Arrigorriagako Ausartak 2027: confirmed date and what is known

Plan your race pace

The next edition of the Arrigorriaga mountain race Ausartak has a confirmed date: it will take place on Jan. 16, 2027. The information currently available does not specify the start time, distances, route or entry fee, so details from previous years should not be treated as final plans for the 2027 event.

The 2026 edition, described in published information as the seventh, took place over Jan. 17-18 and brought together mountain running, canicross and walking events. Its Mendikosolo Trail covered 12 kilometers with about 400 meters of elevation gain. It offers useful context about the event, but does not confirm that the same format will return in 2027.

The 2027 date is confirmed, but details are still missing

The confirmed information for the next event is the date: Saturday, Jan. 16, 2027, in Arrigorriaga, a municipality in Bizkaia. The date places the race on the winter calendar, but is not enough to plan travel or participation: no start time, starting point, registration process or event categories have been provided for this edition.

The missing details matter especially because the previous edition included activities over two days and at different locations in the municipality. In 2026, Mendikosolo Park hosted Saturday’s events, while Sunday’s program was based around the town hall square. That schedule describes the previous edition, not the confirmed 2027 program.

It has also not been specified whether the 2027 event will keep several categories or focus on a single race. Its Basque name refers to a mountain race, but that alone does not establish the route, distance, elevation gain or participation requirements. Those elements need to be confirmed separately before the event can be described as having a finalized format.

What the previous edition offered

The seventh Ausartak Mendi Lasterketa was held on Jan. 17-18, 2026. Its announced program included trail running, canicross and a walking event, with activities for different participant profiles and distances. That edition was organized by the association Arrigorriagako Ausartak Ludiko-Kirol Elkartea, with municipal support.

Saturday’s events around Mendikosolo Park included canicross and the 12-kilometer Mendikosolo Trail, both with about 400 meters of elevation gain. The canicross start was scheduled for 10 a.m. and the mountain race for 10:30 a.m. A 2.5-kilometer popular race and a 700-meter children’s activity were listed later, both without timing or rankings.

Sunday’s program included a 21-kilometer mountain half marathon with 1,200 meters of elevation gain, and the 9.5-kilometer Hasiberri Trail with 500 meters of climbing. Their starts were scheduled for 10:30 and 11 a.m., respectively, from the town hall square. These figures show the range of the 2026 edition, but are not confirmed distances for 2027.

Mendikosolo Trail was also described as a pilot event that year. The route climbed from the park toward the area around the summit of Pastorekorta, with a refreshment station around kilometer 4.5 and another at the finish. Runners had to be at least 16; participants under 18 needed permission. None of those requirements can automatically be carried over to the next edition without specific confirmation.

An event with different ways to take part

The 2026 program combined timed races with popular events and activities for children. That mix broadened the weekend’s appeal: alongside demanding mountain routes were shorter distances designed for noncompetitive participation. The previous edition brought together different kinds of participants, from those seeking distance and elevation to people who wanted to experience the event without competing.

Canicross added another dimension, with runners accompanied by their dogs. In this kind of event, the race depends on the organizer’s specific rules, which may cover equipment, dogs’ ages or how they are handled. Available information about the 2026 edition gives the planned distance and start time, but does not provide a full set of regulations here; it is also not known whether the category will return in 2027.

The popular and children’s events in 2026 were presented as noncompetitive, with no rankings or timing. That distinction matters: sharing a venue and event day does not mean every activity has the same requirements, demands or purpose. The format and rules for each category should be checked in that year’s event notice, especially when children or animals are involved.

Mendikosolo and the mountain terrain

The 12-kilometer race in 2026 started near Mendikosolo and headed toward the area around Pastorekorta. A moderate distance combined with about 400 meters of elevation gain suggested a mountain route with a sustained climb, although those figures alone do not determine difficulty. Surface conditions, gradient, mud, descents and weather also matter.

In winter, trail conditions can change quickly. Rain and damp ground affect grip on tracks and paths, while descents require care even when the total elevation gain seems manageable. A refreshment station at kilometer 4.5 and another at the finish were reported for the previous event. The locations of those stations and the conditions of the 2027 course have not been confirmed.

