More than double last year's participants
Next Sunday, May 7th, the fourth edition of the Goldenergy Matosinhos Half Marathon will take place, an event organized by RunPorto and supported by the City Hall.
The presentation of the event took place yesterday, May 4th, at Edifício dos Paços do Concelho, and counted with the participation of the Town Councillor for Sports, Vasco Pinho, and the administrator of Matosinhos Sport, Henrique Calisto.
So far, 3200 participants are registered, "more than the double of last year", according to the race director, Jorge Teixeira.
The event will be attended by great world figures of athletics, including, in the international men's sector, Nehemiah Kipyegon (Kenya), Peter Kipyegon (Kenya), Josphat Mutisya Mutula (Kenya), Aimad Bouziane (Morocco), Zacarias Sitoe (Mozambique) and, in the women's sector, Bouziane Jemutai from Kenya and Kawtar Boulaid (Morocco).
The goal this year is to "put Matosinhos on the international map of marathons and half-marathons".
"We are candidates to become the European City of Sport in 2025. This event symbolizes what we want for Matosinhos, which is sport for all, be it elite, regular or informal", said the Councillor for Sports, Vasco Pinho.
At a national level, the participation of Luís Saraiva, Rui Pedro Silva, Daniel Pinheiro, Rui Teixeira, Nuno Costa (winner of the last edition), Paulo Rosário, Paulo Fontão, Rafaela Fonseca (winner of last year), Mónica Silva, Filomena Costa, Solange Jesus, Laura Silva, Dulce Félix, among other athletes, stands out.
This year, athletes from 30 countries are taking part, including South Korea, the United States, Egypt, Kenya, Israel, Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, Angola, Morocco, Mozambique, Venezuela, Denmark, Hungary, Serbia, Italy, Ireland, Poland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Ukraine, Slovakia, among others.
The starting gun will be fired at 9am on Avenida da Liberdade, near the Boa Nova lighthouse in Leça da Palmeira. The 21 km route will then follow Avenida da Liberdade, return along Rua Heróis da África, Avenida da Liberdade, return at the "Rock" roundabout, Avenida da Liberdade, Avenida Antunes Guimarães, return at the roundabout with Avenida Dr. António Macedo, Avenida Antunes Guimarães, Avenida Dr. Fernando Aroso, Praça de Oliveira, Rua Congosta do Abade, return after the bridge at the zebra crossing, Rua Congosta do Abade, Praça de Oliveira, Avenida Dr. Fernando Aroso, Avenida. Antunes Guimarães, Avenida da Liberdade, Rua de Almeiriga Norte, return before Rua das Areias, Rua de Almeiriga Norte, Avenida da Liberdade, Aterro car park, and ends in Avenida da Liberdade.
Besides the Matosinhos Half Marathon, there will also be a Minimarathon with 7 km, non-competitive, for the whole family. The route starts at Avenida da Liberdade, has a U-turn next to Rua Heróis da África, passes again through Avenida da Liberdade, has a U-turn at the "Rock" roundabout and ends at Avenida da Liberdade.
This event implies some traffic restrictions. In the start/arrival area (Avenida da Liberdade/Marginal), the traffic will be cut off between 07h30 and 13h00. The rest of the race route will be cut off between 8am and 12pm.
One of the new features in this year's edition is the RunPorto app, which will allow you to follow all the athletes in the competition.