Trail running, hiking and a record attempt in Balmaseda in 2026

Plan your race pace

On the last weekend of October 2026, Balmaseda will welcome runners and walkers drawn to the mountains. The event will take place on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 and bring together six formats: mountain races, an individual time trial, hikes and children’s races. The range makes it possible to take part both as a competitor and as someone looking for a popular outing across the hills of Enkarterri.

The program combines very different distances and elevation gains. The most demanding race covers 26 kilometres and 1,500 metres of positive elevation, while the family hike is 3.5 kilometres with 180 metres of climbing. Between those extremes are a 12-kilometre time trial, a 13-kilometre race and a 21-kilometre hike, as well as races for participants up to age 16.

The event is based in Balmaseda, in Bizkaia, and its routes venture into an area of mountains, trails, tracks and pastureland. Rather than a single race with several distance options, the gathering is a mountain-sports weekend for different audiences, with Kolitza as its geographical and sporting landmark.

A mountain event in the heart of Enkarterri

Balmaseda lies in the Bizkaia region of Enkarterri, a landscape of valleys and hills that shapes the character of the routes. The event is set amid scenery connected with the valleys of Artzentales, Karrantza and Mena; the result is a course where the terrain changes often, with open stretches alternating with narrower, more technical paths. The mountains are not just a backdrop; they are central to the experience.

The best-known local landmark is Kolitza, a summit associated with its hermitage and the time-trial challenge. The program also crosses other mountains near Balmaseda, including Garbea, Sabugal and Cerro del Castillo. Terreros has also been added to the longer distance, according to the edition information, linking several notable points in the local terrain.

The event is organized by the Eutsi Balmatrail sports club, based in Balmaseda. The initiative says its aims are to promote sport, bring participants and spectators closer to the mountains, and highlight the area’s natural and cultural setting. That purpose helps explain why the weekend is not limited to its two main races: it also includes hikes and children’s events.

Six formats across two days

The program is spread across Saturday, Oct. 31, and Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. Those dates have been confirmed, but the individual start times for each format have not been specified in the available information. Entry fees, registration deadlines and participant limits are also not listed. These details may change, so it is important to distinguish the announced sports program from logistical information that is yet to be released.

The six main options are the Récord del Kolitza, mountain races of 26 and 13 kilometres, a 21-kilometre hike, a 3.5-kilometre family hike and children’s races, with distances adapted for ages 0 to 16. The program ranges from an individual uphill-and-downhill challenge to a short family outing, without expecting every participant to take on the same kind of effort.

The figures describe different challenges, not simply longer or shorter routes. Gradient, accumulated elevation and surface all affect the time required and the physical demands. That is why a 13-kilometre race with 700 metres of climbing is not equivalent to a fast road race: elevation and technical terrain matter as much as distance.

The Récord del Kolitza, a time trial with climbing

The Récord del Kolitza is a 12-kilometre individual race with 720 metres of positive elevation. The route starts at Plaza de San Severino, climbs to the Kolitza hermitage and descends back to town. The time-trial format staggers the starts and focuses attention on each runner’s performance over a sustained climb and a descent that demands control.

On a route like this, the distance can be misleading if judged by kilometres alone. The 720 metres of climbing over 12 kilometres make for a demanding event in which pacing from the start is crucial. On the ascent, the gradient may call for short running bursts or a more measured pace; on the descent, technique and attention to the surface become important. The time trial rewards both climbing strength and a safe return.

In previous editions, the event has featured prominent trail runners, including Kilian Jornet, Oihana Kortazar and Marco Di Gasperi. The reference information names Patrick Kipngeno and Madalina Florea as the current record holders. Those names underline the competitive dimension of the format, though the participation of specific athletes in 2026 should not be treated as confirmed before an official announcement.

The long race: 26 kilometres and 1,500 metres of climbing

The 26-kilometre mountain race is the longest of the competitive formats described. Its loop links steep climbs and descents with trails, tracks, technical sections and grassy areas where the terrain may allow a quicker pace. The organizers list 1,500 metres of positive elevation, putting the race at a considerable level of difficulty for anyone unused to sustained climbing.

The route passes Garbea, Kolitza, Sabugal and Cerro del Castillo, as well as Terreros, which has been added to the course according to the available information. This succession of mountains means the race does not depend on one long climb: runners must manage several phases of effort and regain their rhythm on connecting sections or more runnable ground. On a loop, changes in direction and surface can also affect how fatigue feels.

Some third-party listings describe this distance as 25 kilometres and give different elevation figures. For this edition, the main reference information lists 26 kilometres and 1,500 metres of positive elevation; those are therefore the figures to use when describing the announced program. A detailed course profile and any route changes, if published, will help refine preparation and expectations.

The 13-kilometre race and the 21-kilometre hike

The 13-kilometre mountain race has 700 metres of positive elevation and also follows a loop. It passes Garbea, the La Porqueriza recreation area and Cerro del Castillo, combining trails and tracks with steep slopes. It is shorter than the long race but still has enough climbing to make distance alone an inadequate guide: the route remains mountainous and calls for measured effort.

