See tips for the São Paulo Marathon – 03/30/2023 – Na Corrida

On Sunday (2) the 27th edition of the São Paulo International Marathon takes place. It is one of the main races in the country and the most traditional long-distance race in the city.

(By now I hope you already know that São Silvestre is not a marathon).

Unlike the great marathons in the world, the race in São Paulo brings together, on the same day, and on the same course, different distances. While in New York or Boston only athletes willing to run the 42 km marathon participate, in São Paulo it is possible to register in different categories, from 5 km. The reason is economic. Shorter distances are cheaper for the organizer and have more athletes able to participate. As the streets are already closed for the marathon, it makes sense to take advantage of the infrastructure and increase options for runners.

I ran the 42 km of the São Paulo Marathon in 2018, before the pandemic interrupted street races in the country. Below, I list some last-minute tips I picked up from organizing and a little bit from my personal experience.

Route: The route is the same as last year. The start takes place in front of the obelisk in Ibirapuera Park. Roughly speaking, there is a round trip to USP and Parque Vila-Lobos, in the western part of the city. Shorter distances are variations within this major axis. The path is relatively flat by São Paulo standards, but it is far from easy. On the contrary. The São Paulo Marathon is considered one of the most difficult in the country. Entering and exiting the tunnels is especially tiring.

Don’t miss the time: You trained a lot for this test. It doesn’t hurt to arrive a little earlier. Remember that the start happens in waves. The first group, made up of the marathon elite, leaves at 6:10 am. After that, there are new starts every 5 minutes, according to the pace and distance to be covered by the athlete. The last group leaves the obelisk at 6:45 am.

How to get: The race region is not served by the metro. There are bus lines that serve the region, but with spaced schedules and few vehicles due to the weekend. Most athletes must go by car, taxi or app vehicle. It is possible to park inside the Ibirapuera park or in the streets around the Legislative Assembly – and good luck escaping the ubiquitous flannels. The important thing here, especially for those who are going to run longer distances, is to avoid wasting too much energy before the race. Believe me, after 35 km, when there are still 7 km to go, you will regret not taking a taxi or leaving the car closer to the start.

extra support: If you train with any assistance, check with your trainer if there will be a support point on site. It is common in tests of this size for the physical presence of the main advisors to help their students.

Hello, Saint Peter: The gods of Olympus are apparently on the runners’ side in 2023. The weather forecast points out that Sunday will be cloudy and with a maximum temperature of 23 degrees. Even so, pay attention to hydration, energy supplementation and sunscreen.

remember your purpose: Have a good time. Get emotional. Racing is a serious thing, but it’s not that serious. Do your best, and be proud of what you achieve.

Invite loved ones to the arrival: Finishing a marathon is special. It’s a privilege to experience this feeling accompanied by the people you love. Use technology to your advantage. Relatives and friends can track your location during a run on apps like Strava. So they know exactly where you are and when you will arrive.

Those who don’t run also participate: If you are not going to run, but live or are close to the circuit, stop by to see and honor the athletes. You may not remember the applause and hands-patting from the runners you’ll give, but they certainly won’t forget about you. The test is tough, and any encouragement is welcome.

And you? Do you have any memories or tips for those who are going to run the São Paulo Marathon? Leave it in the comments, write me by email ([email protected]) or message me on Instagram @rodrigofloresnacorrida.

PRESENT LINK: Did you like this text? Subscriber can release five free hits of any link per day. Just click the blue F below.