Centennial: this is the oldest foot race in Spain

The next one November 26 Celebrating the 100th edition of the Allianz Jean Bouin, one of the most traditional athletic events in the entire Spanish territory. Because of this, we are taking the opportunity to bring together in one article the oldest footraces in the country. Below we present three Spanish breeds with more than a century of history. Do you know anything else?

Allianz Jean Bouin (1920)

Allianz Jean Bouin is the breed with the most editions in Spain. This year celebrates the 100th! It was born in 1920 at the initiative of a group of athletics-loving journalists, who named it after a famous French distance runner who died in the First World War.

The original circuit ran for 10 kilometers separating the municipality of Esplugas de Llobregat from the Arc de Triomphe, in the city of Barcelona. Over time, many changes were made until the current layout was compiled, which it has Start and finish at the foot of Montjüic Park.

In 1947, women entered the competition for the first time and later, in 1979, the Open 10k race was added. Many stars of Spanish athletics, world and Olympic champions, passed through Allianz Jean Bouin. The record of victories in the men’s elite is held by the man from Burgos Gregory Red with six wins, while the women’s record is held by Encarna Escudero with seven victories.

Behobia-San Sebastian (1919)

Behobia San Sebastián is a mythical popular race with a unapproved route of 20 kilometers which every year brings together 30,000 runners. The first edition was held on March 30, 1919, with the participation of about twenty athletes and the winner was the Basque Juan Muguerza.

Over the years, the event has gone through many delays and changes. In 1936 it was again released as a relay race for teams of four participants in which clubs from France were prominent. In 1979, after a 16-year hiatus, the trial was revived by Fortuna Sports Clubwho has been in charge of organizing it ever since.

The last important milestone happened in 2014, when the original route from the Biadosa River to Alameda del Boulevard, in Donostia, was saved. Current circuit notes belong to Chakib Lachgar (00:59:56) in men and Aroa Merino (1:09:41) to women.

Ulía’s 10K Gymnastics (1918)

Gimnástica de Ulía is a 10k race held every year in San Sebastián. Its long history begins in 1917, when a group of sports friends who met in a bar in the Gros neighborhood decided to found a sports society. A year later, the January 13, 1918the first edition of the test was held, which initially adopted the cross-country format.

Women joined the race in 1966. With the change of the city of San Sebastián the circuit became asphalt and the test adopted the current format: a 10k route with RFEA approved circuit. This year, the race celebrated its 92nd edition, positioning itself as the second race in Spain with the most editions, after Jean Bouin.

The top winners are Fernando Aguilar with 6 victories and Belén Azpeitia with 7. Event records belong to Carlos Mayo with 28:15 and Majida Mayouf with 31:38.