San Sebastián Marathon 2025

With or San Sebastián 😆, you can come experience an adventure like no other in a region of Spain just a few steps from home 🇪🇸.

Alright, let's get straight to the point, we’re taking you on a trip for the  Zurich Maratón San Sebastián 🕶️ or more commonly known as the San Sebastián Marathon. Located in the Basque Country, San Sebastián (Saint-Sébastien in good French) hosts a race that surpasses a simple sporting event ! 🏃‍♂️ Beyond the mythical marathon, you can launch yourself on an entirely new distance, that of the half-marathon, or there's a traditional 10 km 🏅 available. This event promises an extraordinary and unique landscape, just 20 km from France 🇫🇷. Regarding the climate, the month of November is traditionally rainy and chilly in the Basque Country 💦, so bring something warm 🥶. With all this, you're bound to experience a complete change of scenery. Does it make your mouth water ? 🤤 Then, let’s get on with the rest of the program… 😁

Basque commotion! 🤪 But before you take on the 42 km, we'll tell you a bit more about its history... Know that the San Sebastián marathon is the second oldest marathon in Spain 🥈. It was created in 1978, the year the famous "Alexandrie, Alexandra" by Claude Francois came out 🕺🏼. Yes, it takes us back! Anyway, back to your race! Surrounded by mountains 🏔️, Donostia (the Basque name for the city) is a truly unique place. Basque culture will surprise you, its architecture will enchant you, and its scenery will astound you 😱. But you'll have to take off, put on some speed as they say, to try and beat your record 🚀. Indeed, you're about to embark on one of the fastest marathons in Spain 💨. In fact, the notables of this event have their records etched in stone: 2h 09' 34" for Timothy Cherigat (KEN) for men in 2002 and 2h 23' 09" for Rebbeca Tanui (KEN) for women in 2022 🏆.

You will complete a road circuit of 21 km to be done twice ✌️ and all that without Sebastián Loeb to show you the way 😂. The route runs mainly through the city center, and you will fall in love with its streets with their typical architecture 😍. During your journey on the Basque city's asphalt, you will cross the Urumea River before heading along the stunning La Concha Bay. With its beach 🏖️, waves 🌊, and beautiful panorama, it is a small jewel of the Basque coast not to be missed 💍. As you run along the bay, don’t forget to look up to admire the Sacred Heart statue atop Mount Urgull 👀. It might remind you of the statue atop Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, but smaller 🗽. Continuing, you will pass by many monuments such as the Miramar Palace, the famous Don Quijote y Sancho sculpture, or the Good Shepherd Cathedral of San Sebastián. The finale will be grand, with you reaching the end of your effort in the home of the legendary Real Sociedad club named Estadio Anoeta ⚽.

To conclude the superhuman effort you just made, what better than to celebrate in a nice little restaurant with Pintxos (a variety of Tapas) 🥙 accompanied by a local cider or a Txakoli (white wine) tasted in moderation, of course 😉. You can also enjoy the event "Feria Del Corredor", a fair dedicated to running where you can meet various players in the running world 🎽. Otherwise, you can tour the city to visit all the monuments 🏛️ you passed during your race. But you can also explore the surroundings, by following the coast, you will arrive in the capital of the Basque Country: Bilbao ⚡. Or heading inland, you'll reach Pamplona, with its iconic cathedral Sainte-Marie ⛪.

After such an experience, it will be no surprise if San Sebastián sticks with you for quite a while 😁.