The Urola half marathon 2027: date, route and key details

Plan your race pace

The second edition of the race along the former Urola railway will take place on February 20 and 21, 2027, in Gipuzkoa. The event offers three distances on the greenway: 7 kilometres from Legazpi to Zumarraga, a half marathon from Zumarraga to Azpeitia, and a marathon from Zumarraga to Zumaia. The 21K is scheduled for Sunday, February 21, starting in Zumarraga and finishing in Azpeitia.

The route follows the railway corridor that connected several towns in the Urola valley for decades and now serves as a greenway. For half-marathon runners, the appeal is not limited to the downhill profile: tunnels, bridges and former railway stations line the course, turning the race into a journey through a landscape shaped by the region’s industrial history.

Half-marathon date, start and route

The race takes place over a two-day weekend, Saturday, February 20, and Sunday, February 21, 2027. The announced 21-kilometre route runs from Zumarraga to Azpeitia, following much of the former railway line. Legazpi, Zumarraga, Urretxu, Azkoitia, Azpeitia, Zestoa and Zumaia are among the towns linked to the corridor covered by the different race options.

The available information identifies Zumarraga as the half-marathon start town, but does not specify the start time or an exact address for the start line. The reference information also does not give a registration fee. Organisers say entries are open through Kronoak; participants should check the platform for current logistics, as schedules and practical details may be updated.

The distance is described as 21K or a half marathon, at approximately 21.1 kilometres. It should not be confused with a certified distance for an official time: the downhill profile may prevent the course from being certified. That matters to runners seeking an officially recognised result, although it does not diminish the sporting appeal of a race combining a continuous route, scenery and favourable elevation.

A race shaped by the Urola railway’s past

The Urola railway opened in 1926 and remained in service until the 1980s. For decades, it connected towns that grew around its stations and made travel through the valley easier. The race gives part of that route a new rhythm: where trains once ran, runners, walkers and cyclists now use an infrastructure transformed into a greenway and public space.

The first edition took place in 2026 as part of the railway’s centenary celebrations. Around 750 people took part in the half marathon, according to information published about that race. The route from Zumarraga to Azpeitia launched an idea that went beyond creating a new event: it brought fresh attention to railway heritage still visible in stations, bridges, tunnels and paths crossing the region.

In 2027, the event expands to three distances and a programme spread across Saturday and Sunday. That growth does not erase its origins; instead, it makes them more visible. Each race covers a different stretch of the old line, allowing runners to experience the valley’s history at a distance suited to their ability, without separating the sport from the setting that makes it distinctive.

What to expect on the 21-kilometre course

The half marathon starts in Zumarraga and finishes in Azpeitia. It follows the Urola corridor towards the coast, passing through the area around towns such as Urretxu and Azkoitia. The former railway bed creates a continuous route without the broken profile of a mountain race: the course descends, with a gentle and steady gradient, according to the available description.

The route may appeal to runners seeking a sustained effort, but a long descent is not automatically an easy one. The muscular load can feel different from that of a flat race, particularly in the legs, and starting too fast can catch up with runners later on. The gradient helps maintain momentum; it does not replace training or remove the need to pace the effort.

The greenway also offers a changing visual experience. Runners pass through tunnels, stone bridges and railway stations, with sections opening onto the valley’s natural landscape and others recalling its industrial past. The result is more than a link between two towns: each stretch has a different character, from light filtering into a tunnel to an open path alongside the settlements.

Three distances on one railway corridor

The 7-kilometre race links Legazpi and Zumarraga, while the 21K covers the stretch from Zumarraga to Azpeitia. The longest option, a 42-kilometre marathon, also starts in Zumarraga and finishes in Zumaia. All three follow the line downhill, but each presents a different challenge in terms of duration, effort and time spent on the course.

The full marathon is a new addition announced for this second edition, alongside the shorter distance. The 42-kilometre route is listed as 42.2 kilometres from Zumarraga to Zumaia. The 21K retains a familiar format for runners who took part in the first edition, now within a broader programme spread over two days.

The range of formats also changes how people can experience the event. A runner new to popular races may find the 7K manageable; those already training for endurance events can choose the half marathon, while the full route to Zumaia offers a longer challenge. These are not three unrelated races, but three ways to travel along the same historic line, each with its own start and finish.

