Joggers, sprinters, power-walkers and even strollers will all be gathering in Avinguda María Cristina on Sunday 25th March to take part in the annual Barcelona Marathon.
The race was first introduced in 1978 as the Catalunya Marathon (Marató de Catalunya), and the name was changed to the Barcelona Marathon in 2005. The route, 26.2 miles (42 km) long, is usually completed in less than 6.5 hours but the most famous winner, Kenyan Jackson Kipkoech Kotut won the 2010 race in just 2:07:30 hours. This was a course record and also the fastest marathon ever run in Spain. Over 10,000 participants took part in the event that year.
Not only is the marathon a great way to get in shape and raise money for charity, it is also a fantastic opportunity to see the Barcelona sights, as the route has been specifically designed to take in the city’s most iconic buildings and monuments. Starting at the Placa d’Espanya, runners will pass the imposing Nou Camp, Sagrada Familia and Gaudi’s remarkable La Pedrera before racing up Las Ramblas and finishing back at the Placa d’Espanya.
Click here to book a place on this year’s Barcelona Marathon. Let us know if you have ever taken part in the race before, we’d love to hear from you.