The Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon, the biggest sporting event on the island, has officially presented its sixth edition, which includes three distances: marathon, 22K and 12K. On Saturday 1st April, more than 3,200 runners are expected to live the #RunAndFeel experience and cross the finish line on the Paseo Marítimo in Santa Eulària des Riu over the three distances.
The marathon will start at 3:30 p.m. in the Port of Ibiza, while the 22K will kick off at 5:00 pm in the town of Santa Gertrudis and the 12K will begin at 5:45 pm in the Marina of Santa Eulària des Riu.
This was explained at the official ceremony held at the Aguas de Ibiza Grand Luxe Hotel, which was attended by Francisco Larrey, race director; Carmen Ferrer, mayor of the Santa Eulària des Riu Town Hall; Salvador Losa, councillor of Sports, Youth, Economy and Finance of the Consell de Ibiza; Juan Miguel Costa, island director of Tourism of the Consell de Ibiza; and Toni Ramón, councillor of Sports of Santa Eulària des Riu.
Francisco Larrey expressed his satisfaction with the consolidation and growth of the event year after year, to which he added: “There are already more than 450 people involved in the organisation and 8,500 visitors between those registered and those accompanying them”. He also highlighted the support of the institutions from the beginning, as well as that of the sponsors.
The mayoress of Santa Eulària said: “It is a pleasure to offer a different race. It’s not just about enjoying a destination, but doing it in a different way on an island like ours”.
Juan Miguel Costa, for his part, said: “We are kicking off the tourist season on the 1st of April with the Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon”.
Toni Ramón, with respect to the Santa Eulària Ibiza Kids Run CaixaBank, another of the races that make up the event’s calendar of activities, highlighted “the growth of the race, where the youngest runners have the chance to learn the values that sport transmits”. A competition that continues to increase in number of participants, with more than 500 registered participants this year.
Salvador Losa, councillor for Sports, Youth, Economy and Finance, in his declarations, highlighted the great work of the Ibiza event team, emphasising that “the organisation is brilliant and the satisfaction of all the participants and accompanying persons is incredible”, adding that “it is one of the most important challenges we have in Ibiza”.
They all agreed on the importance of the event for the deseasonalisation of tourism on the island and the positive impact it generates on the island, as it shows a side of the magical island focused on healthy living, sports tourism, local gastronomy and leisure experience.
The race in figures
The Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon, as explained at the press conference, stands out for its international character in all three distances. Participants from other countries account for 56% of the total number of entrants. Runners of more than 30 different nationalities will live the #RunAndFeel experience, including runners from the United Kingdom, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, among others. In this way, the Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon helps to reactivate and grow sporting and non-seasonal tourism on the island.
Likewise, more than 44% of the participants in the event are women, making it an unmissable event for women runners.
Three distances, one finish line
The possibility of participating in this sporting event on the 1st of April in any of its three distances (marathon, 22K and 12K) makes the Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon an experience designed for the enjoyment of all kinds of runners: professionals and amateurs; lovers of long or medium distances; all kinds and conditions. All the circuits that make up the race run through the most emblematic places on the island, as well as rural and coastal enclaves, finishing on the Santa Eulària des Riu seafront promenade, where the participants will be crowned finishers. This is possible thanks to its attractive evening timetable, which will make the Ibizan sunset present at the moment of crossing the finish line.
In addition, on the morning of Saturday 1st April, a solidarity race will be held by APNEEF (Association of People with Special Needs of Eivissa and Formentera), the official charity of the Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon. At 9:30 am, members of the NGO will run the first 300 metres of the island’s most important race, passing through the starting arch and receiving the finisher’s medal. In addition, all those registered have been able to collaborate with APNEEF by donating 2€ at the time of registration. The amount raised through the contributions of the athletes will go entirely to the charity.
Also, at 10:00 a.m. on the same day, the Santa Eulària Ibiza Kids Run CaixaBank will take place, where more than 500 children aged between 2 and 14 will spend a fun morning in the Marina of Santa Eulària, soaking up the #RunAndFeel spirit.
With this initiative, the Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon team seeks to promote healthy living and the culture of effort in running from an early age, as well as instilling values such as companionship and self-improvement.
In search of the record
In this sixth edition, elite athletes of different nationalities will fight to beat the current records of the race. Thus, the Kenyan male William Cheboi, with a marathon personal best of 2:13:20, will try to beat the race record set in 2019 by Eliud Kibet Too with a time of 02:14:30. Similarly, her compatriot, Kenyan Monica Cheruto, with a best time of 02:35:17, will be looking to beat the women’s best time achieved in 2022 by athlete Ademke Ashenaffi with a time of 02:33:34.
Similarly, in the intermediate distance of 22K, the event ambassador and Olympic athlete, Dani Mateo, will try to improve his own record of the race achieved in the last edition when he managed to stop the clock in 01:11:10. It will certainly not be an easy task, as he will have as a competitor the Chilean athlete Carlos Martín Díaz, who comes from a time of 02:10:26 in the recent Seville Marathon and who, no doubt, will try to achieve the best time of the race.
In the 12K distance, the argentinian athlete Fedra Aldana with a 3000m best of 8 mins 57 seconds, will test her fast legs with the aim of achieving the women’s record held since 2019 by Gema Martín with a time of 00:43:20.
The race generates a flow of visitors to the island of Ibiza of more than 8,500 people between runners and companions, with more than 3,700 registered, of which more than 3,200 to one of the 3 distances and more than 500 young people up to 14 years old to the Santa Eulària Ibiza Kids Run CaixaBank.