A favourable profile still calls for restraint

The marathon route description gives an elevation gain of around 120 metres and approximately 460 metres of descent. For the 21K, published information describes a downhill course but does not provide a complete numerical profile specific to that distance. The favourable trend may help maintain a steady pace, but it cannot predict an individual finish time without knowing a runner’s training, experience and the conditions on race day.

On a downhill course, cardiovascular effort can seem moderate while the legs absorb repeated impact. That is why an early feeling of speed does not always reflect the cumulative muscular cost. A controlled start and a comfortable stride are usually more sensible guides than chasing a time target from the opening section, particularly for anyone unused to running downhill for several kilometres.

The organisers describe the route as fast, but the gradient can also affect whether times are certified. The half marathon can be a useful way to gauge fitness, test endurance or enjoy an unusual course profile without making the clock the only measure. The scenery, surface and narrower sections, including some tunnels, are also part of an experience that cannot be reduced to a results table.

The towns and landscapes along the route

The different race routes pass through valley towns and connect the inland area with Zumaia. Legazpi, Zumarraga, Urretxu, Azkoitia, Azpeitia and Zestoa are associated with the route, each with its own relationship to the former railway. The half marathon between Zumarraga and Azpeitia covers the stretch that defined the race’s first edition.

The stations are reminders that the railway was built to connect communities, not to serve as a sporting backdrop. That original purpose can still be read in the route’s geography: enclosed passages, bridges spanning changes in elevation and approaches to built-up areas. While running, these features become part of a sequence; heritage sits within the everyday landscape rather than being separated from it like an exhibit.

For spectators, the event may offer an opportunity to explore the area beyond the finish line, although the available 2027 information does not specify official viewing or spectator facilities. Travel between towns, transport back from the finish and access to the start are details to confirm once logistical information is published. The route connects several places, but planning the day also depends on how those journeys are organised.

Registration and details to check

Race information says entries are open through Kronoak. The available reference material does not specify the entry fee, capacity, final registration deadline or rules for transferring a place. Therefore, it is not possible to give a reliable price or closing date without checking the registration platform and the organisers’ latest announcements.

The 2027 start time for the 21K also remains unconfirmed in the available information. The half marathon began at 11 a.m. in the 2026 edition, but that precedent does not mean the schedule will be repeated. The new event spans two days and adds race distances; start times may vary between races and days.

Before travelling, it is useful to confirm three things: the precise start location, how to return from Azpeitia and the arrangements for collecting a race number. These are practical necessities, not minor details, because the course is point-to-point and the start and finish are in different towns. Confirming the schedule, transport and latest race rules makes it easier to plan without relying on information from the previous edition.

What the first edition showed

The race made its debut in February 2026 with a half marathon from Zumarraga to Azpeitia, as part of celebrations marking the Urola railway centenary. International runners and prominent athletes from the Basque racing calendar took part. Interest in that first edition came from the competition as well as the chance to run a route that forms part of the region’s collective memory.

About 750 participants gave the project a substantial first outing after it began as an idea linked to the railway anniversary. The inaugural edition tested the course and brought runners together on an infrastructure that already had a life of its own as a greenway. That first chapter provides context, but it does not guarantee participation figures or sporting results for 2027.

The move from a single half marathon to three distances is the most visible change. Extending the route to Zumaia makes a full marathon possible, while the addition of a 7K creates a shorter option. The second edition builds on a familiar route and broadens its possibilities, with a format that could appeal both to returning runners and to newcomers drawn by the Urola’s landscape and history.

A sporting event rooted in its surroundings

The 2027 half marathon is about more than its kilometres. Its defining feature is the meeting of sport and heritage: a former railway, now a greenway, provides the setting for a race linking towns and bringing the memory of the train back into view. The idea rests on tangible details — stations, tunnels and bridges — rather than simply calling itself a historic race.

That connection also means looking after the corridor that makes the event possible. The greenway is a shared space, where the race must coexist with other users and the natural environment. The reference material does not detail environmental measures or access restrictions for the 2027 event, so it would be wrong to claim that specific protocols have been announced. What is clear is that the route forms part of a public space with local value.

The weekend of February 20 and 21 will bring a short race, a half marathon and a full marathon to the same geographical corridor. For 21K runners, the route between Zumarraga and Azpeitia offers continuity and a favourable gradient, but also calls for attention to pace and accumulated effort. The railway’s story will keep moving on foot, as long as the route continues to connect the Urola’s landscape and communities.