The 13th Suarías Blincapeñas: course, start times and key details

Plan your race pace

The 13th edition of the Suarías mountain race will take place on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in Peñamellera Baja, in eastern Asturias. The day features three events: the K22 Blincapeñas, at about 22.5 kilometres; the K13 Tasuguina, at 13 kilometres; and the Andarina, a non-competitive option of approximately 17.4 kilometres.

The appeal is about more than distance. The routes cross mountain paths and rugged terrain, with the 1,228-metre Gamonal peak as a key elevation landmark for the longest event. The K22 starts at 9 a.m. and the K13 at 10 a.m. from Barriu de la Bolera in Suarías; the finish is at Parque del Carrascal in l’Arenal.

A mountain race in eastern Asturias

Suarías is a small village in the municipality of Peñamellera Baja, close to Panes and the Deva valley. The area combines steep slopes, woodland and rural tracks, giving the race its character in a setting where the kilometres can be misleading: elevation gain and difficult ground matter as much as the route’s length.

The event is organised by the Asociación Cultural y Deportiva El Cantu La Jorma. It reaches its 13th edition in 2026 and retains a scale closely tied to the village and its landscape. The start at Barriu de la Bolera and the finish at Parque del Carrascal connect the competition to familiar local places rather than separating the race from the life of the community.

Gamonal, which rises to 1,228 metres on the border with Peñarrubia, is one of the defining geographical features of the long course. The mountain is not merely a backdrop: it shapes pace, footwear choices and effort management, especially when the ground is wet or visibility changes.

Three events, three ways to experience the course

The K22 Blincapeñas is the longest competitive option. The detailed race listing gives it a distance of about 22.5 kilometres and close to 1,850 metres of positive elevation gain, with a maximum time of 6 hours and 30 minutes. It crosses Suarías’ communal mountain land, known as Uzyabes, and reaches the Gamonal area. The distance may seem modest beside a mountain marathon, but the elevation and technical sections make that comparison misleading.

The K13 Tasuguina covers around 13 kilometres and about 850 metres of positive elevation gain, with a four-hour limit. It shares the first 3.5 kilometres and final three kilometres with the K22, while the middle section runs across Corvera mountain. It is shorter, but that does not make it easy: the climbs, descents and uneven ground still demand experience and focus.

The Andarina, approximately 17.4 kilometres with 1,100 metres of positive elevation gain, is designed as a non-competitive option for fit hikers. The organisers provide alternative routes if participants do not reach checkpoints within the allotted time. Its distance falls between the other two, but its purpose is different: to cover the mountain on foot and complete the day without racing for a position.

Elevation figures may be presented in different ways depending on whether they refer to positive elevation gain or the combined ascent and descent. The K22 listing gives close to 1,850 metres of positive gain, while another course description cites around 3,700 metres when climbing and descending are added together. These are not equivalent measurements: positive elevation gain counts the ascent, while a total figure may include the descent as well.

A course that demands more than speed

The K22 is described as technical, with several difficult sections and checkpoints at kilometres 8, 12.3 and 18.7. The finish closes 6 hours and 30 minutes after the start. These intermediate points shape the race and make it difficult to pace as if it were flat: time lost on a climb or a tricky descent can matter more than speed on runnable sections.

The K13 shares the opening and closing stretches with the long course, but its Corvera variation changes the middle of the route. The Andarina, meanwhile, follows the logic of a mountain walk rather than a race for places. The three events share the same landscape, but each calls for a different approach to effort, pace and checkpoint times.

Asturian terrain adds a variable that cannot be fixed weeks in advance. November may bring mud, wet rock and rapidly changing weather. A path that is easy to cover in dry conditions can become slow and slippery after rain, so the real difficulty depends on both the profile and the day’s conditions. Grip and stability are especially important on descents.

In a mountain race, effort management begins before the first steep climb. It is worth saving energy for changes in gradient and not being drawn into the pace of runners who start faster in the opening kilometres. On a route with sharp climbs, a sustainable pace is often more useful than an explosive start, particularly for runners tackling this kind of course for the first time.

Start times, start line and finish

The K22 is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. from Barriu de la Bolera, followed by the K13 at 10 a.m. at the same location. The Andarina is part of the day, although the available information does not specify a separate start time for it. The different start times for the two competitive events help organise a morning with several race options.

The finish is at Parque del Carrascal in l’Arenal. Information about the event says that a marquee, hot showers and food for participants and supporters are provided there. For a race that can last several hours, the finish is also a place to recover and meet others, not just the point where the clock stops.

Bib pickup is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., or on Sunday before the start. The reference information says participants should bring their ID and, where applicable, their federation licence when collecting a bib. Check the organisers’ current instructions before travelling, because operational details can change in the days beforehand.

The K22 has checkpoints at kilometres 8, 12.3 and 18.7, and a 6-hour-30-minute finish limit. The K13 has a four-hour maximum; the Andarina has a six-hour limit. Cut-off times are part of the event’s safety and logistics planning and should be considered when deciding which option suits each participant’s experience.

