MADRID, 15 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
More than 3,000 athletes will compete in the XX TotalEnergies Vitoria-Gasteiz Marathon Martín Fiz, which will be held on May 14 in its three distances of 10K, 21K and marathon and recovers the passage through the center of the city through emblematic places such as the Artium Museum, Fueros, Virgen Blanca or the Kiosk of Florida.
“It will be a real spectacle and the passion for sport that lives in this land will once again be shown to the whole world,” said former marathon world champion Martín Fiz, technical director of the proof.
Fiz celebrated that what began as a “humble and timid bet” in 2003 has become a reference in athletics. “It’s a dream come true”, he acknowledged on a race that in the distances of 21k and 42k will cross the center of the city.
Specifically, between kilometer 18 and 20 they will walk along Calle Francia passing through the Artium Museum, they will reach the Plaza de los Fueros ending in the heart of the city, in the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca. Those who follow in the footsteps of Pheidipides will head towards the Florida Kiosk.
Likewise, the test and in an extraordinary way on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary, will count in its 10k distance with Kamel Ziani, who still holds the 42K record with a time of 2h12:57. Together with this athlete, Nieves Zarza will run, a great benchmark for the Basque fund in the last three decades and who continues to compete in popular events after his professional retirement.
The test “maintains its fast character and flat profile (barely 35 meters of unevenness) with passage through wide streets, few turns and many straight lines where anyone can push themselves to the maximum”.
The txikis, who will run in four categories (from 0 to 5 years old, from 6 to 9, from 10 to 13 and from 14 to 16), will enjoy their particular marathon in a symbolic place for Martín Fiz, the El Prado park.
“That’s where I trained to get to where I’ve come, going round and round. Today that place is a meeting point for world athletics. Seeing the little ones there is very special. Who knows if one or a champion will come out of all of them again of the world. In values they already are”, he stressed.
At the presentation ceremony, together with Martín Fiz, were the president of TotalEnergies Electricity and Gas, Javier Sáenz de Jubera; the deputy for Culture and Sports, Ana Del Val; the Councilor for Sport and Health of the Vitoria City Council, Livia López; and the director of the test, Aitor V. Morell.
All that is collected in the registration of the ‘txikis’ will go to the Association of Parents of Children with Cancer of Álava (ASPANAFOA).