Roncesvalles-Zubiri Half Marathon

Roncesvalles-Zubiri Half Marathon

The Roncesvalles-Zubiri Half Marathon is one of the most distinctive races on the Navarre calendar: instead of climbing, it descends. Its course follows the entire first stage of the French Way of the Camino de Santiago, from the Royal Collegiate Church in Roncesvalles — the first Spanish landmark on the Camino after crossing the Pyrenees — to the town square in Zubiri, weaving sport and cultural heritage into a single route. Organized by Club Zaldiko alongside Diario de Noticias and M2 Eventos, the race caps participation at 1,300 bibs, which tend to sell out well ahead of time.

A 21.3 km Downhill Course

The route passes through Burguete, Espinal, Viscarret-Guerendiain and Lintzoain before reaching Zubiri, losing 523 meters of elevation from the 952 m of Roncesvalles down to the 528 m of Zubiri. The profile is an almost constant descent, broken only by a couple of short climbs. That doesn’t make it an easy race: the prolonged downhill on dirt and stone paths calls for shoes with good grip and takes a real toll on your legs, especially your quads, more than you’d expect from a half marathon.

Along the First Stretch of the French Way

Running the opening stage of the Camino de Santiago is the big draw here: the same route that thousands of pilgrims walk every year, except at race pace, with aid stations every 5 km. The generous 3-hour time limit (finish line closes at 2:00 PM) suits a mostly downhill course, making it accessible to experienced middle-distance runners who want to try trail running without facing a demanding elevation gain.

Roncesvalles and the Erro Valley Beyond the Race

Roncesvalles is far more than the starting point: its Royal Collegiate Church, founded in the 12th century, is a must-stop for pilgrims and visitors alike, and the surrounding Erro valley offers beech forests and charming villages like Burguete, the literary setting of Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises.” Use the trip to explore other mountain races in Navarre or plan your full season with the race planner.