The 2023 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Marathon
Marathon # 413
Barefoot Marathon # 134
Date: October 21, 2023
My total time for the marathon: 7:13:44
My time for the official half marathon: 2:36:32
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
Running for our lives at night in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
For my 413th marathon, my wife and I ended up running for our lives at night in the capital of Gran Canaria, one of the Spanish Islands located off the African west coast. I did ten years ago the 2013 Gran Canaria Marathon in Las Palmas, but the race has been meanwhile relocated to Maspalomas in the south of the Island. So to complete a marathon in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria I walked 21 km visiting the city before joining the start of the official Binter NightRun Half Marathon. I did the whole race with my wife, Gisele Diallo.
The first lap that we shared with the 10 km runners was very crowded, but on the second lap (11 km), we saw very few runners on the course and none on the last 8 km. When at around 11 p.m. with 7.5 km to go, we started hearing voices and roar of engines, and seeing headlights closing in on us from behind, I thought that we might have to run for our lives to possibly escape a Saturday night drunken mob.
Fortunately, when I checked what was going on behind us, I found out that it was the beginning of our unexpected VIP moment in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Although we were ahead of the cut-off time, I saw an impressive official motorcade with six cyclists, motorbikes, etc.
- “We have a nice escort to the finish line,” I quipped. Three days later, I ran in Playa del Ingles, also barefoot, my First Maspalomas Dunes Marathon.
Barefoot Marathon # 134
Date: October 21, 2023
My total time for the marathon: 7:13:44
My time for the official half marathon: 2:36:32
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
Running for our lives at night in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
For my 413th marathon, my wife and I ended up running for our lives at night in the capital of Gran Canaria, one of the Spanish Islands located off the African west coast. I did ten years ago the 2013 Gran Canaria Marathon in Las Palmas, but the race has been meanwhile relocated to Maspalomas in the south of the Island. So to complete a marathon in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria I walked 21 km visiting the city before joining the start of the official Binter NightRun Half Marathon. I did the whole race with my wife, Gisele Diallo.
The first lap that we shared with the 10 km runners was very crowded, but on the second lap (11 km), we saw very few runners on the course and none on the last 8 km. When at around 11 p.m. with 7.5 km to go, we started hearing voices and roar of engines, and seeing headlights closing in on us from behind, I thought that we might have to run for our lives to possibly escape a Saturday night drunken mob.
Fortunately, when I checked what was going on behind us, I found out that it was the beginning of our unexpected VIP moment in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Although we were ahead of the cut-off time, I saw an impressive official motorcade with six cyclists, motorbikes, etc.
- “We have a nice escort to the finish line,” I quipped. Three days later, I ran in Playa del Ingles, also barefoot, my First Maspalomas Dunes Marathon.
My book Running Barefoot for Human Survival is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book format (French edition: Courir pieds nus pour sauver les humains).
Gisele Diallo and Sidy Diallo crossing the finish line of the 2023 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Half Marathon
Dr. Sidy Diallo's 2023 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Marathon Course and results
The 2023 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Marathon is one of the races around the world featured on my Global Marathons Map. Click on the screenshot to access the interactive map.
Gisele Diallo and Sidy Diallo on the home stretch of the 2023 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Half Marathon
Gisele Diallo and Sidy Diallo running for their lives at night in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Dr. Sidy Diallo’s 2023 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Half Marathon Results
Gisele Diallo running for her life at night in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo did the 2023 Binter NightRun Half Marathon in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Las Canteras Beach in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Paseo de Las Canteras in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain