The last time I ran the Vitoria Marathon, back in 2023, it didn’t leave me with a good experience. It was a rainy day, the runner’s expo was held in a rather unappealing shopping mall, and there were a few other details that could be improved, especially for an event with so many editions. However, given the option of going on the same day with Gorriti—pacing alongside Juanpa—I join the trip despite a hectic last few days, and with barely 4 hours of sleep.
We arrive in Vitoria with plenty of time. Once there, we collect our race bibs, which another teammate picked up for us the day before. Then it is time to finalize the usual pre-race preparations. These vary from runner to runner, but include a few essentials: vaseline, sunscreen, gels, cap, running belt, phone, etc. All of it in that order or any other… I have a post pending on this topic. In the end, it is within these “rituals” one finds the confidence to face a 42k race.
Alongside the main event, half marathon, 10k, and 5k distances are also offered. And here lay one of the first mistakes: all have a simultaneous start at 8:30 AM. Once again, the word “marathon” is used as a hook to attract runners of shorter distances, in detriment of marathoners. This is exactly how Bilbao lost its night “marathon”, once the shorter distances cannibalized—by sheer volume and organizational convenience—the very distance that gave rise to the event in the first place.
After the gun goes off, I stick to the plan and hook onto the 3h45m group, following my usual strategy. It should be an easy task. And it is, at least until kilometer 10. That is as far as I go with them. Neither the gels nor the aid stations (which weren’t too well-organized, by the way) make much of a difference past that point, and I realise it is going to be one of those days where I have to draw on every available resource just to make it to the finish line.
I cross the half-marathon mark at 1:56. Not too bad, all things considered. I keep up my routine of taking a gel every 5-6 kilometers and staying well-hydrated at the aid stations, opting for sports drinks whenever possible. As the kilometers tick by, I can see at the turnarounds that the 4-hour group is relentlessly closing in. They overtake me and later I fall behind.
Trying to enjoy the rest of the race as much as possible, I finally reach the finish line with a net time of 4:06:31 (official time 4:10:23), placing 536th out of 697 finishers.
The positives: The availability of the Mendizorroza sports centre, with changing rooms and showers right next to the start/finish area, as well as the proximity of the parking areas and the gear drop.
The negatives: The simultaneous start for all distances, the disorganization at the aid stations, and the excessive number of twists and turns on the course.
Well, after Vitoria comes a little break from marathons—though certainly not from other races.