Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - With a panoramic circuit that begins and ends in Marina Vallarta and more than $75,000 pesos in prizes up for grabs, the Fifth La Gran Carrera del Día del Médico (The Doctor's Day Great Race) is an extraordinary opportunity for professional and amateur athletes alike to show off their skills.

Set to be held on Sunday, October 22 with competitions in three categories: 5 kilometers, 10 kilometers and Half Marathon, (21 kilometers), organizers expect around a thousand local, foreign and national athletes from a dozen states of the Mexican Republic to participate.

La Gran Carrera del Día del Médico has been cataloged as one of the best races in Puerto Vallarta, due to its excellent organization and air of camaraderie among participants.

The organizer of the race, Dr. Francisco Javier Ortiz, invites local and national runners, their companions, the general public, and of course the medical community, to be part of this great athletic experience and to celebrate Doctor's Day with healthy physical activity.

Since 1837, Doctor's Day has been celebrated in Mexico on October 23 to coincide with the Establecimiento de Ciencias Médicas (Medical Sciences Enactment) in 1833, which later originated the creation of the Medical School of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Today, Día del Medico is celebrated in cities throughout the country in recognition of the contributions of physicians to individual lives and communities. Here in Puerto Vallarta, La Gran Carrera del Día del Médico will be held for the fifth year running (pun intended) at Marina Vallarta.

On this occasion, the Doctor's Day Great Race will follow the Festival de Atletismo de Pista (Track Athletics Festival) that's set to take place on Friday, October 20 and Saturday, October 21, at the Agustín Flores Contreras sports stadium. Mainly aimed at young people, the festival's contests of speed and endurance are eagerly awaited by enthusiastic local runners who are accustomed to the track. The intention is to promote athletics in its different variants, as part of good habits to preserve physical, mental and social health, Dr. Ortiz said.

The Doctor's Day races are scheduled to start in Marina Vallarta between 7:00 and 7:10 am, depending on the distance. Everyone is invited to participate and to Ven a sentir latir tu corazón en Puerto Vallarta ("Come feel your heart beat in Puerto Vallarta").

Being a race with cause, part of the proceeds will be donated to the Orchestra School of Puerto Vallarta.

The race registration deadline will be on Saturday, October 21 at 6:00 pm. For registration instructions (in Spanish), please visit carreradiadelmedico.com.

For more information visit carreradiadelmedico.com, call (333) 429-4965, or email drjavierortiz(at)hotmail.com.