Registration and details to check

Competitor information lists the registration deadline as Oct. 27, 2026, or earlier if places sell out. It also gives capacity limits of 175 participants for the K22 and 150 for the K13. No registration price is listed in the available information, so a reliable fee cannot be provided for any of the events.

Registration is handled through the platform linked from the race’s official website, suarias.com. The event is confirmed for Nov. 1, but availability and conditions may change as the date approaches. The decisive information about registration, insurance and race rules should therefore be checked with the organisers before finalising plans.

A mountain federation licence or one-day insurance is worth checking. The reference information says that registration for non-federated participants includes one-day insurance, although the specific terms should be confirmed in the applicable rules. Coverage and participation requirements should not be inferred from a short event listing alone.

It is also important to distinguish general edition information from final race instructions. Published distances are approximate and may differ slightly between sources; the same is true of elevation and start times for events other than the K22 and K13. The updated rules and official announcements are the final reference for participation details.

Gear and typical November conditions

The date places the race in the middle of autumn, when the ground may alternate between mud, wet rock and firm sections. Trail shoes with good grip are more suitable than road footwear, especially on descents. There is no universally right choice: the sole should match the terrain and each runner’s footing, and a new pair should not be worn for the first time on race day.

A light layer against wind or rain can be useful in the mountains, where temperature feels different with changes in elevation and exposure. Clothing should also allow runners to adjust their warmth on climbs without being left unprotected on exposed sections. Check the forecast close to race day, since seasonal averages cannot predict the exact weather on Nov. 1.

Poles can help on long climbs for those who are used to them, but their use depends on the rules and personal technique. Either way, adding them at the last minute can be counterproductive. On uneven ground, pay attention to laces, foot protection and chafing prevention: minor comfort problems grow over several hours in the mountains.

Nutrition needs to be planned around the expected duration and individual tolerance. Available information describes four aid stations on the K22, three of them with solid food, but the specific services should be checked in the edition’s rules. Anyone who needs particular food or drinks should not assume they will be available at every station.

During an event lasting several hours, eating and drinking regularly can help sustain effort, but needs vary with intensity, cold and individual response. Practising with the planned supplies during training reduces surprises and helps avoid carrying unnecessary weight. A personal fuelling plan should rely on tested habits, not experiments on race day.

Getting there and finding accommodation

Suarías is in the municipality of Peñamellera Baja, next to Panes, which serves as a nearby reference point for finding the area. The early K22 and K13 starts may make arriving the previous day more convenient, especially for those travelling from outside eastern Asturias. Planning the journey is part of the race day, particularly in a small village where several event locations are close together.

Accommodation in Suarías is limited, with options concentrated in Panes and other towns in eastern Asturias. Availability depends on the date, and the information consulted gives no confirmed prices. Booking early can make logistics easier, but it is sensible to check distance, access times and parking arrangements with each property.

A car can make travel from places such as Oviedo, Gijón or Santander easier, although journey conditions depend on the starting point and traffic. Race information recommends using Panes as a practical reference and considering arrival the day before. Allowing extra travel time prevents a mountain morning from beginning in a rush.

Supporters should also note that the start and finish are at different locations, so it is worth checking how they connect and whether traffic restrictions may be in place during the event. Organisers may change access to protect the course or allow runners through. Checking local instructions helps avoid unnecessary journeys during the race.

The landscape and local character

The race takes place in an area where mountains dominate the view and paths link rural surroundings with higher ground. The Deva valley and Panes are nearby, and the wider landscape of eastern Asturias offers an appealing setting for outdoor routes. During the race, however, attention stays on the ground close at hand: a wet stone or sharp turn can demand more than the distant view.

The day brings together competitive events and a non-competitive option, allowing runners and hikers to share the setting without pursuing the same goal. The Andarina broadens the event’s reach, while the two competitive distances test mountain preparation. The range of event formats is central to its identity.

The finish, with services for participants and supporters, gives continuity to a day that starts in the village and returns to it at the end. At small races, event organisation depends on course marking and checkpoints as well as coordination among volunteers and local services. That close-knit scale does not lessen the sporting challenge; rather, it makes the bond between the race and its host area more visible.

A chance to measure effort against the mountain

The 2026 edition offers a morning of trail running with three ways to explore Peñamellera Baja: a long, technical race, a shorter competitive option and a hike for walkers. The confirmed date is Nov. 1, with the K22 starting at 9 a.m. and the K13 at 10 a.m. Elevation, autumn weather and trail conditions will all shape finishing times.

Available information gives a useful picture of the course and logistics, but some details remain subject to confirmation, including the price, the exact services at each aid station and the Andarina start time. Where sources differ, the updated rules carry more weight than a single figure repeated across several listings. In a mountain race, understanding the limits and actual conditions is part of preparation.

The event’s name points to terrain that cannot be reduced to a kilometre count: climbs, mud and rocky sections create a different experience in every edition. Gamonal is a clear landmark on the map, but the challenge is decided by the sum of each ascent and descent. In Suarías, the mountain sets the pace, and runners have to learn to follow it.