The Official Marathon of Belo Horizonte is an urban race that runs through the streets and cultural spaces of Belo Horizonte,
Brazil.
The official site explains that the event was created to connect sports, tourism, and culture and to promote the city's history, residents, and local athletes.
Centering on full marathon, half marathon, 5km in the city center, and Kids Run are prepared together,
and professional athletes and recreational sports participants gather at the same event.
It does not end with just the main game, but also includes cultural and sports programs held in the city.
In the first competition, full marathon had the start and final at Prasa da Estasão.
The official course explanation uses the wide boulevard and the Serra do Cuhau mountain range as the background, and introduces Parqui Munichpau,
Seharia Soja Pinto, the Natural History Museum of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Ortu Florestau, and Arena MRV as major points.
It is a flow that sequentially connects city squares, parks, historical spaces, and sports facilities.
Rather than course, which loops around Lake Pampulha repeatedly, it is guided in a way that reads the city along various spaces in the city.
The 5km walk through the city center starts from the Municipal Park of Americo Gene Gianeci and briefly connects familiar landmarks in the centre.
Children's events also use city parks as stages.
The range of access to the city varies depending on the length, so short- and long-distance participants meet Belo Horizonte at their own distances.
There is also a challenge section in the event where you run full marathon and 5km together.
The name comes from Minas Gerais food, pan de keiju and doce de leichi.
The organizers' purpose of showcasing running along with the city's culture is also evident in the way they name local foods to the competition categories.
