Barcelona Buff Epic Run 2011

The city’s most congenial annual race, amazing participants and the public alike, is back, kicking off at Montjuïc Castle at 11 am this Sunday 18 December.

And that is because the Buff Epic Run, an extreme obstacle race, leaves no-one unmoved, with its perfect combination of sport and laughter. An 8-km route that includes mud and foam swimming pools, tyre mountains, straw walls, rope mazes and other surprising obstacles. All that plus music and a big sausage fest.

Once again, it will be offering highly original prizes: from the oldest participant to the runner who travelled furthest to take part, as well as prizes for best group or individual fancy dress, given that fancy dress earns you points on this run.

What is more, for the second consecutive year, there will be a run specially devised for participants between the ages of 13 and 16, the Mini Buff Epic Run, which covers 1.5 km and sets off at 11.10 am.

There are fewer than 200 places left and the registration period closes today, 15 December.

Castell de Montjuïc -> Ctra Montjuïc, 66 | Sants-Montjuïc

La Cursa de La Mercè 2011

The ‘Cursa de la Mercè‘ keeps on growing: The fun run sees August end with 10.000 entrants already registered.

The organisation recommends that all those people who want to ensure their place in this 10 km race, due to kick off the sports events of the big annual festival in Barcelona, should register as soon as possible, as there are only 4.000 places left. Although the registration period is due to stay open until 9 September, it could close earlier if the participation limit is reached sooner, set at 14:00h entrants according to regulations.

You can enter via the race website or in person at the permanent race office, which is at the Joan Serrahima Municipal Athletics Stadium, from 1 September. The registration cost is 5 euros, which will be put towards Unicef schooling projects in Africa.

:: La Mercè 2011 website ::

4th Puig Barcelona Vela Clàssica Regatta

The IV Puig Barcelona Vela Clàssica will be held in Barcelona from 13 and 16 July, with 44 boats taking part. The regatta, which brings vintage yachts to the city, is split into three categories: pre-1949 boats, pre-1975 boats and recently built boats made with traditional techniques and materials.

If anything distinguishes it from other regattas in Spain it is precisely the great historical and cultural value of the boats taking part.

These sailing vessels were designed and built towards the end of the 19th century and early 20th century, in a spirit of quality, harmony and beauty that has all but disappeared from boat building today.

Regata Barcelona Vela Clàssica Trofeu Puig | From 13/07/2011 to 16/07/2011
Port Vell -> Moll Espanya, 1 | Ciutat Vella

Barcelona Bike Show

Once again the Bike and Skate Festival is back in Barcelona. Over the weekend of 18 and 19 June there will be programme of races, exhibitions and events like the first national gathering of cruiser bikes. The highlights will be the Bike Show and the fun bike-and-skate ride round the city’s streets.

The Bike Show, Europe’s biggest bike fair, is back at Parc del Fòrum, with 50.000 square metres offering a wide range of bikes and activities which will appeal to everyone.

Kids’ races, circuits for trying out urban bikes, Freeride and BMX areas, competitions, brand showcases and other exhibitions. The list is very long. Moreover, this year there will be an area devoted to skating and other activities linked to bikes, like spinning.

The bike-and-skate ride will take place on Sunday 19 June, starting at 10 am. About 13 kilometres long, it is a fun ride and is open to anyone as it is not competitive. Bike and adapted bike hire points will be set up for the occasion.

The ride will pass through some of Barcelona’s most emblematic streets and finish at the Fòrum, coinciding with the Bike Show. Cyclists will set off from Carrer d’Aragó, at the junction with Carrer de Balmes, while skaters will set off from the junction with Passeig de Gràcia.

Barcelona Half Marathon 2011

Until 26 January 2011, those who don’t want to miss out on the first long-distance event of the year – the Barcelona Half Marathon.

The 21.097 km race, one of the most emblematic in Barcelona, is back for another year on 30 January 2011. Its central and pleasant route is accessible for a large number of athletics fans, whether expert distance runners or simply shorter race veterans who have decided to make the leap up to long-distance running.

The cost of registration is 17 euros (including VAT) for runners who sign up before 2 January 2011. From 3 January the registration fee will rise to 21 euros (including VAT).

The use of a timing chip is required in order to take part in the event. People who don’t have their own chip can hire one from the organisers at a price of 3 euros (including VAT).

Barcelona Marathon 2011

With more than three months still to go before the 33rd Barcelona Marathon takes place on 6 March 2011, 4.233 people have already put their names down for it.

