On March 15, Barcelona once again came alive with the spirit of running. From early morning, the city\u2019s streets filled with thousands of runners, families and volunteers ready to experience a memorable day. The atmosphere was electric: live music at multiple points along the course, residents cheering from balconies and a mild sun accompanying the roar of the peloton.<\/p>\n\n
After selling all 32,000 bibs<\/strong> months in advance, the Zurich Marat\u00f3 Barcelona delivered the largest edition in its history, further establishing itself among Europe\u2019s great marathon events. This race recap highlights what happened on the streets, the day\u2019s main protagonists and some tips for runners dreaming of crossing the Arc de Triomf finish line next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 2026 edition confirmed Barcelona\u2019s place among the major international marathons. With 32,000 runners<\/strong> on the starting line and strong international participation, the event once again proved its appeal to both amateur athletes and elite competitors.<\/p>\n\n The mostly flat and fully urban course guided runners through some of the city\u2019s most iconic landmarks: Pla\u00e7a de Catalunya, the wide avenues of the Eixample district, the Sagrada Fam\u00edlia, the Barceloneta seafront and Parc de la Ciutadella<\/em>. Thousands of spectators lined the streets all morning, transforming the race into a true celebration of sport.<\/p>\n\n The event also served as the Spanish National Marathon Championship<\/strong>, adding another competitive dimension to the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The standout performance of the day came from Ethiopian runner Fotyen Tesfay<\/strong>. In her marathon debut, the 28-year-old produced an extraordinary performance, crossing the finish line in 2:10:53<\/strong>, one of the fastest times ever recorded in the distance.<\/p>\n\n Tesfay reached the halfway mark at a pace close to the world record and maintained impressive splits for most of the race. Although wind in the final kilometres prevented a world-record attempt, her performance shattered the Barcelona course record and became one of the most remarkable marathon debuts in history.<\/p>\n\n The women\u2019s podium was completed by Kenya\u2019s Joan Jepkosgei Kiplimo<\/strong> and Ethiopia\u2019s Zeineba Yimer<\/strong>. Among Spanish runners, Carolina Robles<\/strong> was the standout performer, winning the Spanish national title in 2:24:58 in her marathon debut.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA marathon that confirms Barcelona\u2019s running boom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Women\u2019s race: Fotyen Tesfay delivers a historic debut<\/h2>\n\n\n\n