Vallarta and Nayarit Marathons Running in Circles
2° Medio Maraton Turistico +carrera 10k
Puerto Vallarta is under increasing pressure from Mexico's newest destination, Riviera Nayarit. The latest destination brand, created just 3 years ago, has over taken Puerto Vallarta, one of Mexico's most established tourist resorts as one of the country's most sophisticated destinations.
The rivalry between the 2 destinations has reached a crescendo peak with Riviera Nayarit launching a Half Marathon event within days of Puerto Vallarta's annual event.
Riviera Nayarit's Half Marathon will take launch on November 13, 2010 in Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, while Vallarta's annual event is scheduled for the 7th of November.
Rumors in the city suggest that Riviera Nayarit approached the Puerto Vallarta Half Marathon organizers in the attempt to promote combined and complete 26-mile marathon but were immediately rejected by the organizers of the Puerto Vallarta event.
The new marathon to be hosted in Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit is supported by the Mexican Federation of Athletics, The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) and the Association of Marathons and International Distance Races (AIMS); an estimated 800 runners are expected to participate in the event.
The new event has the support and approval of the Mexican Athletics Federation and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and has been certified to meet the appropriate length requirements.
While the Puerto Vallarta marathon is now in it's eighth year, it has struggled to gain the international recognition, household name competitors and prestigious awards or sponsors enjoyed by many competing global events. Pundits considered Nayarit's approach to share the event with Vallarta a lifeline to an event that has failed to grow significantly by providing the perfect vehicle long sought by Puerto Vallarta to catapult its event to international fame.
A co-hosted event would mean a shared burden of costs particularly important during this difficult economic cycle; increase exposure and likely result in higher participant numbers.
While collaboration has been ruled out for the 2010 events, many locals who do not recognize the state lines separating the states of Jalisco and Nayarit, are optimistic that an arrangement will be reached in the future.
"This event is about the greater good of our area, not the economic welfare of the few. I'll be boycotting both events until there is an agreement to work together," reported one past participant.
To find out about other upcoming sporting and cultural events in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit including national holidays, the upcoming Half Marathons, The Gourmet Festival (November) The Saint Guadalupe Festival and parades (Dec 1 – 12) the arrival of the majestic Humpback Whales to the Bahia de Banderas (Banderas Bay) area for their annual birthing pilgrimage (Dec – March) and the Wine Festival in February please contact your concierge at concierge@luxurybeach.com or visit www.luxurybeach.com
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