Circuito SESC de corridas – Presidente Prudente, 28th September 2025
Across the Atlantic, Cate Walker reports from the Brazilian ‘interior’:
This was a brilliant, unexpected addition to our Brazil trip, in a city where I lived for 6 months as a language student some twenty years ago. Our itinerary was already planned to visit Presidente Prudente on our second weekend away when friends informed me of this run, and it seemed an opportunity not to be missed.
The race was part of the annual ‘circuit’ of races with 5 and 10k options that run across the state of São Paulo and are organised by SESC, a public institution that promotes health, culture, leisure and education. Eleven cities across the state have hosted or will host races this year (our medals have the names of the other ‘stops’ on the circuit) and, by fantastic coincidence, the Sunday we were visiting Presidente Prudente was the turn of this city.
Presidente Prudente is a hot, dry city where temperatures reach 45 degrees in summer. This was the start of the Brazilian spring, but even so, in the days leading up to the race there had been 34 degree days. Being aware of this, we signed up to the 5k option. On Friday evening we received our numbers and an orange race t-shirt (made of super soft polyamide, apparently great for the heat). However, having been informed it was not necessary to wear the t-shirt for the race, we opted for our Claremont vests and kept the t-shirts for posterity.
The morning of the race was cloudy and around 20 degrees at 6:45 as we lined up at the Parque do Povo (People’s Park), our sky blue standing out against the backdrop of orange-clad runners. I was amused by some rabbit themed running socks that a nearby runner was using (see photo reel below), and both of us were amused by the Brazilian techno version of – of all the songs – Simon and Garfunkel’s Sound of Silence as we waited to run.
Taking heat and the inordinate amount of pizza we had eaten on the previous night into account, I had the aim to try and finish in 25 minutes and it seemed the only pacer we saw was for this pace.
It was an easy first km and I held back the pace somewhat, trying not to get carried away. It was a good thing I did because shortly into the second kilometre, the inclines started and didn’t really stop until about 3.5km in. Around halfway up the second incline, the 25 min pacer overtook me but my main objective at that point was just to keep running. I kept the pacer in sight and kept going.
Parque do Povo is a long, snaking park that weaves through the city with pavements either side and paths that cross it. The route followed the pavements and crossed at a couple of points, so I was able to see Laurie at one point already having crossed and on the home strait downhill whilst I was slogging the last bit of the uphill stretch. I thought of trying to wave but decided to conserve my energy!
When I finally got to the home strait, it was a very welcome relief and I was able to overtake a few runners, although I couldn’t quite catch the 25 min pacer. With some final encouragements from Laurie who by then was enjoying the coconut water we received at the end, I crossed the line bang on 25 minutes. Later I was delighted to find I’d finished 7th woman out of more than 400 female participants (over 700 in total).
The aftermath of the race was great. Our friends introduced us to their friends, a local running club tagged Claremont on Instagram and we got photos with a local circus troupe and even with the running royalty who was giving out the medals. This was Lucélia Peres, 10,000m bronze medal winner from the 2007 Pan-American Games and former winner of the São Silvestre, the oldest and most prestigious race in Latin America. It was a privilege to speak to her briefly and mention Claremont.
In an odd quirk of result organisation, there were only two categories of runners – 59 and under, and 60 plus. Our friends suggested Laurie, as the 10th runner overall to finish, may have been on the podium in his age category, but we will never know for sure. Either way, it was a brilliant experience and great to represent the club for the first time in Brazil, a country close to my heart.
| Position | Runner | Time |
| 10 | Laurie Johnson | 20:46 |
| 70 | Cate Walker | 25:00 |
