A bid for a record at the San Sebastián Rural Kutxa Half Marathon. And a world one at that… On Sunday, along the Donostia asphalt, the fifth edition of this certified race, included in the calendar of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation, will take place, in which the Kenyan Mark Kosgei Kiptoo, who will wear bib number 1, will attempt to beat the M50 world masters record for the 21.097 kilometers.
Kiptoo, a man who once became African track champion (5,000 meters) and even winner of a Diamond League meeting, is now 50 but sits in superb form. This is why in Donostia he will attempt to break the M50 world masters record (for those over 50) set by Tanzanian Titus Mamabolo (1:06:23). It is one of Kiptoo’s major ambitions before retirement. And if he maintains the level he showed six months ago at Azkoitia-Azpeitia, a race in which he claimed victory for the third time in his career (at 49, 1:03:17), he should have no trouble shattering the world record.
The long-distance runner has long ago managed to surpass the world masters records of several top global athletes such as Haile Gebrselassie or Bernard Lagat, underscoring his enormous potential. For several kilometers he will be aided as a pacemaker by Joseba Díaz, a runner who knows what it takes to be Gipuzkoa’s half-marathon champion.
With bib number 2 will come one of the Basque region’s reference athletes. Iraitz Arrospide, who has already been runner-up at the San Sebastián Rural Kutxa Half Marathon in 2024 and 2025, will seek to make Kiptoo’s task difficult and to post a strong mark in Donostia, where he will surely receive the crowd’s support. Javi Menta, the distance debutant Ekain Larrea (an athlete with strong 1,500-meter times), Imanol Larrañaga, Pierre Urruty, Gonzalo Fuentes… will also be at the start among the more than 5,000 entrants (and bib numbers sold out more than four months ago), a Gipuzkoa-exclusive half marathon record.
Melero, Lázaro, Arraiza, Fleischmann…
In the women’s race, a tight contest for victory is anticipated. Among the registered athletes stands out Maitane Melero. The veteran Navarra-based distance runner, who rose to be one of Europe’s best track specialists, arrives in Donostia hopeful of taking the win in a distance she isn’t very accustomed to, though she carries a best time of 1:12.
Facing her is the Madrid-based Maria Lázaro, current Spanish champion at 50 kilometers and winner last year of the Spanish Marathon Championship. On the Gipuzkoa side, notable athletes include Maite Arraiza, last winner of the Donostia Marathon, or Fernanda Fleischmann, champion of the Vitoria Half Marathon in its most recent edition to date.
Presentación de la carrera
This Wednesday, the fifth edition of the San Sebastián Rural Kutxa Half Marathon was presented, with the attendance of Jon Insausti (Mayor of Donostia), Ane Oyarbide (Ane Oyarbide – Councillor for Equality, Economy and Local Employment in Donostia), Azahara Domínguez (regional deputy for Mobility, Tourism and Territorial Planning of Gipuzkoa), Goizane Álvarez (regional deputy for Culture, Cooperation, Youth and Sports of Gipuzkoa), Javier Martínez (Area Director of Social Action at Rural Kutxa), Fernanda Fleischmann (athlete), Iñaki Gerica (pacemaker and representative of the Hyundai OarsoCar team), Borja Ganzarain (SALTO FOUNDATION) and Aitor Beitia (president of ASPARGI).
La prueba, en datos
At the starting line, among the 5,200 runners registered for the single half-marathon distance, foreign participation accounts for 55%, with representation from 61 countries. The time limit to complete the race, with start and finish on Donostia’s Boulevard, is two and a half hours. Runners will have pacemakers at different paces, ranging from 1:20 to 2:30.
Carrera en directo
The San Sebastián Rural Kutxa Half Marathon can be watched live on Sunday from 9:20 a.m. via the race’s official website. A large setup is planned at the start and finish zones.
In addition to the traditional txapelas awarded to the winners, there will be trophies for the best Basques, courtesy of Hyundai OarsoCar, and for the best Gipuzkoans, courtesy of Muy Gipuzkoa. The best Donostia athletes will receive a cheque provided by Euskadi LowCost.
The winners of the four previous editions of this half marathon were Ayad Lamdassem and Elena Loyo (2022), Abderrahmane Aferdi and Irene Pelayo (2023), Fernando Carro and Meritxell Soler (2024) and Artur Bossy and Irene Pelayo (2025).
Evento con destino solidario
The organization has raised 4,000 euros through the solidarity bib which, in collaboration with the SALTO FOUNDATION, will be donated to ASPARGI, a non-profit association founded in September 2000 to help families and people affected by Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonism cope with the disease’s consequences. The finishers’ medals awarded to runners will be handed out by ASPARGI volunteers. Athletes from Kemen will also participate in the San Sebastián Rural Kutxa Half Marathon.