§staticmap(11411,2,450,250)Hello, you are organizing the September 23rd, 2012 Patagonian International Marathon. Could you tell us where it takes place?
The Patagonian International Marathon will take place in the Torres del Paine National Park, in southern Chilean Patagonia. This park is world heritage of UNESCO.
How old is the race and why was it created in the first place?
This year 2012 will be the first edition of the Patagonian International Marathon! We wanted to create a more accessible race than the Patagonian Expedition Race we organize in order to welcome even more people in Patagonia!
Runners will be surrounded by nature, this is an alpine marathon where stamina will be tested! The course will mostly be on a gravel trail.
How many runners do you expect? What type of runners do you expect to attract?
We expect around one hundred participants. This marathon is for runners who want to discover new horizons and run in an exceptional and unique setting while pushing their limits.
Have you planned other races during the weekend, for what distances?
It is an event that takes us a year to plan so we wanted to focus on a single race that weekend in order to make it the best it can be.
What weather can we expect at that time of year?
The weather in southern Chilean Patagonia is quite unpredictable but late September will be the beginning of the austral summer!
Yes, first, the participants will be greeted in Punta Arenas on September 28. The following day, all runners will be driven to Puerto Natales for lunch. Then we’ll head to Torres del Paine Park to discover the location of the race. In the evening we will provide details about the marathon at the Las Torres Hotel. The race will take place on the 30th! In the evening there will be a buffet and award ceremony for the participants. We offer various “packages” so runners can choose the type of accommodation they want. For example there is the “Dreams del Estrecho" package which is a 5 star hotel on the coast overlooking the Strait of Magellan, or the “Youth Hostel and camping” package which will appeal to backpackers.
After the marathon, what advice would you give to a runner who has never visited Punta Arenas? A good restaurant, good sightseeing?
Patagonia is a region where there are many things to discover such as the Torres del Paine National Park on its own, or the hiking trails of Karukinka. Also not to be missed is the island of Tierra del Fuego! I personally recommend it for its breathtaking scenery. We also organize excursions such as an 8 day / 7 night hiking trip through the Karukinka reserve, south of Tierra del Fuego, or half-day activities such as kayaking in the Laguna Parrillar National Reserve.
What would you say to readers of ahotu Marathons in one sentence to make them want to sign-up for the Patagonian International Marathon?
There is no other place on earth like Chilean Patagonia to come and push your limits among glaciers and guanacos (typical animal of Tierra del Fuego). We’ll see you there!
Interview with Violette Hacquart.