CARACAS, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan runners on Monday announced they were preparing to compete in the 2014 El Cruce Columbia, an ultramarathon in which individual runners and pairs race across the Andes cordillera.

The Venezuelan delegation includes three running pairs, Pedro Vera and Leonardo Celis, John Vargas and Paul Artigas, and Gerardo Celli and Alicia Montanola, as well as individual runner Reinaldo Monges.

In an interview with Venezuelan daily Correo del Orinoco, Vera said the mountain range presented a challenge, given its hostile climate of abrupt temperature changes, suddenly going from warm and sunny to cloudy and cold, with intense winds and rain.

Yet the Venezuelans were optimistic about participating in the event, he added.

This year marks the 13th edition of El Cruce, to be held Feb. 6 to 8, with the participation of some 2,800 athletes from 34 countries and regions.

The 105-kilometer race kicks off at the foot of the Osorno Volcano in Chile and concludes at the Puheye Volcano in Argentina, and features mountain paths and river crossings in between.