Zegama-Aizkorri 2026: The Complete Guide to the World's Greatest Mountain Marathon | SportPlan
Apr 3, 2026·7 min read·marathonguide
Zegama-Aizkorri 2026: The Complete Guide to the World's Greatest Mountain Marathon
Everything you need to know about Zegama-Aizkorri 2026: course breakdown km by km, entry, elite splits, aid stations, gear, logistics and race strategy.
There are races, and then there's Zegama-Aizkorri.
A village of 1,500 people. A mountain marathon that draws the best trail runners on earth. An atmosphere at the Sancti Spiritu checkpoint that has reduced grown athletes to tears. Every May, Zegama becomes the emotional center of the trail running world — not because of its prize money or production, but because of something harder to quantify: soul.
If you're already thinking about running it, this guide will tell you everything the official website won't.
The Zegama-Aizkorri Mountain Marathon runs through the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park in Gipuzkoa, Basque Country. At 42.195 km with 2,736 meters of elevation gain, it's marathon distance — but nothing like a road marathon.
The race has been a fixture on the world trail calendar since the early 2000s and is now part of the Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) — the elite global trail racing circuit. Winning Zegama earns you a txapela (a traditional Basque beret), which in trail running circles carries more prestige than most trophies.
Kilian Jornet has won here more times than most runners have finished. Elhousine Elazzaoui, Manuel Merillas, Sara Alonso, Sylvia Nordskar — the best of the best come to Zegama.
2026 Race Facts:
📅 Date: May 17, 2026
📍 Location: Zegama, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain
Zegama-Aizkorri has severely limited entries: approximately 545 places in the marathon. Access is by ballot (lottery) through the official website zegamaaizkorri.eus.
When does the ballot open? Typically between November and February before the race. Follow official channels so you don't miss the window.
Elite field: Elite runners are invited through the GTWS system. If you accumulate enough GTWS points, you may qualify for elite entry. Check goldentrailseries.com for the 2026 requirements.
Entry fee: Approximately €35-50 for the popular marathon (verify on the official website for 2026 pricing).
Vertical Kilometer: Also held around the same weekend (~248 entries), with its own txapela and elite field.
ℹ️ Last verified: March 29, 2026. Check zegamaaizkorri.eus for definitive 2026 details.
This is not a course you can summarize as "hilly." Zegama is a series of blows — steep climbs, exposed ridgelines, and technical descents that destroy unprepared quads.
The race starts in the village. The first kilometers wind through beech forests — deceptively runnable compared to what's coming. The crowd and atmosphere make everyone go out too fast. Classic mistake #1. Control your pace here. The real race starts later.
Otzaurte (km 7) — first aid station. Good moment to check in with yourself.
The terrain becomes more technical. The path climbs toward the Aizkorri ridgeline through rocky outcrops. Fog is common here — disorienting when dense, and cold arrives fast.
The climb to Aratz (km 16) is demanding, but the pivotal moment is the Sancti Spiritu pass (km 20).
Sancti Spiritu is a hermitage above 900m altitude. The approach involves a brutal descent followed by a grueling climb. Dozens of spectators line the route here, screaming, cowbelling, handing out drinks. It's where well-prepared runners keep moving and the ones who went out too hard start to unravel.
After Sancti Spiritu, the route climbs to the high ridge. Aketegi (1,551 m) and Aitxuri (the highest peak in Euskadi) mark this section.
The technical descent between km 23-25 is where most DNFs happen. Wet rocks, steep gradient, no room for error. Rain is common in May in the Basque Country — and wet Aizkorri rock is genuinely treacherous.
Veteran advice: conserve your legs on the Sancti Spiritu descent so you have something left for the Aitxuri ridge. Attack the descent too hard and you'll pay on the way up.
After the ridge, the course drops to the Urbia plateau and Oltze refuge. A longer, more moderate section that can either restore your race or deceive you into thinking it's over.
The course doesn't end gently. The final climb to Andraitz arrives when your legs are done. The descent back into the village goes through a crowd that hasn't stopped cheering all day. Cross the line and you'll understand why people come back year after year.
Men: Elhousine Elazzaoui (2024 runner-up, GTWS circuit leader), Manuel Merillas (2023 champion under mud conditions)
Women: Sylvia Nordskar (defending champion), Sara Alonso (local favorite, 2025 contender)
Course record (men): Kilian Jornet (multiple wins, fastest time on the historic course)
Kilian Jornet won Zegama so many times that his record here became part of his legend. The course record stands as the benchmark every elite runner measures themselves against.
ℹ️ Last verified: March 29, 2026. Course data based on the 2025 edition. The 2026 edition may include modifications. Always check zegamaaizkorri.eus for official and final information.
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