The grand debut of Estepona: more than 1,700 runners and 23 kilometers

Estepona will debut its first marathon this Sunday with more than 1,700 runners and a 23-kilometer coastal route. The start will be at 8:30 a.m. and the finish line will be at the Municipal Athletics Stadium. The event will bring together participants from different countries, 200 local athletes, and more than 500 volunteers.

A first Marathon that puts Estepona on the Sports map

For the locals, the event will not just be a long-distance race: over the weekend, Estepona will gather runners, companions, volunteers, and activities linked to athletics. **The international dimension of the event turns the debut into a presentation of the city to thousands of people**, although the spotlight will also fall on those who regularly run through its streets.

What time does the race start and where does it finish?

The marathon will start at 8:30 a.m. and will finish at the Municipal Athletics Stadium of Estepona. The route will be 23 kilometers long and will follow the coastal corridor before reaching the finish line located at the municipal sports complex.

This plan allows the race to combine several settings in one event. Martín Fiz, world marathon champion and one of the event’s promoters, has described the route as a mix of coast and city: “The route is beautiful, with sections along the coast and sections through the city.”

Fiz has also warned that this is not the fastest course, but one that will leave a mark on the athletes participating in this first edition. “Surely those of us who have the chance to debut it will fall in love with everything it offers,” he said. A much more personal calling card than any tourist brochure.

Why is the route one of the keys to the debut?

The route matters because it directly links the competition to Estepona’s urban and coastal space. For the local reader, that means the city will not be just a simple start or finish point: it will be a visible part of the runners’ experience along those 23 kilometers.

The mayor of Estepona, José María García Urbano, has precisely emphasized this uniqueness. He stated that participants will “run alongside the sea and enjoy a city that offers a unique and surprising setting for a sports event of this nature.”

The organization thus presents the marathon as an opportunity to associate Estepona with sport and the Mediterranean. García Urbano has defined the event as “much more than a sports competition” and as a window for each runner, companion, and broadcast image to carry the city’s name to other places.

More than 1,700 registered, with international presence and local stamp

The number of participants is the best measure of the size of the debut: **more than 1,700 runners have registered for the first edition**. For Estepona, it is not a call limited to the immediate surroundings; the distribution of origins shows that the race has sparked interest outside of Málaga and Spain.

Where do the marathon runners come from?

48.5% of the participants are foreigners. The United Kingdom has a particularly strong presence, while there are also significant contingents from the Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, Poland, and Gibraltar.

The international origin gives the event a specific reading: almost half of the peloton comes from outside Spain. The figure does not need much embellishment. In a first edition, gathering runners from so many places places Estepona before a broad and diverse sports audience.

The province of Málaga provides 36% of the registrations. This figure maintains a clear connection with the closest territory, while the foreign participation and arrival of athletes from other areas expand the scope of the event. The result is a race with Málaga roots and international vocation.

How many athletes from Estepona will participate?

A total of 200 runners from Estepona will run through the streets of their own city. They will be the most recognizable part of the peloton for many residents, as they will compete on an everyday setting transformed for a few hours into a marathon circuit.

The Estepona Athletics Club has participated in route design and volunteer recruitment. Miguel de los Santos, the first athlete from Estepona to participate in the Olympic Games and a club member, explained that this collaboration was part of the work prior to the race.

His role adds a local dimension that goes beyond the registration of the 200 athletes. The event has been prepared with the participation of people and entities linked to Estepona athletics, something that can make the difference between organizing a race and building a recognizable event for the city.

Schedules, bib numbers, and weekend activities

Those participating or accompanying the runners have several practical references to organize themselves. **Bib number pickup and the Marathon Expo will be concentrated at the Estepona Fair and Sports Park**, while the Athletics Stadium will host two activities on Saturday.

When and where can bib numbers be picked up?

Bibs can be picked up this Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The designated place will be the Estepona Fair and Sports Park, the same space where the Marathon Expo with different stands will be set up.

The extended Saturday schedule offers a broad time slot to complete the procedure before the race. For athletes arriving during the weekend, this information is the main operational reference: a specific place, two days, and defined hours.

The Marathon Expo will add activity to the venue beyond bib distribution. The source does not detail the content of each stand but confirms that there will be different exhibition spaces linked to the event. The debut begins before the starting gun.

What activities are there on Saturday at the Athletics Stadium?

On Saturday, two activities will be held at the Estepona Athletics Stadium. At 11:30 a.m., there will be a pre-race training session led by Martín Fiz, and at 12:00 p.m., the KIDS Race will begin.

The training will allow participants to prepare for the event under the guidance of one of the marathon promoters and world champion. The KIDS Race, in turn, involves the little ones in the weekend’s sports program.

The agenda, therefore, is not limited to the main race on Sunday. There is a prior activity for athletes and another designed for children, in addition to the Marathon Expo and bib pickup. Everything is concentrated in specific facilities in Estepona, with schedules that allow following the program without getting lost among vague events.

More than 500 volunteers will participate throughout the weekend to make the competition possible. Miguel de los Santos stated they will have “an important role in the event” and expressed his confidence that the first marathon will be a success and reward the effort made all this time.

Estepona arrives at its first marathon with more than 1,700 registered runners, 23 kilometers of coastal route, 200 local runners, and 48.5% foreign participation. The race will have an obvious sports dimension, but also a local reading: the route, the volunteers, the club, and the previous activities turn the debut into an event built from within the city itself and projected outward.