6 MARCH 2011: LALA MARATHON, MEXICO

Kenya's Hillary Kimaiyo gave the this region of North-Central Mexico cause for major celebrations at “La Fiesta Lagunera”, writes Alan Brookes. He smashed the course record by almost a kilometre and beat his own Mexican all-comers mark of 2:09:54 run in Monterrey in 2008. And Torreon, where the Lala race is held, is at 1000m altitude.

It's cowboy country, where John Wayne filmed many movies and owned a desert ranch. Torreon and surrounding municipalities is the base for the race sponsor, the Lala dairy conglomerate. Staring at daybreak from the dairy factory gates the race passes through the desert landscape but returns to finish in Terreon in the lush Bosque Venustiano Carranza, an oasis of greenery that exists only through irrigation.

The Lala company gifts the Marathon to the town and its employees — 2000 of them together stage the race, assisted only by a single outside technical advisor, Ruben Romero.

The 23rd edition took the event to a truly international level, especially as the entire area boasts a population of only 1.3 million.

The race is chilly to start, but in the second hour the sun blazes down from cloudless skies. Runners from every state in Mexico and a number of foreign countries took off from the start.

Kimaiyo was immediately in front along with five hostages, Mexico's Juan Luis Barrios, making his marathon debut, and four fellow Kenyans. At under three minutes per kilometre pace Kimaiyo had only two others with him at 3km, and only Barrios after 6km. They hit 10km in 29:51, with great crowds out in the cool morning air, and even the church bells ringing for the marathoners. At 15km [44:52] Barrios surged, and worked hard to open up a meagre 10m gap by halfway (63:09). At 25km (1:14:54) Barrios was 40m up but his pace slipped to 3:10 for the 28th kilometre and by 29km Kimaiyo was back in the lead. He hit 30km in 1:30:13 and the duel in the desert was all but over. Kimaiyo was left to battle the clock as Barrios hung on bravely for third, within the Mexican qualifying standard for London 2012.

The women's race was not quite as dramatic, but gave the enthusiastic, record crowds something more to cheer about as Guanajuato's Paula Apolonio prevailed over Kenyan Neriah Asiba. But Maraton Lala is more about community and Lagunera pride than elite performance. This year's 4,000 participants equalled the race's previous best, 18.5% of them women. Crowds were strong everywhere, but particularly in Lerdo and at the record 41 community-charity “animation” sites that featured bands, dancers, costumes, and great energy. Packed grandstands at the finish are entertained with Latin music, stilt-walkers, noise-makers, confetti, and an outstanding mime artist. “Ven y vive, La Fiesta Lagunera”.

MEN:
1  Hillary KIMAIYO                KEN  2:08:17
2  Erick MONYENYE                 KEN  2:12:10
3  Juan Luis BARRIOS              MEX  2:14:20
4  Simon NJOROGE                  KEN  2:14:39
5  Roman ARROYO                   MEX  2:16:16

WOMEN:
1  Paulo APOLONIA                 MEX  2:34:27
2  Neriah ASIBA                   KEN  2:37:43
3  Angelica SANCHEZ               MEX  2:38:24
4  Liliana CRUZ                   MEX  2:42:43
5  Judith RAMIREZ                 MEX  2:44:28

Source: AIMSworldrunning.org -  Photos: Inge Johnson

Splits:
 5 km   14:53
10 km    29:53
15 km    44:50
HM     1:03:07
30 km  1:30:19
35 km  1:45:31
Ziel       2:08:17   (CR, PB)