The Other Eight Major Trail Running Races in Spain
This article is a continuation of the last one published, "7 Great Trail Running Races in Spain." We wanted to summarize the 15 best trail running races in Spain.
There are many more, but these are perhaps the most coveted competitions for the most passionate Trail Runners.
There are many changes this 2021, and we hope to help you learn about and/or plan your participation in one of them.
Please note! Our summary omits some shorter modalities of the ultras. If you want complete information about a specific Ultra, visit the race's website that interests you.
The other 8 of the 15 best Trail Running Races in Spain
8. Ultra Pirineu
The Ultra is a demanding competition and one of the most international in the country, with participants from over 60 nationalities. There are four more distances to compete in that all trail runners can tackle.
According to the organization's website, this year's race will be held over three days: from October 1 to 3, 2021.
They also state that there will be no bib lottery for the 2021 edition of the 94km distance because those already registered will keep their spots for 2021. Those who give up their bibs will be replaced by those on the waiting list, which will reopen soon.
SALOMON ULTRA PIRINEU 100k (Bagà): Saturday, October 2 (5:30 a.m.)
With 6,600m of positive elevation gain. You will run through the most emblematic and spectacular high mountain sections of the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park.
Maximum: 1,000 participants.
Asphalt 6%, track 15%, and trail 79%. With a maximum time of 26 hours.
SALOMON MARATÓ PIRINEU 42k (Bagà): Saturday, October 2 (9:00 a.m.)
SALOMON MITJA PIRINEU 20k (Bagà) Sunday, October 3 (9:30 a.m.)
Consult all information about Ultra Pirineu here
9. Gran Trail Picos de Europa
There are four fantastic races to be held on June 26, 2021.
All of them start in Benia de Onís. You will run along the trails and meadows of the Picos de Europa National Park. You will pass through absolutely emblematic places such as Lakes of Covadonga, the Cares Route, Canal de Trea, and Vega de Ario.
A maximum of 1,500 runners will be able to start, distributed across the four race modalities.
GTPE Ultra – 70 km with 5,300m of positive elevation gain and a maximum altitude of 1,895m, El Jultayu.
Maximum time: 18.5 hours.
GTPE Trail – 35 km and 2,200 m of positive elevation gain.
A maximum altitude of 1,042m, Camba. With a maximum time of 9 hours.
GTPE Trail – 22 km and 1,380 m of positive elevation gain
Maximum altitude: 1,042m, Camba. With a maximum time of 6 hours.
GTPE Speed Trail – 10 km and 500 m of positive elevation gain
A maximum altitude of 539m, Camba. No time limit.
Consult all information about Gran Trail Picos de Europa here
10. Ultra Trail Vall D’Aran
A mountain race for those who want to feel like pioneers, as this year is its first edition.
You can practice trail running in the heart of the Pyrenees. The first edition will be held on July 9, 10, and 11, 2021.
TORN DERA VAL D’ARAN – VDA 162 km
With 10,600m of positive elevation gain. Start and finish in Vielha. To be held on 07/09/2021. The route passes through Asphalt 4%, Track 13%, Trail 83%. With a maximum elevation of 2,610m.
Asphalt 4%, track 13%, trail 83%, and maximum elevation 2,610m
CAMINS DE HÊR – CDH 105 km
With an elevation gain of 6,500m D+ | 6,200m D-
Route Les – Vielha. Start on 07/09/2021.
Asphalt 4%, track 12%, trail 84%, and maximum elevation 2,610m
PEADES D’AIGUA – PDA 55 km
Elevation gain of 3,100m D+ and 3,900m D-. Route from Beret to Vielha. On 07/10/2021.
Asphalt 6%, track 15%, trail 79%, and maximum elevation 2,610m.
SKY BAQUEIRA BERET – 15KM
Elevation gain 800m+ and 800m- with a maximum elevation of 2,418m.
Saturday 07/10/2021 in Pla de Beret.
Consult all information about Ultra Trail Vall D’Aran here
11. Gran Trail Aneto Posets
July 22 to 25, 2021.
GRAN TRAIL ANETO-POSETS: 105 km and 6,670m of positive elevation gain.
If you compete in the Gran Trail Aneto-Posets, you will run along tracks, trails, snowfields, and boulder fields surrounding the two highest peaks of the Pyrenees: Aneto (3,404 m) and Posets (3,375 m).
You will have 40.7 km of the route above 2,000m. In total, there are 10.1 km of asphalt, 20.8 km of track, 57.9 km of trail, and 16.2 km off-trail.
VUELTA AL ANETO: 55 km and 3,630m of positive elevation gain.
27.5 km of the route are above 2,000m. In total, there are 8.8 km of track, 24.2 km of trail, and 15.9 km off-trail.
MARATÓN DE LAS TUCAS: 42 km and 2,250m of positive elevation gain.
There are 8.5 km of the route above 2,000m in altitude. In total, there are 3.4 km of asphalt, 13.3 km of track, and 25.4 km of trail.
VUELTA AL PICO CERLER: 26.9 km and 1,250m of positive elevation gain.
VUELTA AL MOLINO DE CERLER: 10.8 km and 460m of positive elevation gain.
Consult all information about Gran Trail Aneto Posets here
12. Ultra Trail Bosques del Sur
This year it will be held on the last two weekends of May.
ULTRA TRAIL BOSQUES DEL SUR: 99 km and 4,652 m of positive elevation gain. With start and finish in the town of Cazorla (Jaén province). It takes place in the Cazorla, Segura y las Villas Natural Park. 5/22/2021.
