RUNNING and "the Day of the Dead"

SUGAR SKULLS, ALTARS, CEMETERIES, MESOAMERICAN CULTURE AND RUNNING!
Have you heard of the central and southern Mexico festival “Dia de los Muertos”, or the “Day of the Dead”, celebrated November 1 and 2 of each year?  The festival coincides with the Roman Catholic feasts of All Saints Day (11/1) and All Souls Day (11/2) which follow Halloween on October 31 (All Hallows Eve).  According to the website MexicanSugarSkulls.com, the holiday is a combination of ancient beliefs about honoring the dead and the Catholic feast days, celebrated by the indigenous people living in that part of Mexico.
 
As a child I remember celebrating the ‘Saints” and “Souls’ Days of November in Church with my mother. As an adult I enjoy continuing the tradition.
 
Given the appetite in the US for the scary undead of all types and origins, like the virus-induced zombies of “World War Z” movie, the post-apocalyptic and pathogen-created ”Walking Dead” of Netflix fame, and the wights generated by the White Walkers in the Game of Thrones HBO series based on George RR Martin’s literary invention, it seems likely that people of our country would come to embrace a festival celebrating the deceased whom we love and dearly miss.
 
These traditional-rich Latino holy days have the inherent mysticism, beauty, and heart to bring people of all cultures together in many ways. Some will prefer to center their activities at altars and in cemeteries in the time-honored ways. Other will march in parades, enjoy delicious food, dress in costume, or express themselves artistically. And runners will create races!
 
In October 2015 I scoured the internet for Dias de los Muertos-related races. Last year there were a few, and this year I noticed an attempt to raise awareness, outside of the ethnic communities, of celebrations that included races.

• In Chicago the 10th Annual UNO Carrera de los Muertos 5k Race of the Dead will take participants through the Pilsen neighborhood.
• The Houston Fun Run courses through the “historic 6th ward and Glenwood Cemetery”.
• The city of Raleigh, NC will hosts the 6th Annual Day of the Dead 5K and Street Festival.
• San Antonio TX is holding the 6th Annual Dia de los Muertes Night Run
• There is a mysterious Las Cruces NM race festival that on one website promises 21 races spanning 7 days, from October 29 through November 4; a marathon, half marathon, and 5K are run each day with no time limit. The details are very sparse so perhaps there aren’t races on the later days.

 
I think this holy day celebration for some is soon to become a holiday for many more, which promises to generate many more races. Images from past events on race organization websites show there are opportunities to run in costume and face-paint; runners are famous for wanting to express their creativity and sense of style in this manner.
 
My prediction is that there will be an increasing number of novel, Dia de los Muertos-themed competitions in the coming years. Some endurance races may be run over several days to encompass the entire October 31- November 2 period (or convenient preceding weekend days). With the rise in popularity of the “sufferfest” obstacle course races, others may incorporate punishing elements in races to parallel afterlife suffering.  

And mostly there will be shorter happier races held to celebrate a beautiful cultural feast, as more of us are given a chance to gain understanding and appreciation of another ethnic tradition.
 
RUN HAPPY!
 
http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/support/dodhistory.html
 
http://unoraceofthedead.org/
 
http://dayofthedead5k.com/
 
http://huaracheturbo.com/event_muertitos_run.php

http://www.active.com/houston-tx/running/distance-running-races/dia-de-los-muertos-fun-run-2016

http://marathons.ahotu.com/event/day-of-the-dead-series