This race was held in Parque Fundidora, a very large recreational park situated at the site of a former metal foundry. Parking is ample at this park and we had no trouble finding a spot for 30 pesos. We had to walk about 500 m to get to the starting line, but it was easy to find because the race organizers posted a map on Facebook that was quite helpful. If you were in Monterrey on business and didn't have a car you could use a taxi to get to an entrance very close to the starting line, Entrance #5 on Avenida Francisco I. Madero. Taxis are very affordable in Monterrey. Several bus routes also pass by this park, though I am unfamiliar with the bus system here.

The race website did not post a cap, but both the 5K and 10K races started at the same location and time, so there were a lot of people (see image). I positioned myself towards the back of the pack and I passed the starting line two minutes after the sound of the starting gun. I suspect there were close to 2,000 people there, as Monterrey is a running city with a lot of diehard runners and triathletes. Of course, the weather likely increased the number of DNS results, as it was very miserable out: 8C/46F and raining lightly for the entire race.

Parque Fundidora has different types of paths and the beginning of the race was situated on a very wide asphalt thoroughfare, but it was still very crowded five minutes into the race. After about 1 km of running we were directed to a second type of path, a narrow meander through a wooded area, and as it was raining there was no room for deviation without risk of a muddy, wet shoe. My pace slowed considerably at this time because there was no room to do much else but go the pace of all those in front of me. It was just as well because it meant I had reserve energy in the second half and I was able to accomplish a negative split.

The 5K and 10K races parted ways at the 2 km marker and that thinned out the crowed considerably. This is where the 10K route got very scenic as we meandered through the area known as Paseo Santa Lucia, where there is a manmade "river," with many sculptures and foundry artifacts, and at this time of year the entire area is decorated with interesting large Christmas figures that light up at night. This area of the park has less tree protection so there were times when the bitter cold wind and mist were coming straight at us, but you can't control the weather.

There were guides with large orange flags at all points when the path split in multiple ways, so there was never any doubt as to which way you needed to go. The other neat thing was that at several points the race doubled back on itself and I could see the people ahead of me and then later the people behind me. Loud cheering always erupted at these points as people cheered on those ahead of them or behind them. The atmosphere is always positive in the races I have run in Monterrey and shouts of "Animo," and "Si, se puede," are very common between runners along races that double back. I always carry water so I didn't need to use the refreshment stations, but I noticed that the stations, which were every 2 km, always had water available, even towards the end.

Because I know the park and have been there for recreational purposes I was confident that there would be no new scenic surprises for me along the way past the 6K marker. In this I was wrong because the 10K route took us to yet another side of the park, behind Parque Plaza Sesamo, to some water features complete with Muskovy ducks and other interesting waterfowl. The tree cover returned to being quite dense and the wind subsided. This area was where there was one hill worth mentioning, about 100 m of a steep incline out of a valley, but for the most part this course is flat. As for the previous crowding issues, I was able to increase pace for the last 1 km without being in anyone's way or having them be in mine.

The finish line provided all runners with an Epix sports beverage. I was surprised to see it was in a bag and not a bottle. The rest of the refreshments included a banana, orange, and yogurt in a typical race bag. There were many stations for the timing chips to be quickly removed from shoes and then the medal was given to me by a jovial greeter who congratulated me and insisted on putting it around my neck even though I offered her my hand. That made me feel kind of special; today I am a champion! There were also massage tents and the like, but I never stay for those, especially not in inclement weather.

This was the first race I have ever run on a weekday and not a Sunday. Such is the situation when the race is associated with a certain date, New Year's Eve day. It is wonderful that Parque Fundidora is large enough to accommodate a 10K race that does not require street closures as it wouldn't have been possible to close them down on a weekday in Monterrey's city center anyway.

If you are a runner and you are celebrating New Year's Day in Monterrey I would highly recommend this race. It gets you your exercise before you party, and it provides you with a thorough running tour of one of Monterrey's major tourist attractions at a time when the crowds are non-existent. What a great way to see a piece of Monterrey's history!