As an anecdote of an ecological nature, they state on the website that this year's route has been modified due to the nesting of bearded vultures in an area near the planned itinerary. This shows that a race is run in an environment of extremely high ecological value. It is an area of the Natural Park with Grade A protection (the highest).
For this modality, a medical certificate is mandatory (a template can be obtained on the Organization's website).
Trails 43%, closed track 53%, and asphalt 4%.
MARATÓN TRAIL BOSQUES DEL SUR: 50 km and 2,809 m+, with its start and finish in the town of Cazorla (Jaén) and takes place in the Cazorla, Segura y las Villas Natural Park. 5/23/2021.
LA MEDIA MARATÓN BOSQUES DEL SUR: 24 km and an elevation gain of 1,335 m+, with start and finish in the town of Cazorla (Jaén province). The route runs through the Cazorla, Segura y las Villas Natural Park. 05/30/2021
Consult all information about Ultra Trail Bosques del Sur here
13. Costa Blanca in Finestrat
Do you know that there are six giants in Marina Baixa? Aitana 1,558m, the highest point of the race and the highest in Alicante, Puig Campana with its 1,404m of altitude (and visible from Benidorm), Mallada del Llop at 1,360m with its spectacular Canal and subsequent ridge traverse, Pla de la Casa 1,379m, Pico Serrella 1,319m, and Recingle Alt 1,359m.
GRAN TRAIL COSTA BLANCA 101K
November 19, 2021, starting from Plaza de Europa in Finestrat.
This is the supreme challenge of Costa Blanca Trails: 101 km of pure, brutal mountain. It starts by climbing Puig Campana and ends at Pico de Aitana, while traversing the entire Serrella and its main peaks: Mallada del Llop, Pico Serrella, Pla de la Casa, and Recingle Alt.
ULTRA TRAIL COSTA BLANCA 75K
Saturday, November 20, 2021, starting from Plaza de Europa in Finestrat.
75 km with more than 4,100 meters of positive elevation gain. Puig Campana and Aitana are its peaks, two vertical kilometers within an ultra trail.
MARATÓN COSTA BLANCA 46K
Saturday, November 20, 2021, starting from Plaza de Europa in Finestrat.
A little more than a mountain marathon with an added bonus, the summit of Puig Campana. In addition, you will surround the impressive walls of Ponoig and explore breathtaking landscapes such as Racó de les Tovaines, Port de l'Arch, and El Goleró.
TRAIL PUIG CAMPANA: 29 km and 2,010 m of positive elevation gain.
Sunday, November 21, 2021, starting from Plaza de Europa in Finestrat.
You climb Puig Campana on a short route in terms of kilometers.
Consult all information about Costa Blanca in Finestrat here
14. Ultra Trail Sierra Nevada
ULTRA SIERRA NEVADA: 97.5 km of continuous ascent along trails and paths from Granada to Pico Veleta and Pradollano Ski Resort.
This is the highest altitude Ultra in the Iberian Peninsula, at 3,100m.
In 40 km, you will have to overcome an elevation gain of more than 2,500 meters to reach the highest point of the race at the foot of Pico Veleta at 3,100 meters of altitude. From there, a dizzying descent begins to reach the Finish Line installed in the Pradollano Ski Resort, at 2,100 m of altitude.
Elevation gain of 5,480m+ and 3,900m- and it is a semi-self-sufficient race. Maximum time of 24 hours. Maximum number of bibs available: 450.
TRAIL SIERRA NEVADA: 60 km with an elevation gain of 3,710m+ and 2,650m-.
Saturday, April 10. From Beas de Granada to the first pass through Pradollano. It is an alternative with less physical demand and a greater time margin for all those runners who want to be part of the ULTRA atmosphere.
Semi-self-sufficient nature. Maximum time to complete the route is 15 hours. Bibs available: 450.
MARATÓN SIERRA NEVADA: 40 km with an elevation gain of 2730m+ and 1450m-.
Saturday, April 10, from the town of Quéntar to the first pass through Pradollano.
It also has a semi-self-sufficient nature. Maximum time of 10 hours. The maximum number of bibs available is 450.
Consult all information about Ultra Trail Sierra Nevada here
15. Zegama-Aizkorri
According to Andrés, a Trail Running specialist and manager of our store in Alcoy, "the Zegama-Aizkorri is a dream for any of us. Being able to run it once in a lifetime, it's the 42 most desired kilometers on the planet, heh, heh... I've been trying to get a bib for 10 years in a row and I've never gotten one. There are only 225 bibs for more than 13,000 applications."
The route goes through the Aratz massif and the]. From the town of Zegama <296 m.> it reaches the pass of <652 m.> to then, from the aforementioned mountain pass, follow a route that runs along paths and mountain trails of great natural beauty, where you can combine
Date:
ZEGAMA-AIZKORRI 42.195 km.
You will run through a mid-mountain region, although it is a technical and highly difficult route. The Aizkorri mountain range includes four of the highest peaks in the Basque Autonomous Community: Aratz, Aizkorri, Aketegi, and Otzaurte. There are wooded areas, mainly beech forests, steep areas of live rock, and high mountain pastures.
June 6, 2021, with start and finish in Zegama
Accumulated elevation gain: 5,472 meters
Maximum altitude: 1,551
Time limit: 8 hours
Zegama Aizkorri VERTICAL KILOMETER: 5,200m
May 22, 2020
Elevation gain: 1015m (Arriaundi – Iraule).
Finish line: Iraule, altitude 1,520m.
