Río Grande to resume iconic La Cima del Yunque Marathon

The event will be dedicated to long-distance runners Orlando Ceballos and Ángel “Pipa” Vizcarrondo (left photo), and sprinter Eloy Benítez (right photo).

By The Star Staff

As a prelude to the events commemorating the 185th anniversary of the founding of the municipality of Río Grande, La Cima del Yunque Marathon will return on Sunday, July 13, Río Grande Mayor Ángel “Bori” González Damudt said in an announcement made earlier this week.

González Damudt encouraged “long-distance runners, runners, and hiking enthusiasts to enjoy this unique experience in one of the most beautiful places in our homeland: the El Yunque National Forest.”

“With this effort, we are reviving a tradition of our people that dates back to the 1980s, right in the context of the celebration of the 185th anniversary of our town’s founding,” the mayor added. “We commemorate this feat with a sporting event that contributes to physical fitness, health, and fellowship in our national heritage.”

The eight-kilometer (4.97 miles) race will have cash prizes totaling $8,510. The race will start at 6:30 a.m. in Palmer and will run along highway PR-191 to the finish line at La Coca Waterfall in El Yunque. The event is open to general participants from 16 to 80 years old, as well as wheelchair racers.

“Among all the prize categories, we will have a special award for the top three winners in the male and female categories who are residents of Río Grande,” González Damudt said. “This is an incentive for local participants, although we expect runners from all over the island,” González Damudt said.

Registration can be made through the Mi Carrera PR website (micarrerapr.com) for a fee of $30 per participant, which includes registration, a chip with race number, a t-shirt and commemorative bag, as well as other promotional items from event sponsors.

“Río Grande is the birthplace of great athletes, so by resuming this event, we wanted to dedicate it to three renowned Puerto Rican athletes from Río Grande,” the mayor said. “The first, Eloy Benítez, recently broke the national record in the 100-meter dash and will soon represent us at the World Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and two luminaries of national long-distance running, Ángel “Pipa” Vizcarrondo and Orlando Ceballos, who represented Puerto Rico internationally in various events and have been inducted into the Puerto Rico Long-Distance Running Hall of Fame. These two also serve as technical advisers for this marathon.

Race spectators will be able to enjoy a celebratory event in the Palmer Public Plaza, where the Municipality of Río Grande will be coordinating a celebration in a sporting atmosphere with music, refreshments, and many surprises.