1,500 runners to cross border into Tijuana Sunday during Binational Race

Runners at last year s inaugural Binational Race Photo courtesy of Binational Race San Diego Tijuana When Payson Warlick advised her students she d be running a half-marathon across the margin this Sunday in the Binational Race San Diego-Tijuana their excited reactions commented it all My students were like Ah Miss Payson Warlick reported I m going to have my camera taking all the pictures I can to show them Warlick is one of more than runners who will cross the international frontier mid-race at the San Ysidro-El Chaparral Port of Entry The race holds personal significance for the bilingual speech-language pathologist who supporters in Tijuana and works with predominantly Mexican and Mexican-American students in the Chula Vista Elementary School District multiple of whom frequently cross the confines For co-founder Valeria Rivera the Binational Race emerged from an idea during long runs amid the COVID- pandemic lockdowns We live the limit life Rivera explained We go from the U S to Mexico We go shopping we go to school we go to work Why not unite ourselves and do what we all love That s running What started as a bold proposal to U S and Mexican authorities bureaucrats fast gained unexpected aid No one noted no to the idea Rivera revealed That was huge for us because we thought they were going to say Now you guys are crazy A runner celebrates in front of the mariachi band after spanning into Mexico last year Photo courtesy of Binational Race San Diego Tijuana A runner along the limit during last year s race Photo courtesy of Binational Race San Diego Tijuana Runners start at Las Americas Premium Outlets in San Ysidro complete a flat K on the U S side then cross the limit through a specially opened gate Rivera stated territory line executives including officers who cheered runners on last year help make the transiting viable Once in Mexico participants face the King of the Hill challenge a mile-long climb with a incline known to local runners as La Enchilada The fastest male and female runners earn trophies with timing mats tracking their progress through this race-within-a-race All runners finish downhill at a beachside park in Playas de Tijuana where they can enjoy their accomplishment at a post-race festival open to spectators featuring live music food vendors and beer Last year s inaugural event drew participants from across North America and even overseas including one runner who traveled from London just for the experience For others the race offers a new perspective on a familiar place A lot of runners who were born and raised in San Diego it was their first time going to Tijuana Rivera commented The unique concept has captivated even seasoned runners Warlick declared her San Diego Track Club teammates were fascinated by the logistics asking So wait how does it work exactly Organizers have spent considerable time making the experience as easy and safe as achievable Participants traveling the territory line to enter or re-enter the U S need to bring the usual immigration documents Cross-border shuttles with fast-pass access ensure runners can return to San Ysidro within an hour This year s race has already more than doubled half-marathon registrations with runners set to cross the limit up from last year Another are running the K in Tijuana and a virtual option lets participants worldwide earn the same medal Part of the appeal is that the race offers an entirely different kind of running experience something outside the norm according to Rivera You have this great experience traveling the busiest dividing line in the world and then you re greeted by a mariachi band in Mexico It s unbelievable Rivera reported adding that the race can also be emotional Everyone who runs has their story Testimonials from runners saying my grandparents went to the U S and because of them I m able to come and go with no predicament she explained For Warlick a Vermont native who now calls Ocean Beach home the race represents more than a physical challenge Payson Warlick running the Boston Marathon Photo courtesy of Payson Warlick The idea is that just because there s a divide there s a land territory line doesn t really mean that much We can literally break those fronteras those borders We are all one We re all humans and we re all working hard to do the same things to take care of our families to love each other and grow together Warlick revealed The lifelong runner who has raced in destinations including Europe Mexico City and Africa disclosed she didn t hesitate to sign up after hearing about the event Tijuana is one of my favorite places Warlick reported Usually it s waiting in either the pedestrian or car line to cross the territory line I d rather be running It s a great way to get across and I get to eat the best tacos ever afterward To learn more or register for the race go to binationalrace com