The Diagonal Race exceeds 10,000 registered participants in its 10th anniversary

The Cursa Diagonal DiR Guàrdia Urbana is warming up for its tenth anniversary, with the debut of a mile race, with a route of more than 1,600 meters, and the return of the 5-kilometer race. Five days before the starting gun, more than 10,000 runners have already registered, a figure that surpasses previous editions, with a total of 7,100 registered last year. The number may grow throughout this week, with the forecast of reaching up to 12,000 participants. Registrations will be open until Thursday.

On Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 26, runners will take over the Diagonal, with proposals for different profiles. The first day will feature the new mile race, a short race that will take place at the Diagonal DiR facilities. Saturday will be complemented by the children's competition, with a circuit around the Piscines i Esports Park.

The main day will be Sunday with the finish line set for the 5 kilometers and 10 kilometers, according to individual preference. With the important detail that the route is downhill, both races will start at Palau Reial, with the 5k finishing between Nàpols and Sicília streets, and the 10k reaching the sea. "It is a very comfortable itinerary for popular athletics and, furthermore, it allows visualizing and enjoying emblematic places of Barcelona's architecture," says the deputy director of DiR and former Secretary General of Sport of the Generalitat, Gerard Figueras.

With the progress of the tram connection works along the Diagonal, the 5k race has been recovered, with its last edition held in 2019. In 2020 and 2021 there was no race due to the pandemic. The setback was overcome in 2022, when only the 10k was organized, as well as in the 2023 edition. The Guàrdia Urbana will mobilize almost 300 agents to cut off traffic and allow the race on a day, as stated by Intendant Jordi Oliveras, with low probabilities of rain, only 5% or 10%.