That’s a good number as it means 29% more people have enrolled than on the last marathon’s corresponding dates, when the figure was 3.280.

So, if the last race saw a record number of 12.211 runners hailing from various parts of the world and running the 42.195 kilometres, everything points to the coming one breaking another record, should the current entry rate continue.

So far, most of the runners (68%) come from abroad; of the rest (32%) who live in Spain, 77% of them are Catalans. Men still form the majority (83%) with women making up only 17% of the total.

The Firefighters Race, Lace Up Save Lives

The registration period has opened for the Cursa de Bombers, or the Firefighters Race, the big springtime’s athletics event, and it will close on 12 April or when the limit set at 18.000 runners has been reached.

The entry fee is 13 euros for those who already have their own yellow chip or 16 euros for those who don’t. For those registering on or after 15 March, it will cost 19 euros. Entries can be made online via the race website or in person at registration points.

This year the race will be collecting funds for the fight against AIDS in Africa, with all the profits from the sale of Nike (RED) trainer laces going wholly to the RED initiative, the foundation set up by U2′s Bono.

The run’s organisers are repeating the initiative of previous years, namely a pre-race training programme called the Lunaruns, night-time orienteering runs that will be held on 24 and 31 March, and 7 and 14 April.

Tour:
The Firefighters Race will set off from Avinguda del Marquès de l’Argentera, next to Ciutadella Park, on Sunday 18 April, and will cover 10 km through the city’s main streets. The terraces of the Hotel Barcelona Universal & Hotel Soho Barcelona will be perfect points for athletics fans to watch the race.

Barcelona Marathon: March 7th

At 8.30 am on March 7th, the city will once again be packed with marathon runners ready to run more than 42 kilometres round the main city streets. All in all, there will be more than 12,000 runners taking part, athletes and amateurs from all the corners of the world, who will make this the biggest in the marathon’s history.

This year, together with the marathon, the organisers also want to make the liveliest, and to have the streets filled with thousands of city residents keen to support the runners and make the most of all the activities lined up for this athletics morning. There will be up to 40 entertainment points, practically one every kilometre, where spectators can enjoy the athletics while taking part in sports and music activities, tasting some gastronomic specialities, concerts, folk and cultural activities and lots more besides.

More inf@: Barcelona Marathon 2010

Barcelona Marató 2010

Over 10,000 runners will be rising to the challenge of completing the Barcelona Marathon, this coming March 07, 2010. This year will see the biggest ever number of runners in the race’s history and that in a year when athletics is the star attraction in Barcelona, with the city holding the 20th European Athletics Championships this summer.

The main new features of the Barcelona Marathon this year are focused on improving the event for aficionados and runners alike. In addition, the race is keeping overall to its basic route, despite a few changes, which means it will pass the city sights for tourists and keep to the athletics aim of a faster race, with fewer sharp turns or narrow avenues and fewer inclines.

Barcelona Marató Website  |  NN Hotels: www.nnhotels.com

Jean Bouin Race

The Jean Bouin Race was started in Barcelona in 1920 by a group of journalists and sports promoters who were athletics enthusiasts, namely Josep Anton Trabal, Lluís Meléndez and Rossend Calvet, who named the event after the legendary French athlete, Jean Bouin, who was the runner-up in the Stockholm Olympics of 1912, holder of various world records between 1911 and 1913 and killed in action during the First World War.

Since then, this classic Catalan and Spanish athletics event, has never stopped inspiring local athletes as well as runners from around the world. The only time it was not held was during the Spanish Civil War, between 1937 and 1939, and, owing to specific problems at the time, between 1955 and 1967.

The event is unique in what it offers, as it is the only one to include a great variety of races and which has been adopting further categories year after year

In all, the Jean Bouin is made up of 13 races of various categories and distances – including one for people with disabilities in wheelchairs and another for people who have had organ transplants. The best known is the Open Race, open to anyone, Federation runner or not.

It will be held on 29 November 2009. Online entries can be made until 12 midnight on 25 November, though the period could close before should the maximum number of 5,000 participants set by the organisers be reached.

The Open Race will go through Paral·lel avenue and Gran Via, making our Hotel Barcelona Universal, Hotel Granvia and Hotel Soho Barcelona balconies and windows the perfect places to see runners from.

More inf@: Jean Bouin Race ..::.. Jean Bouin in Wikipedia