- This figure represents an increase of more than 50% in the number of participants compared to previous editions.
- The island’s institutions have highlighted the great positive effect of the event on seasonal tourism in Ibiza.
- The most popular sporting event on the island has a female participation rate of 41% and an international participation rate of 48%.
We have officially presented the fifth edition, which includes the main event, the individual or relay Marathon, an innovative 22K and a 12K. All in all, it is expected that on Saturday 9th April around 4,000 runners will live the #RunAndFeel experience and cross the finish line on the Santa Eulària des Riu seafront promenade between the three distances.
The marathon will start at 4:00 pm in the port of Ibiza, while the 22K will kick off at 5:15 pm in the town of Santa Gertrudis and the 12K will start at 5:45 pm in the port of Santa Eulària des Riu.
This was explained at the official ceremony held at the Cala Bassa Beach Club in the Marina of Santa Eulària, with the participation of Francisco Larrey, race director; Carmen Ferrer, mayoress of the Santa Eulària des Riu Town Hall; Salvador Llosa, councillor for sports; Juan Miguel Costa, island director of tourism for the Consell de Ibiza; Desiree Ruiz, councillor of tourism for Ibiza Town Hall; Toni Ramón, councillor of sports for Santa Eulària des Riu; and Rosana Morillo, director general of tourism for the Govern de les Illes Balears (Government of the Balearic Islands).
For his part, Francisco Larrey emphasised that “this is the first time in history that Ibiza will have 4,000 runners practising sport at the same time”. He also acknowledged that the aim of the sporting event is to continue growing year after year with the same projection as in recent years. The mayoress of the town of Santa Eulària has expressed her “joy at once again taking up this sporting event, hosting the #RunAndFeel experience and allowing runners to experience the essence and culture of the island”.
Salvador Llosa, in his statements, recalls that it is an event declared to be of tourist interest. That is why “we must continue to support it and grow with it”. The #RunAndFeel experience offered by the Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon is also worth mentioning. This is what Juan Miguel Costa explained, highlighting that “tourists are looking for an experience, a different experience, and that is what this race offers”.
Desireé Ruiz expressed her great joy at hosting the start of the main event, while Toni Ramón highlighted the “opportunity for local athletes to participate in an event of this calibre, as well as for businesses, which have the opportunity to collaborate and grow thanks to this race”.
Finally, the Director General of Tourism of the Balearic Islands government recalls that the Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon brings together all the institutions. “This event is a benchmark, which is why it transcends beyond the Balearic Islands,” said Morillo.
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 and leisure experiences.
In search of the record
In this fifth edition, we have elite athletes who will try to beat the records of the race. The participation of international Ethiopians Muleta Deyisa Felate, making his debut in the 42KM race, and Gizachew Hailu Negasa, who has a personal best of 2:09:26, stand out. In the women’s category, the race features two promising profiles to break the 2019 record. Bashanke Bilo Imoshe, an Ethiopian professional runner with a personal best of 2:31:26 and Dagmawit Ademke Ethashenafi with a marathon time of 2:30:24 will participate.
We are looking to beat the record of the 2019 edition, held by the athlete Eliud Kibet with a time of 2:14:30. Likewise, the women’s record is a time of 2:34:30, achieved by Belainesh Yami in the same year.
Likewise, the Spanish Olympic athlete Dani Mateo, repeats participating in the Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon after breaking the marathon relay record last year together with the local athlete William Aveiro. In this fifth edition, Mateo will be looking for a great record in the new 22K distance, and he will also be an ambassador of the sporting event.