The race also produced some outstanding sporting results. Eduardo Menacho won the men’s 10K in 28 minutes and 24 seconds, setting a new course record. Abderrahmane Aferdi (28:35) and Ahmed Ait Hemmou (29:48) completed the podium. In the women’s event, Raquel de Francisco crossed the finish line first in 34:34, followed by Isabel Linares (35:38) and Mathilde Vinet (36:20). The day also featured a 5-kilometer race, won by Javier Castells and Olatz Rivera.
From the early hours of the morning, the area around Paseo Echegaray y Caballero, between the Stone Bridge and the Iron Bridge, began to welcome participants. The 5-kilometer race started at 8:50 a.m., while the 10K got underway at 9:30 a.m. From there, runners made their way through Zaragoza’s historic center and along the banks of the Ebro, passing some of the city’s most emblematic sites, including Calle Don Jaime and Paseo de la Independencia, before reaching the finish line in Plaza del Pilar.
Runners made their way through Zaragoza’s historic center and along the banks of the Ebro. Photo: C.T / Actualidad Media
Throughout the route, music and encouragement from spectators accompanied the athletes. Rock bands, DJs, drum groups and other musical performances brought rhythm to a morning that also featured applause from family members, friends and curious onlookers. The organizers also provided pacemakers running at different target paces, from 40 minutes to one hour and 10 minutes, to help participants achieve their personal goals.
POSITIVE FEELINGS AMONG ZARAGOZA 10K RUNNERS
Beyond the times and rankings, positive feelings were the prevailing mood among participants. Some arrived with very little training behind them but finished surprised by their performance. “I thought it was going to be worse than it was. I had only trained for two days and I felt good,” one of the runners explained after finishing the race. The weather was also one of the day’s most celebrated aspects: “It was really good; I expected it to be colder,” she added.
For others, completing the ten kilometers represented a small personal challenge. “At first I went a little slowly because I ran a half marathon last week and injured my foot,” another participant said. However, his feelings improved as the kilometers passed: “Little by little I started running and running, and I finished really well. The last kilometer was incredible.” He also highlighted the weather conditions: “The weather was fantastic, the sun came out and it was really pleasant.”
The race also provided an opportunity for couples to share the experience and enjoy the atmosphere. “I did it with my partner. It was a really good experience; I was applauding and high-fiving people, and I’ll probably do it again next time,” another runner said. It showed that the Zaragoza 10K brings together not only athletes looking to improve their times, but also people who want to enjoy sport and the city’s streets from a different perspective.
The festive atmosphere continued after participants crossed the finish line, where organizers’ staff welcomed them with drinks, fruit and medals. “We spent the whole morning handing out drinks and some fruit to the runners, as well as the medals, which are really nice,” one of the event’s volunteers explained.
With participation higher than last year’s edition, which attracted around 6,200 athletes, the CaixaBank Zaragoza 10K once again turned the city center into a celebration of grassroots athletics, delivering a morning of records, effort and celebration beneath the October sun.
