Want to run a marathon? Why not consider Barcelona? Barcelona is easy to get to, with Barcelona airport transfers taking 20 minutes after only a short flight.
One of the biggest sporting events in Barcelona’s year is the Marathon, known officially as the Zurich Marató de Barcelona. This year, the 42.195km race, starting and finishing in the Av. Reina Cristina, will take place on 13 March. Attracting thousands of competitors and even more spectators, the event is always very exciting. For anyone visiting Barcelona to compete or watch the race, Av. Reina Cristina is the street that leads up from the Plaça Espanya to the Font Màgica, the beautiful fountain that, on the day of the marathon, will be functioning in all its glory.
A Mini History of The Marathon
The Barcelona marathon has been an annual event in the city since 1978, although the course has changed over time. The races of the early years started in the village of Mataró, which is about 15 km away, but in 2001 the course became confined to the city. In 2005, however, because the city authorities insisted that the race take place elsewhere, it was run in the area between Castelldefels, Gavá and Sitges. Thankfully for the marathon organisers, the relationship with the authorities was healed and the course once again runs within the boundaries of the city.
Planning to Run?
In order to enter the marathon, you need to go to the official marathon website http://www.zurichmaratobarcelona.es/eng/. The fee is €61.50 for the first 10,000 entrants, then it goes up to €73.00. Once the number of people entered reaches 17,000, the fee increases again to €84,00.
If you are planning on running the race, then preparation is key. The race begins at 8.30am and the best way to get to the start is on the underground. Lines 1 and 3 take you to where you need to be. Temperature at this time of year ranges from 13-17° C and it is usually sunny, so dress appropriately.
Or Spectate?
There are many more spectators than runners on the day, and if you are visiting Barcelona on the day of the race, get out there, join the crowds and soak up the buzzing atmosphere.
How to Get There
Barcelona is a fabulous city to visit and one that is easy to get to whether you drive, fly or travel on the train. The main station has trains running to and from several major European cities, and has direct and regular links to the airport.
The city airport is only 16km from the city centre so a Barcelona airport transfer only takes 20 minutes. There are many airlines flying into Barcelona, so no matter whether you are flying in from Paris, Berlin, Milan or London, you’ll be spoilt for choice with options. Easy Jet and Monarch offer the best deals from the UK but British Airways also have reasonable flights from London Heathrow. To make your journey even more of a pleasure, book an onward Barcelona airport transfer to your city centre hotel. You can then look forward to being met at the airport and taken direct to your hotel in a timely and professional manner.
There are several buses in the city, with direct links from the airport to the city centre. The Aerobus connects both airport terminals with the Plaza Catalunya in the city centre. The journey takes 35 minutes and costs €5.90. Buses leave the airport every 5 minutes, so if you don’t have a Barcelona airport transfer booked, the bus is a good option.
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