At nine o’clock on Sunday morning, the scene in the capital Cáceres changed. Billboards and staff at the intersection noted that it would soon be impossible to get there, with the street blocked and people heading to the Plaza Mayor to watch the runners leave. This is the Cáceres Half Marathon, which this morning attracted 1,000 runners for its 16th edition. Race director and Paralympic athlete Quini Carrasco pointed out the number of 1,011 runners at the same finish line.
By 2022, the number of events will reach around 600. Despite the significant increase in numbers, the aim is to continue growing, said sports councilor Emilio Borrega, who confirmed that the Municipal Sports Institute (IMD) is already working to make next year’s event possible in April, at most March or May. September will be excluded from the new contract, the specifications of which have been outlined. The winners of the day were athletes Cáceres Hussam Benab and Jemma Martin. In the 10.5 km race, Daniel López from Torrejoncilla was victorious.
Hundreds of people welcomed the athletes in the square, and with the cooperation of 50 Cefot members, the event went from strength to strength.
The military helped ensure the day was uneventful. Among them is Mohamed Amim, who has been staying at Cáceres for the past four months and has taken up a spot under the arcade so that absent-minded people don’t slip in mid-game. «We organize this passage and cooperate with the police in everything. I’m from Melilla. Cáceres is very much my city, so I fit in well. We will be leaving on October 31st. he said, telling passers-by that the area was closed to traffic.
Around 20 local police officers also took part in the game, with sports councilors highlighting a “shift in participation”. «This is evident in the environment. “It’s a sports festival because of the good weather and the large number of spectators,” he concluded.
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The game starts promptly at ten o’clock in the morning. In less than a minute Hussam Benab was crowned at the end of San Anton, completely devoid of building materials. By then he had put some distance between himself and his pursuers. The test was a coup of authority for the Moroccan athlete and European 50km champion who was born in Oujda but lives in Extremadura. He has already won in 2021. This time he won on April 1, 2020. He overtook Alexander Miguel Carrillo in second and Javier Alves of Cáceres in third. There were registrants from nearly 200 locations and participants from Portugal.
«I’m happy because everything went the way I wanted and even faster than I expected. I have a great feeling. “I ran another half marathon last week and the fatigue was noticeable,” Benab said. His next challenge is the world championship. City Council is encouraged to support this event. “I congratulate the organization and the Municipal Sports Institute, but we must promote this test so that it is heard throughout Spain. It can continue to develop and introduce elite athletes. Little by little. Cáceres deserves to be the best in Spain One of the better half marathons.
Emilio Borrega, part of the municipal team responsible for the sports area, took on this need. He acknowledged that work was already underway on the next appointment, but it would not be in September. “The challenge is ambitious. Cáceres has to be on the national half-marathon circuit so it’s attractive and people will come,” he said. He agreed that one thousand participants “is an important number”, but added that in a half-marathon such as those in Salamanca, Merida or Córdoba, using mirrors, this number It could be doubled in the mid-term to serve as a “reference test and have an approved and interesting track” to compete on. “
The city council hopes the 2024 half marathon will be held in April. «The runners themselves tell us that April is a more favorable date. A half marathon requires two to three months of training, and training in the hot weather in August is more complicated. However, March or May cannot be ruled out.
“My goal is to get on the national podium. “I’m always looking for the moment to be able to train in August”
Daniel Lopez
10.5km champion
Daniel Lopez, the 10.5-kilometer champion, discussed these difficulties during training in August. The athlete from Torrejoncira combines his training with his job as a lifeguard at the Waldensing pool. «I have been training for a month to prepare for the indoor track and field events and the 1,500 meters. My goal is to get on the national podium. “I’ve been looking for an opportunity to be able to train in August,” the high school sophomore revealed. Regarding the competition, he revealed that “the most difficult part was being in the historic center”.
Mercedes Pila finished second this time in sporting fashion. Gema Martín Borgas won with a time of 1.17.19. For her part, the two-time champion Ecuadorian athlete said it was “a great and fun competition.” Reaching the finish line, he used the half-marathon as an opportunity to “sell” Cáceres as a tourist destination: “Life here is good, the people are loving, and there are beautiful places. “I invite people from outside to come and learn,” He said goodbye. Meanwhile, volunteers from Los Delfines joined Peri, Beatriz and Mila in handing out bottled water to ease the commute to the plaza from San Juan, España Avenue, which cuts through much of the center. Gil Gil Cordero and Ruta de la Plata overcame fatigue on the cobblestones of the old stage to compete in a half-marathon with 1,000 runners.
Caceres wants to conquer “The Terminator”
José Carlos Herrero and Sara Gomez set off together and reached the finish line together. They traveled from San Cristóbal in Laguna to Cáceres on vacation with the goal of running a half marathon. They usually do this on other similar dates. “We organized a route through Extremadura and prepared it in line with the race, since it is on a World Heritage circuit,” Sara emphasized. Jose Carlos said it was a “pleasant and interesting test that went by very quickly” and he celebrated by hugging his partner on arrival. They are “finishers,” athletes who see their dedication and hard work pay off as they complete the course. Cáceres wants to conquer them and is planning a half-marathon that will also target them. «We want to attract “finishers”, people who come on weekends to enjoy sports with their families. It’s increased a lot this year because of the promotions we’ve done. We will continue this route. Runners who enjoyed running this year will do it again next year,” analyzed Cáceres Sports Councilor Emilio Borrega.