Carrera Vista Mar - A Fun Run Event at Panama's Beaches

The scenic vistas in Mata Palo goes through gently sloping countryside, with  glimpses of Pacific ocean. "I love running here", says Corrin Subkin, one of the organizers of Carrera Vista Mar, the first organized fun run in the Pacific Beach neighborhoods. Corrin and friends make up a group of runners who generally go into the city to attend runs. Panama's 34th International Marathon is one of the events members of the group participated in recently. "We want to have something out here", says Corrin, talking about the desire to get runners from the city to come out and run at the beaches. The idea turned into Carrera Vista Mar, the first race in the Pacific area. The run is a 10K fun run on February 5,2011, with a BBQ to follow. An $18 registration fee, gets a participant entry into the race, plus a race pack with a T-shirt. The BBQ is $10. Organizers recently added a 5K event to the race, which means new runners can also participate.  "You don't have to run the whole way, you can walk if you get tired", says Vance, one of the organizers, stressing the 'fun' in the run.

Currently organized runs are early in the morning, the idea for combining the run with a social event is to give everyone the opportunity to meet, get to know each other and for all the runners and their supporters to enjoy the weekend and spend some time in the pacific beach area.

The run organizers hope this will be the start of an annual event. So far, the event has been well received by Panama's sports community. Asics, the well known running shoe maker has signed on to support the run, as well as many Playa Community  businesses, such as Paraiso Restaurant in Las Uvas, HIM Ferreteria in Coronado, and local real estate companies Coronado es Vida and Concept Panama.

Support can be made in the form of donations of and /or work. Volunteers are needed to help with the event. People are wanted to man water and food stations. Prize donations are also needed from companies looking for ways to promote their services.

If you are looking to run in the event you may register at Tri Sports in the city, or at Playacommunity's office in Coronado. Sign up quickly, as only 150 registration spots are available.

For more details about the run, visit the event's website at http://www.carreravistamar.com/