The farewell to one year and the prelude to a new one, embraced the day before triumph, effort and hope, in a 10-kilometer circuit around the iconic Sports City.

Alejandro “Kenya” Rodríguez, with the strength of someone who dominates winds and paths, crossed the finish line in 31:32 minutes to dominate the men’s category, while Leslie Amat won among the women with a time of 37:10.

The capital’s Sports Department, together with the Marabana-Maracuba project, called on athletes, fans and dreamers, who with effort, sweat and euphoria transformed the streets into a canvas of colors and emotions.

Carlos Gattorno, soul of this tradition, highlighted the magic of this race, not only for its dedication to the triumph of the Revolution, but for symbolizing the closing of a cycle and the promise of the next.

“It is a unique moment, where the history of a people and the passion of the runners intertwine to form part of something bigger than themselves,” he told Prensa Latina.

The echo of the steps in Havana resonates with the same history of the one born in 1925 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, thanks to the journalist Cásper Líbero, who was inspired by the night races in Paris.

Today, this tradition lives in many corners of the world, lighting up hearts and streets.

In this Havana New Year’s Eve, time stopped for an instant. The breeze caressed the runners like a gentle farewell, while the asphalt burned with the strength of those who are not afraid of the challenge, to say goodbye to 2024 with a heart full of stories and dreams.

ef/ro/blc