Mittelholzer ready to test himself at Buenos Aires Half Marathon

Guyanese distance runner Hicks Mittelholzer will compete in the Buenos Aires Half Marathon on Sunday, viewing the prestigious 21.1-kilometre race as another important step in his development.
Mittelholzer registered for the event approximately two months ago, shortly after entries opened. He was drawn to the race because of its reputation, strong international field, and the opportunity to compete in conditions vastly different from those in Guyana.
Buenos Aires is emerging from its winter period, and Mittelholzer is eager to discover how he will perform over the half-marathon distance in a cooler climate.
“I’m excited, grateful and curious to see what I can produce,” he said. “I’m not putting unnecessary pressure on myself, but I definitely want to compete well and see the result of the work I’ve been putting in.”
Sunday’s race is one of the region’s largest road-running events and will attract thousands of participants from around the world. The field is also expected to include several leading distance runners, among them Ethiopian star Yomif Kejelcha.
Mittelholzer said competing at the same event as athletes of that standard will be a special experience. He hopes to meet some of the elite runners, observe their preparation, and learn from the way they approach the race.
The Guyanese remains self-trained and has maintained a simple and consistent programme ahead of the event. Much of his development has come through studying distance running, evaluating his own sessions and observing some of Guyana’s leading 5K and 10K athletes.
“I believe there is always something to learn from the people around you,” he said.
Mittelholzer also credited the “4AM Crew” for helping him through the demanding preparation period. The group has provided encouragement during early-morning sessions and long Saturday runs when motivation was sometimes difficult to find.
He has personally covered most of the cost of participating, but received contributions from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and Gafoors. Mittelholzer said their assistance helped make the international opportunity possible.
He considers the expenses associated with overseas competition an investment in his development and long-term goals as a distance runner.
Mittelholzer hopes the Buenos Aires experience will help him improve, gain valuable international exposure, and measure his ability in a new environment. He also wants his journey to encourage other Guyanese runners to pursue larger stages through consistency, patience, and determination.