The 35th edition of the eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona is set to take place on Sunday, February 16, 2025, bringing together 30,000 registered runners and marking yet another record for Spain's largest half marathon. The event has also secured its position as the second most popular half marathon in Europe, just behind Berlin. Starting at 8:30 AM from Passeig Picasso, the race will traverse some of Barcelona's iconic streets, culminating at the city's historic Parc de la Ciutadella.
This year, participants will enjoy splitting start times based on their race numbers, allowing for a smoother flow of runners. The start times are staggered every ten minutes from 8:30 to 9:40 AM, catering to various categories of participants including elites and general entrants. Notably, the male elite runners will depart first, followed by women and general participants.
Despite its competitive nature, the race promises to uphold its festive atmosphere characterized by entertainment at 22 designated points along the route, ensuring both participants and spectators have much to enjoy. Event organisers, Transportes Metropolitanos de Barcelona (TMB), recommend using the Metro for transportation on race day due to extensive street closures affecting 38 bus lines and three Tram lines from 7:45 AM until around 12:45 PM.
The eDreams Media Maratón Barcelona has grown phenomenally, with participant numbers consistently breaking previous records. The 2024 edition saw more than 28,000 runners, including around 9,800 women, showcasing the growing female representation within the sport. Last year's format and organization drew praise, offering conditions favorable for record-breaking performances.
Highlighting the championship’s grandeur, notable performances from past events have set the stage for future expectations. For example, Joyciline Jepkosgei established a new women’s record last year, clocking 1:04:29 hours, firmly placing her within the global elite of female long-distance runners.
The 2025 event is also anticipated to be competitive with many elite athletes, including the remarkable Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda. Kiplimo is no stranger to breaking records; he achieved the world record at last year's event, stopping the clock at 56 minutes and 42 seconds. His participation underlines the high caliber expected this year. Kiplimo's rival, Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor, alongside other international athletes, will likely push for top times.
While the excitement builds for the race day, TMB prepares for significant changes to public transport. Specific bus routes will experience alterations due to the race, and TMB encourages all citizens to plan their travel routes smartly if they wish to navigate around the event.
After the race, competitors and spectators can look forward to 'PaRUNda', the post-race celebration at Poble Espanyol, promising great entertainment with live music, food, and drinks from 11 AM to 7 PM. Tickets to this celebratory gathering will be available at €16, which includes one drink, offering both participants and fans the chance to continue celebrating the day’s accomplishments.
The media coverage will be extensive, with local channels like betevé providing live broadcasts and updates throughout the day, allowing anyone unable to attend to partake from home. With such overwhelming enthusiasm, the 35th eDreams Mitja Marató de Barcelona promises to be another extraordinarily successful event, exemplifying Barcelona's cultural and sporting prowess.