Video | Zegama, this is how a mountain marathon is revered

An atmosphere typical of the Tour de France for a mountain race in which the winner takes 3,000 euros.

That is the Zegama-Aizkorri, the most valued event of this type in the world, with permission from the Mont Blanc Ultra Trail.

It is a marathon, with its 42.195 kilometres, in the mountains of Gipuzkoa, with 2,736 meters of positive elevation gain and areas of great technical complexity.

“There are many more beautiful races, with better landscapes or better organized in the world, but not with as many public.

The runners say the same thing, they don't see what is lived here anywhere”, explains the director of the organization, Ainhoa ​​Txurruka.

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The end of the world race

It is such a sought-after event that it received 12,000 requests for 500 bib numbers in 2020. Because Zegama, a modest town of 1,500 inhabitants in Gipuzkoa, cannot do more.

Of these, 150 are for the best times of the previous editions, 250 are drawn and the rest are for organization commitments, such as elite athletes or runners who have participated in all the editions since it was born, in 2002, and who keep their place every year.

There are six left, like José Antonio Salgado, 63, from Navarra.

The record is the private preserve of Kilian Jornet, who has won 10 editions and holds the record (3h 36m 41s) in a test in which going below four hours was, in the beginning, a real feat.

Oihana Kortazar, double winner, illustrates the meaning of Zegama for Basque athletes.

But this race glorifies the popular athlete, encouraged in his hard climb to Aizkorri as a hero.

Because the public takes care of the details and chants for his name.

Zegama brings together the two sides of a clearly booming sport: an event with the best in the world that, above all, recognizes the incalculable effort of the anonymous runner.

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