Guadalajara Half Marathon

The Guadalajara Half Marathon (also known as the Guadalajara International Half Marathon or 21K GDL) is an annual road-based half marathon hosted by Guadalajara, Mexico, since 1985. The half marathon is a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race and a member of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races. It is held in February as part of the city's anniversary celebrations.

The event is organized by the Guadalajara Municipal Sports Council, which also organizes the Guadalajara Marathon, a separate marathon event held in October or November.

History

The inaugural race was held on 27 October 1985 as the "Medio Maratón de la Juventud" ('youth half marathon'). Organized by the state government, the race was won by Mexican runners Jorge Frías Rivera and Blanca Silvia Jaime, with finish times of 1:03:48 and 1:21:05, respectively. The Association of Road Racing Statisticians (ARRS) states that the course used in the inaugural race of 1985, as well as those used in 1988 and 1989, "were probably quite short".

According to the ARRS, no race was held in 1990. The ARRS also does not have a record of a race being held in 2003.

The race was renamed "Medio Maratón Guadalajara" in 1995.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2021 edition of the race was held exclusively virtually, over a few days in the middle of April.

Course

The half marathon begins and ends at the Arcos de Guadalajara, near the statue of Minerva. The race is held on roughly an out-and-back course, with an additional out-and-back leg about two-thirds of the way into the race that runs for approximately 2 km (1 mi) of the course.

External links

• Official website