The reference to Pastorekorta provides a general picture of the area used for that previous race, but should not be read as a description of the future route. On a mountain course, even small route changes can alter the elevation profile and terrain considerably. The stated distance also does not reveal whether the route is mostly tracks, narrow trails or technical sections.

That is why the final course will be one of the most useful details when the 2027 program is released. Along with a map, runners will need information about elevation gain, checkpoints, equipment requirements and any age restrictions. Until then, Mendikosolo Trail’s details are only historical context from the 2026 edition.

Registration, start times and other details to come

The information provided confirms the date, but does not include a registration link, entry fee or deadline. It also gives no start time or specific start and finish location for 2027. As a result, it is not possible to say how much it will cost to enter or when registration will open. No confirmed entry fee is available to add to the event details.

The 2026 edition had staggered starts on Saturday and Sunday, reflecting a program with several categories. If the 2027 schedule again includes multiple activities, each may have a different start time and location; if the format changes, those references will no longer apply. Publishing past schedules as if they were current would be misleading.

The official distance, elevation gain, categories, age requirements and any parallel activities are also unknown. Permission for participants under 18 was mentioned for the 2026 race, but there is no confirmation that this condition will remain or that the same categories will be offered. The 2027 event notice will need to set out those rules explicitly.

For visitors coming from outside Arrigorriaga, the exact start and finish locations will be important for arranging transport and allowing enough time before the race. Mendikosolo Park and the town hall square were used in 2026, but that does not confirm where the next edition will be based. Without official location and timing details, it is not sensible to make logistical assumptions.

How to read the date on the calendar

Jan. 16, 2027, falls on a Saturday, unlike the previous edition’s two-day program, which ran on Saturday, Jan. 17, and Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. The confirmed date identifies the main event day on the calendar, but does not prove that the entire program will take place in one day or that the previous year’s structure will be repeated.

The close timing of the two editions makes comparison easy, although each event can vary in the number of races, routes and services. A local race may adjust its schedule for organizational reasons or trail conditions; without official 2027 information, there is no basis for explaining such changes or assuming that the previous distances will be retained.

There is also a difference between a date announcement and the full set of details that usually accompanies registration. A date can be fixed before the course or regulations. For calendar listings, the most accurate description is straightforward: the event is scheduled for Jan. 16, while its sporting details remain unconfirmed in the available information.

What to check before taking part

Once the full program is released, the first detail to verify will be the chosen category and its official route. Distance and elevation are basic reference points, but terrain, time limits, checkpoints and any required equipment also matter. On a winter mountain route, those details help assess the real demands, rather than relying only on the mileage.

Anyone planning to register should also check age conditions and the rules for each category. If canicross returns, runners will need to consult the dog regulations; if children’s activities are offered, the accepted ages and permission requirements will matter. The 2026 rules do not replace the regulations for the 2027 edition.

On race day, weather can affect both pace and safety, particularly on wet or hilly sections. Check the forecast close to the date and alongside the organizer’s instructions. That cannot predict trail conditions in January, but it is a reminder that a mountain route cannot be judged by distance alone.

The previous edition also shows why it is useful to distinguish a competitive race from a popular event without timing. The experience, pace and preparation needs are different. Before choosing, participants should identify the format announced for each route and check whether it is intended for experienced runners, recreational participants or children.

A January event awaiting its full program

Arrigorriaga will have a mountain race on the calendar on Jan. 16, 2027, according to the confirmed date. The 2026 edition provides a picture of a broad event, with trail running, canicross, popular races and children’s activities, as well as a mountain half marathon and another trail race on Sunday. That history explains the event’s varied identity, but does not reveal the future program.

The confirmed date and the missing details define what is currently known. There is no basis for publishing a start time, fee, route or starting point as official. Keeping past and future programs separate prevents confusion and gives participants a clear account of what has been fixed and what still needs to be announced.

For now, the date that can safely be marked is Saturday, Jan. 16, 2027, in Arrigorriaga. The character of the event will become clearer once the course and categories are announced, turning that date into a concrete plan on the ground. Until then, the 2026 edition provides context; the 2027 sporting program is still pending.