La Cizur-Gares: date, route and details of the Navarre trail race

Plan your race pace

The first edition of La Cizur-Gares will take place on 6 December 2026, covering a point-to-point 21-kilometre route between Cizur Menor and Gares, also known as Puente la Reina. The race follows a Navarrese section of the Camino de Santiago and passes Alto del Perdón, one of the region’s best-known landmarks on the pilgrimage route.

The event is presented as an accessible trail half marathon with no technical sections and aid stations at Alto del Perdón, Uterga, Obanos and the finish. The available description gives the positive elevation gain as 360 metres, although another race listing reports 480. Given this discrepancy, the figure should be treated as awaiting definitive confirmation in the official race information.

A point-to-point race along the Camino de Santiago

The race starts in Cizur Menor and finishes in Gares. This point-to-point layout means the start and finish are in different locations, so transport and luggage arrangements are part of the experience as much as the course itself. The race name brings together the two places that mark the ends of its 21 kilometres.

From Cizur Menor, the route passes through Zariquiegui and climbs towards Alto del Perdón, before continuing through Uterga, Muruzábal and Obanos to Gares. It is more than a sequence of villages: the route links open spaces, tracks and rural paths with towns shaped for centuries by pilgrims travelling towards Santiago.

The course differs from a mountain trail focused on one very steep climb and descent. Its appeal lies in progressing along a long, changing route, with the ascent to the high point as a landmark and a later section leading towards the finish. The organisers describe the route as non-technical, although the ground can change with December rain and cold.

Distance, elevation and course difficulty

The advertised distance is 21 kilometres, equivalent to a half marathon. Its point-to-point format calls for managing the effort from start to finish, rather than focusing only on the total elevation gain. The climb to Alto del Perdón is the most recognisable feature of the profile, but the kilometres that follow also demand attention: running on uneven paths with tired legs can affect both pace and footing.

There is a discrepancy between the elevation figures in the available references. The general race description gives 360 metres of positive elevation, while one calendar listing reports 480 metres. The figure should not be treated as final until the organisers publish or confirm the definitive course profile. For effort planning, it is sensible to expect a significant climb rather than rely on a figure that is still inconsistent.

Calling the race accessible does not mean it will be easy for every participant. Twenty-one kilometres require an endurance base and sensible pacing, while natural terrain demands more stability than road running. The absence of complex technical sections may appeal to runners new to longer trail distances, but it does not remove the need to train on trails or understand how the body responds to a sustained climb.

Alto del Perdón, the landmark of race day

Alto del Perdón stands out both for its position on the route and its presence in the landscape. The climb leads to an exposed area where the wind can feel stronger than on sheltered sections of the valley. In winter, the change is tangible: a cold morning at the start can become more biting as the route gains height.

The high point also provides a clear reference for pacing. Rather than chasing speed from the opening kilometres, it makes sense to save energy for the climb and let breathing set a sustainable rhythm. Over a 21-kilometre race, reaching the most demanding point with energy in reserve is often more useful than gaining a few seconds early and paying for them later.

After the high point, the route continues through Uterga, Muruzábal and Obanos. The descent should not be mistaken for a rest: slopes and uneven ground can load the quads and ankles, especially if there is mud. The race therefore combines two distinct demands, the cardiovascular work of the climb and the control required on the descent and later trails.

Date, registration and details still to be confirmed

The announced date is Sunday, 6 December 2026. The inaugural event is organised by Fundación Diario de Navarra and the Movimiento Saludable association, with technical direction from Grupo La Información, according to the race description. As a new event, some details may change as race day approaches.

One of the calendars consulted says registration opened on 1 June 2026 at 10 a.m. through Rock The Sport. However, the available information does not specify a price or clearly confirm the current availability of places. The entry fee, any pricing tiers and place availability should be checked through the registration channel; none can be inferred from the distance or from other Navarrese races.

The start time, cut-off time, number of entries, full regulations and detailed cancellation terms are also not specified here. These are important details when finalising race-day plans, particularly for an event that finishes in a different town from its start. The date is confirmed in the additional event information, but operational details should be checked with the organisers before travelling.

Aid stations and race-day services

The course includes aid stations at Alto del Perdón, Uterga and Obanos, plus another at the finish. The supplied description lists four aid points in total: three on the course and one at the finish. They allow runners to plan hydration and energy intake, although the available information does not detail the products, opening times or rules on what runners may carry themselves.

For a half marathon, the need to carry food depends on pace, expected duration and individual habits. An aid station can help, but it does not replace a familiar personal strategy or guarantee that a particular product will be available. It is also important to drink in cold weather: thirst may be less noticeable, even as the body continues to lose fluid through exertion.

The organisers plan to provide a bus from Gares to Cizur Menor for participants who request it during registration. This is a key logistical detail, as it allows runners to leave a vehicle near the finish and travel to the start. Requesting the service during registration matters, since the available information ties it to that request and does not confirm whether it can be booked later.

December conditions, trail surface and cold-weather kit

The race takes place in the heart of meteorological winter. It is not possible to know now what the weather will be like on 6 December, and historical averages are no substitute for a forecast close to race day. Even so, cold, wind on exposed sections and the possibility of rain or mud are reasonable factors to consider when choosing clothing and shoes for a trail route in Navarre.

Shoes should provide enough grip for wet earth and slippery sections, without necessarily requiring the most aggressive mountain-running tread. If training routes show compact ground, a versatile trail shoe may be suitable; if there is mud, traction becomes more important. Wearing brand-new shoes on race day adds avoidable uncertainty.

Layering makes it easier to adapt to a cold start and the rise in body temperature while running. A windproof outer layer can be useful on Alto del Perdón, while light gloves or a neck warmer can provide protection in the opening kilometres. Check the weather forecast close to race day, and choose kit for actual conditions rather than a prediction made months in advance.

How to approach a trail half marathon without rushing

The distance may feel familiar to anyone who has run a road half marathon, but the terrain changes the rules. Strides shorten on climbs, attention shifts to footing and descents require speed control. Useful preparation includes running on trails and moderate hills, helping the body adapt to changing paces and surfaces.

Starting calmly helps preserve energy for the climb. Alto del Perdón may tempt runners to speed up because of its symbolic importance, but the most effective approach is to maintain an effort that allows them to continue without entering a fatigue zone too early. On descents, stability should take priority over braking sharply on every stride; running efficiently also matters on trails.

Pre-race and in-race nutrition should be based on products already tried in training. There is no universal plan that can be inferred from distance alone, and the announced aid stations do not reveal what they will serve. For runners with little mountain-racing experience, the combination of distance, cold and uneven ground deserves respect, even if the race is described as non-technical.

A finish in Gares and the character of the route

The finish in Gares completes a journey through several landmarks on the Navarrese Camino de Santiago. The race does more than follow a sporting route: it shares its path with a historic thoroughfare, where the landscape is defined by villages, fields and trails that remain part of everyday life in the area. This context gives cohesion to an event that starts in one town and ends in another.

The point-to-point format adds a little complexity, but it also changes the experience: runners do not retrace their steps, and each section reveals a different view. From the climb to Alto del Perdón to the approach to Gares, the course forms a line connecting effort with place. For runners, that continuity may prove as memorable as the finishing time.

The inaugural edition will show how details such as the final course profile, start time, transport and finish-line services work in practice. For now, the firm details describe a 21-kilometre race on 6 December between Cizur Menor and Gares, passing Alto del Perdón and featuring four announced aid points. The combination of the Camino, winter and a point-to-point format gives the race a distinct character in Navarre’s calendar, while some logistical details remain to be confirmed.