The Committee of Tourism and Conventions of Tijuana (COTUCO) revealed that next September 15, Tijuana and San Ysidro will be witnesses to the first binational marathon, an event whose goal is to strengthen the bonds between both nations that will allow participants to cross the border between Mexico and the United States.

This event is a half marathon (21K) whose route goes from San Ysidro to Tijuana and it will begin at 6:30 AM at Las Americas Premium Outlets in San Ysidro where the first 10 kilometers will take place and, after crossing the international border through the El Chaparral vehicular lane, it will continue in Tijuana through Ave. Internacional towards Playas de Tijuana, specifically Plaza de Toros Monumental where the finish line is located.

Vision and impact of this binational project

During the press conference, Gilberto Gamiño Herrera, the Secretary of COTUCO, highlighted the importance of this type of events for the region as they not only show off Tijuana internationally, but they also promote athletic tourism while stressing that this will be a historic moment for US-Mexico relations.

This is all thanks to the organization behind the "Binational Race" led by Valeria Rivera and Benjamin Castillo, who are the event's directors, and Paulina Gallegos, in charge of social communication. The idea of organizing this race came up more than 2 years ago, but it was only 16 months ago when the definitive push for this plan took place.

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Preventive measures for the “Binational Half Marathon Race”

To guarantee the safety of runners, the border crossing will be under strict control measures. Thanks to support from the INAMI delegate, David Pérez Tejada, runners will be able to cross through the right lane which is usually reserved for trucks. Since it will be early Sunday morning, traffic in the area will be minimal and there will be volunteers on both sides of the border to make sure that, in case a truck needs to cross, appropriate measures are taken. Once in Tijuana, runners will be escorted to the finish line, and ambulance and security services will also be available.

In addition, it is essential for participants to have their runner numbers visible so that they can be registered when they cross and, at all times, they must have their official documents kept safely to prevent any inconveniences or losses.

Lastly, the event will conclude with a great celebration in Tijuana which will include live music, mariachi, and Mexican food, with awards given to the winners. Organizers are estimating that this binational marathon will take place every year and hope that more and more people discover what Tijuana has to offer.

Registrations are still open and participation between 2,000 and 2,500 runners in total is expected, distributed between both distances. People interested can register on the official website: www.binationalrace.com, call (664) 698-6463, or send an e-mail at info@binationalrace.com