The 21-kilometre hike has 1,100 metres of positive elevation and visits some of the area’s best-known mountains, including Garbea, Kolitza and Cerro del Castillo. It is designed to be walked rather than raced, although the accumulated effort still calls for fitness suited to the duration and climbs. Walking pace, breaks and experience on uneven ground can make a significant difference between participants.

Both formats highlight a feature of the event: distance and difficulty are not perfect synonyms. A 13-kilometre mountain route with 700 metres of climbing may feel harder than a much longer outing on flat paths. For the 21-kilometre hike, the extended duration adds another factor: effort has to be managed over many hours of activity.

A family option and races for young participants

The family hike covers 3.5 kilometres and gains 180 metres. Its route climbs to Santo Domingo and Cerro del Castillo, making it more accessible than the longer mountain events, although its slope should still be taken into account. It is not entirely flat: the elevation is part of the route and affects the pace, especially for young children or people unaccustomed to walking on mountain paths.

The program also includes children’s races with different distances and formats by age, for participants from 0 to 16 years old. The available information does not specify the length of each course or the start times. Dividing events by age makes participation adaptable to different stages, but the precise details — including requirements for minors — will need to be checked in the edition rules once they are published.

The family options give the weekend a broader character. Not everyone comes to Balmaseda looking for a time or a demanding climb; some want to share an outdoor activity and explore local paths. The short hike and children’s races extend the event beyond regular trail runners, without confusing their demands with those of the competitive races.

Terrain, elevation and general preparation

The routes described combine tracks, trails, pastureland and technical sections, along with steep ascents and descents. That mix calls for adapting stride and speed to the ground: a track may allow a steady rhythm, while an uneven descent requires shorter steps and attention to rocks, roots and changes in gradient. Mud or damp ground may also affect grip, although the weather for those dates cannot be forecast from the available information.

Preparation for a mountain race usually benefits from consistency and gradually gaining experience with elevation, varied surfaces and descents. Comparing road-running paces is not enough: in the mountains, finishing time depends on gradient, technique, trail conditions and breaks, as well as fitness. Building training gradually and matching the load to personal experience is a more sensible general approach than trying to reproduce the race’s volume all at once.

Choosing a format should take account of both distance and elevation, as well as terrain. For someone used to urban races, 13 kilometres in the mountains may be a major change; for a regular walker, the family hike may be a more manageable first outing. In every case, suitable-grip footwear, hydration and checking the weather forecast are basic parts of preparation, always in line with official instructions.

Registration, start times and details still to come

The reference information does not specify 2026 entry fees, registration dates, participant limits or start times for the six formats. It also does not detail aid stations, mandatory gear, competitive categories or bib collection procedures. Figures from previous years or details shown in third-party listings without confirmation should not be carried over to this edition.

Eutsi Balmatrail is the identified event organizer. The publication of a participant guide and practical information will be important for confirming final schedules, access, available services and the rules for each route. Announced dates and distances are not a complete logistics guide, particularly for a program spread over two days and containing events with different requirements.

It is also worth checking whether the final route keeps the initial figures, especially for the long race, whose distance is described differently on some external sites. The main information provided for this edition lists 26 kilometres and 1,500 metres of positive elevation. Before travelling, participants should confirm any changes to routes, times or registration procedures with the organizers.

Balmaseda as host and setting

The location gives the event a distinctive character. Balmaseda combines its identity as a town with mountains and paths close at hand, so the urban start soon gives way to more open scenery. That transition — from the plaza to the slope, from firm ground to trail — captures the appeal of a mountain race that keeps the town at its centre while taking participants into the terrain of Enkarterri.

For spectators, the weekend offers more than one way to experience the event: follow activities in town, take part in the family hike or explore the area while the races are underway. The organizers say they aim to bring participants and companions closer to the mountains and highlight the natural and cultural heritage. This local dimension is part of the event’s purpose, not something separate from the sport.

Practical details on access, parking and transport are not included in the available information. For an event with several formats and two days of activity, those details can shape the experience as much as the sporting profile. The official guide, once released, will be the reference for planning travel and finding out which areas are designated for starts, finishes and spectating.

A weekend bringing together a sporting challenge and community participation

The 2026 event brings together formats aimed at very different audiences: a demanding time trial, two mountain races, a long hike, a family route and events for young participants. Their common thread is the landscape around Balmaseda and the aim of sharing it through physical activity. Variety is the program’s defining feature, more than any single distance or uniform course profile.

For competitors, elevation and technical sections will distinguish these routes from a conventional race. For those who prefer walking, the hikes offer another pace through the same surroundings; for families, the short distance lowers the barrier to participation without removing the mountainous character of the route. The event therefore offers different ways to connect with Kolitza and the nearby hills.

With dates confirmed for Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 2026, the next information to look for will be start times, registration details and the final course for each format. Until those details are published, the announced figures give a sense of the event’s scale: two days, six options and terrain that demands respect for the mountains. In Balmaseda, competition shares space with hiking and local participation, a combination that explains the scope of this event.