Barcelona's Cursa El Corte Inglés attracted 50,000 participants, 10,000 more than the previous year, according to organisers. The popular running event, often described as a 'running festival', saw people of all ages and abilities take part, from competitive runners to families walking together.
Organisers had to expand the number of bibs available due to high demand. The race holds a Guinness World Record for participation, with 109,457 runners in 1994. This year's event showed a strong return to high participation figures.
Changes to the Race Format
Over the past 32 years, the event has seen many changes. The term 'running' has replaced the older 'footing', and the race route has been updated. It now covers a flat 10-kilometre course connecting two major El Corte Inglés centres in Barcelona, avoiding the challenging climb to Montjuïc stadium that was once a key feature.
Logistical planning has also become more complex. Gone are the days of a single mass start in Plaça Catalunya. Now, participants start in staggered groups, or 'corrals', based on their expected pace. Elite runners began at 9am. Pol Espinosa, the men's winner, finished in 29 minutes and 44 seconds, while runners in the third corral, aiming for under an hour, were still waiting at the start line in Maria Cristina. By the time these runners reached Plaça Catalunya around 10:30am, the last participants on Diagonal avenue had not yet started.
This staggered start is the only way to manage such a large crowd, despite some complaints from Eixample residents about street closures. The profile of runners has also changed, with more women participating and both men and women wearing carefully chosen outfits, often featuring club shirts or those from other special races, rather than old sportswear. This year, the race's solidarity shirts supported the Cruyff Foundation.
Looking Ahead to Other Races
After crossing the finish line, many participants were already discussing future races. Two upcoming local events were suggested: the Nocturna de l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, scheduled for the following Saturday, which offers a fideuà meal at the finish line. The following month, El Prat will host a special night race organised by Damm brewery to celebrate its 150th anniversary, featuring a botifarrada, a surprise concert, and, of course, beer. These events show that for some, running is about personal bests, while for others, it is about socialising and enjoying the post-race festivities with friends.
