About the race
Zegama-Aizkorri, called Mendi Maratoia ("mountain marathon") in Basque, is one of the best-known skyrunning races in the world. It is held in the Basque Country, starting and finishing in the village of Zegama and climbing to the Aizkorri range.
History
The first edition was held in 2002. The race was part of the Skyrunner World Series until 2017, and since 2018 the marathon has belonged to the Golden Trail Series. A Vertical Kilometer was added in 2015, and the organiser also stages a junior trail race. Editions 19 and 20 were cancelled because of the pandemic. Kilian Jornet has won the men's race many times, and the fastest recorded men's time listed on Wikipedia is his 3:36:40 from 2022.
The course
Runners leave Zegama, climb up to Aizkorri, whose high point is 1,551 m, and return to finish in Zegama. The SkyMarathon is 42.195 km with 2,736 m of ascent, so it is short on distance but very steep. The organiser's menu links to profiles and GPS tracks for the race.
Distances
The main event is the 42 km mountain marathon. The Vertical Kilometer and the junior trail are separate races on the same weekend programme.
The 2027 edition
The organiser's news page announced on 9 October 2026 that the 26th Zegama-Aizkorri will be held on 6 June 2027, with pre-registration opening in January. Wikipedia describes the race as a May event, so the date has shifted for 2027.
Entry basics
The organiser runs a pre-registration process, followed by registration, and has pages for rules and prizes. Cut-offs and any qualifying conditions are set out in the race rules.
Where to watch
The village of Zegama is the natural base, with the start and finish area there. Most of the route is on mountain terrain, so check the official tracks before planning any walk to a viewpoint.
Weather
Late spring in the Basque mountains is changeable. Mist, rain and cool wind are common on the high ridges even when the valley is mild, and the ground can be wet and muddy, so spectators should dress for mountain weather.