Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz.
The Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz is the oldest half marathon in the Basque Country, run every December since 1980 and without prize money. The course is flat on the city's high plateau, but it criss-crosses the districts around the old town with several turnarounds and double passes. Running it fast means managing cold, corners and broken rhythm.
Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz 2026: Course, Route Profile & Map
The start is on Portal de Lasarte beside the Mendizorrotza sports complex. The opening kilometres run north up the wide Avenida de Gasteiz to a turn at San Viator and back, then through the western residential districts via Beato Tomás de Zumárraga, Pedro de Asúa and Adriano VI. After a loop around Portal de Castilla the route heads east along Ramón y Cajal and Manuel Iradier, then north on Pío XII and Los Herrán to a turnaround triangle at Portal de Legutiano.
The way back runs down Francia and La Paz, past the La Florida park and onto Avenida de Gasteiz again, which is run up to San Viator and back a second time. Then come the Portal de Castilla loop once more, Manuel Iradier, the Paseo de las Universidades and the Paseo de Cervantes to the finish on the Plaza Amadeo García Salazar in front of Mendizorrotza. The whole course is asphalt and stays within a band of a little over 20 metres at about 520 metres above sea level.
The race is run by the Álava athletics federation, is RFEA-measured and doubles as the Basque and Álava championship. Up to 4,500 bibs are issued and two thirds of the field travel in from elsewhere. The organisers themselves note that race day is often cold; the finish by the stadium is still what brings many runners back.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Start under control
On this course it is the geometry, not the profile, that sets the pace. The two turns at San Viator, the triangle at Portal de Legutiano and the double loop around Portal de Castilla each cost a few seconds and force you to restart. Run the corners tight, slow in a controlled way before each turn and come back up to goal pace over ten to twenty strides rather than with a sprint.
Hold your rhythm
The long straights of Avenida de Gasteiz are where you settle into rhythm and can shelter in a group. Keep it even there, because the second pass from around km 13 is mentally the hardest section: the same road you already know, on tired legs.
Spend what is left
The trap is the cold start. Running the first kilometres too fast in December cold just to warm up gets paid back on the second Gasteiz stretch. Treat the first three kilometres as a lead-in to pace and only press once you are heading back towards Mendizorrotza.
Training plan for Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz: 12-week build
Build the base
For age-group runners the course means roughly 1:20 to 2:20 of steady, mostly aerobic effort; the finish closes at 2:30, with controls at km 5, 10 and 15. There are no real climbs, but many changes of direction that ask for short accelerations.
Train race pace
The focus is sustained speed: threshold runs of 20 to 40 minutes and long runs finishing with a block at half-marathon pace. Build turnarounds into some sessions, for example tempo runs on an out-and-back stretch, so that braking and restarting in the race does not cost strength you need for the second half.
Rehearse the course
The second half, with its repeat of Avenida de Gasteiz, is where the race is decided. Long runs in which you cover a familiar loop several times at goal pace train exactly the focus needed there.
Arrive fresh
The race is held on 20 December at a little over 500 metres altitude, and the organisers themselves recall cold race days. Train deliberately in the cold over the winter, test gloves, hat and throwaway layers in training and plan a thorough warm-up, since the 10:30 start is often still in cool air.
Courses
Download the Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz.
How long is Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz?
Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz is 21.1 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz have?
Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz has around 121 m of elevation gain over 21.1 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz?
Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz is classified as Flat, averaging 5.8 vertical metres per kilometre. 49% of the route is flat, 25% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
Is Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz a loop course?
Yes, Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz course?
Yes. The Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz?
Preparation for Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz should account for 21.1 km, 121 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz?
The pacing strategy for Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz should reflect 21.1 km, 121 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz take place?
Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz takes place on December 20, 2026.
Where does Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz take place?
Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz takes place in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
How do I register for Media Maratón de Vitoria-Gasteiz?
Registration runs through the organiser: mediamaratonvitoriagasteiz.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
