The "Carrera de Miguel", the running test that pays tribute to the missing athlete and poet

"What there was in Argentina was a policy of extermination, it was not a sport-specific extermination, the athletes were part of a society involved in visible and invisible repressions. Through all the forms adopted by state terrorism, athletes have done what has happened to others, some have become the payroll of thousands of missing, others had in their lists somehow. a dear, others did not even notice it.

In this context described in the book National sport: two centuries of history (of Ariel Scher, Guillermo Blanco and Jorge Búsico), in full development of the military dictatorship, athlete, poet and bank clerk Miguel Benancio Sánchez He was kidnapped and disappeared in early 1978.

More than 41 years have pbaded. But the name of Miguel remains in the collective memory. It is maintained by thousands of urban pedestrian event fans organized every year to pay tribute to it, commemorative event that extends to different parts of the country, even abroad.

Sánchez was born on November 6 1952 in Nice view, a city in the province of Tucumán. He was the youngest of the ten brothers of a modest family. In just 17 years, he traveled to Buenos Aires in search of new horizons. He settled in the south, in the city of Villa Spain of the party of Berazategui, where he developed his pbadion for the sport.

Before becoming a reference in athletics, he tackled football. He played in the inferior Club of Gymnastics and Fencing of La Plata until 1974, he left his post after starting work in the Banco Provincia. He was forced because he could not keep both activities.

It was different when he discovered athletics, a discipline he started practicing outside of work hours and with increasing intensity to become federated, integrating the ranks of Independent sports club.

Over time, Miguel started running in long distance races. He was a disciple of the legendary Osvaldo Suarez. In its history, the marathon San Silvestre of San Pablo, the traditional competition that takes place every December 31st. He has participated three times. The last one, at the end of 1977.

In addition to sports and cadet work, the altar was politically active and dedicated to social badistance. He was a member of the Peronist youth unit of Villa España and since 1974 has been involved in social work in disadvantaged areas.

Also explayó his other side, the poetic. He wrote a personal diary and The Gazeta de São Paulo published in December 1977 a poem of him, entitled For you, athlete.

For you, athlete. For you who know the cold, the heat, the triumphs and the defeats.
For you who have a healthy body, a broad soul and a big heart.
For you that you have a lot of friends, a lot of desires, the joy of adults and the smile of children.
For you who do not know ice or suns, rain or grudges.
For you, athlete, you have traveled cities and joined the States with your walk.
For you, athlete, you despise the war and aspire to peace.

The early morning of January 8, 1978only a few days after returning from Brazil, Sánchez was kidnapped. A squadron was brought home to Berazategui and took him away. He was only 25 years old.

Time later, Alberto Manso, a former detainee of the "El Vesubio" clandestine detention center would remember a kidnapped athlete who had arrived from San Silvestre. In this city, Miguel had been several days before running a marathon.

The first race in tribute to Miguel Sánchez ran on Sunday, January 9, 2000 at Rome. It was an initiative of the Italian journalist Valerio Piccioni, of the Gazzeta dello Sport, who, having known his story in an article of Clarín, investigated the life of Argentina.

This time, 353 runners took the image of Sánchez's face on the chest and the reproduction of the poem on the back For you, athlete.

The following year, the competition began its tour in Argentina. The current tradition is still put into practice on the eve of the National Day of Remembrance, Truth and Justice and under the motto "The goal is not to forget".

Over the years, in 2005, the movement has grown. This was done in Bella Vista Natal, Sanchez, and Villa España, Berazategui. It would also be one year later in San Carlos de Bariloche.

This Sunday, March 24th will take place the 19th edition of the "Carrera de Miguel" in Buenos Aires. Visit the neighborhoods of Buenos Aires Núñez and Belgrano, the race has two events: one 3K participatory and other Competitive 8K. The latter will have four categories.

The starting point will be Miguel Sánchez (ex Av. Crisólogo Larralde) and Padre Canavery. Registrations are exhausted: 3,000 athletes will take to the streets to remember the missing athlete.

The same thing will happen in other parts of the country. In Mar del Plata the fourth edition of 10K will be made. The departure time is fixed at 8:15. Free face-to-face registration on the day of the race in Plaza España, Av. Libertad and Bv. Maritime

In Córdoba, meanwhile, will also be the fourth consecutive year of the event. The scenario is the city of Berrotarán, from the department of Río Cuarto. The distances of the race which will begin at 10:30 are 4K and 2K.

The prize for participating in the largest tour is $ 200 or 10 blocks of bricks of 13, while for the shortest extension, the value is $ 100 or 5 blocks of 13 bricks. Barrio del Barrio Marcos.