At the Gorbea mountain race, Spanish athlete Sara Alonso captured first place and broke the previous course record while honoring her recently deceased friend and teammate, Ida Amelie Robsahm.
A Record-Breaking Run Wrought with Emotion
Racing in Gorbea for the first time, Alonso completed the demanding course in 3 hours, 21 minutes, and 30 seconds. That mark lowered the previous women’s course record—set the prior year by Lide Urrestarazu at 3 hours, 34 minutes, and 16 seconds—by 12 minutes and 49 seconds. Romanian athlete Denisa Dragomir finished second with a time of 3 hours, 34 minutes, and 42 seconds, more than 13 minutes behind the winner.
Yet, for Alonso, the historic finish time and the victory itself took a back seat to the memory of her late friend. During the final 500 meters of the race, amid high-fives and cheers from spectators lining the route, the Donostia-San Sebastián native pulled a photograph of the Norwegian athlete from her gear. With tears in her eyes and raising her arms toward the sky, she crossed the finish line holding the image high.
Honoring a Deep Bond
The victory followed days of intense mourning for Alonso, who revealed after the race that she had initially questioned whether she should compete at all. «I had doubts about coming. Although my head wasn’t in the right place to run, doing it helps me clear my mind and, in the end, it has been a kind of release», Alonso explained after crossing the finish line, adding that it was «a day very beautiful and sad at the same time.»
Alonso’s tribute extended beyond the racecourse. In a heartfelt public statement shared via social media, she reflected on the profound impact of their relationship: «Ida, you have been my sister, my friend, my teammate, and the person who helped me the most this year when I needed it most.» She noted that though their friendship spanned barely a year, it created an infinite bond, recalling Robsahm’s constant smile and emphasizing that every stride and kilometer moving forward would be dedicated to her memory.
Looking Ahead in the Basque Country
Immediately after completing the grueling effort and securing the new benchmark, Alonso walked back along the course to share an extended embrace with her parents. Reflecting on the atmosphere in Euskadi, she expressed gratitude for the local supporters. «Running in Euskadi is always very nice; the people don’t stop shouting your name. I hope to return next year», she said.
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