"The start and finish line is in the village of Zegama in northeastern Spain, and the course climbs four of the highest peaks in the area - Aratz, Aizkorri, Aitxuri, and Andraitz - and then descends back to Zegama. It's on a looped course with 2,736 meters of climbing over a sometimes technical 42 kilometers. That's roughly 8,976 feet of elevation gain over 26.2 miles."
"The first 16k is nearly all up as the race climbs up to Aratz, part of the Aizkorri massif. It then drops back down, and then goes back up the Sancti Spiritu climb at 20k. This is the "wall of noise" that's popularly photographed during the race, with spectators lining the steep 600-meter climb. The cycle repeats with another downhill, a shorter climb, and an ultimate 12k descent back to Zegama."
"This year's race is the first of the 2026 Golden Trail World Series (GTWS), and it's the first race of the year for many of the top runners. Prize money runs 10 deep with 3,000 Euro for the winners."
"Casually known as Zegama or as the Zegama Marathon - Zegama is Zegama, as they say - the race is again part of the Golden Trail World Series, and this year's might be the best yet. The mountain runners of Basque Country play incredible hosts, as the region fills for the weekend with legions of fans supporting the lucky folks taking part in this year's edition."
The Zegama-Aizkorri Marathon marks its 25th edition in Spain’s Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park in the Basque Country. The race is part of the Golden Trail World Series and is scheduled for Sunday, May 17 at 9 a.m. local time. Start and finish occur in Zegama, with a looped route that climbs Aratz, Aizkorri, Aitxuri, and Andraitz before descending back to the village. The course covers 42 kilometers with 2,736 meters of climbing, including a steep 600-meter “wall of noise” climb near 20k. It is the first race of the 2026 GTWS and offers prize money down to 10th place, with 3,000 Euro for winners.
Read at iRunFar
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