas of all places they told me 11. Suck it loyal customer. This is Olathe, the big city. Meanwhile in one of the world’s most populous cities, a hotel that doesn’t know me from Adam gave me a 4pm checkout. This is how you do hospitality.
