Life at the Finish Line
“It is about showcasing the triumph of the human spirit in a journey where we have to keep moving forward, to wherever the finish line is.”
In 2016, my brother signed up to run his first marathon, the “Marabana.” This race is held in Havana every November and runners can participate in the popular 5-kilometer, 10-kilometer, 21-kilometer half marathon, or 42-kilometer marathon.
It was my first time photographing a race and I waited at the finish line for my brother and his friends to arrive while making images of other runners. It was precisely then that my fascination for the faces and expressions of runners as they approached the finish line began. These were moments of ecstatic laughter, tears, gratitude to God, embraces of love, fulfilled promises, dreams coming true, and the overcoming of fatigue and pain through sheer will.
All images in this gallery © Evelyn Sosa
Since that first race, I have attended various races held in Havana and other provinces of Cuba, most notably:
Nelson Mandela Race in Havana
Race for the Olympic Ideal from San José de las Lajas to Güines in the province of Mayabeque
Varadero International Half Marathon in the province of Matanzas
Cacahual Race in Havana
Race for the Olympic day in Havana
Havana Triathlon
Marabana
Terry Fox in Havana
The final moments of the race before and at the finish line form the mainstay of this project, titled “Marathon.” The other aspect being to document the diversity, creativity, celebratory parties, outfits, and how everyone “lives” the experience on race day.
All images in this gallery © Evelyn Sosa. Click image to enlarge.
Runners come in all sort of moods and purpose. Some run with their dogs, many wear costumes, and others drape themselves in flags. Some run in the memory of a loved one—especially in the Terry Fox race, also known as the Marathon of Hope, where participants are those who have overcome an illness or are still battling one. Runners routinely include older people, children, some with their crutches on, and others in wheelchairs. In other cases, there are those that run the race in reverse (retro-running), or run barefoot. Then there are also the adventurous ones that run while drawing or ask their lady love for marriage at the finish line, resulting in resounding yes’s. These races are run not with the objective of winning, rather as endurance races meant to be completed, where people are united by the thrill of running to fulfill a dream or a promise.
All images in this gallery © Evelyn Sosa
Through “Marathon,” a work-in-progress project, I intend to capture the true essence of long-distance racing in Cuba. Photographing marathons in Cuba goes way beyond making sports images for me, it is about showcasing the triumph of the human spirit in a journey where we have to keep moving forward, to wherever the finish line is.
