«La gente te lleva en volandas. Es una maravilla correr aquí», celebrated Fátima Azzahraa after winning the Bilbao Night Run Fest 10K race in Bilbao, Spain.
Running through the illuminated streets of Bilbao on a Saturday evening, Spanish athletes Fátima Azzahraa and Jorge González secured solo victories in the 10K event at the Bilbao Night Run Fest, establishing new personal benchmarks and breaking previous event standards, according to local media reports from elcorreo.com.
Conquering the Bilbao Night Run Fest 10K Circuit
Both champions crossed the finish line alone and smiling, validating weeks of intense endurance training aimed at upcoming autumn marathons. For Azzahraa, representing Córdoba, the evening brought a record-breaking performance as she surpassed the previous year’s course mark established by Alava-born runner Elena Loyo. Despite navigating a demanding urban route featuring several sharp inclines, Azzahraa ran in a solo lead from the opening minute.
Bilbao Night Run Fest (17/10) 🇪🇸10km Masculino🥇 Jorge González – (28:33)🥈 Fernando Carro – (29:04)🥉 Adam Maijó – (29:26)10km Femenino🥇 Fátima Ouhaddou – (33:17)🥈 Lidia Campo – (33:34)🥉 Elene Loyo Menoyo – (33:43)
«Apenas he mirado el reloj porque estaba disfrutando muchísimo la carrera. Desde el primer minuto he corrido en solitario», Azzahraa stated, noting that she felt remarkably strong despite coming straight from a rigorous training camp.
On the men’s side, Mérida native Jorge González handled the tactical challenge of running alongside an aggressive lead group of African competitors. González navigated the steep climbs and occasionally pushed the pace before breaking away to take the men’s 10K crown.
«No esperaba correr tan rápido una carrera que es una pasada», González remarked to elcorreo.com after the race, highlighting the unique atmosphere of a Saturday twilight event.
Atmosphere and Spectator Impact Along the Nervión
Organizers charted a scenic course that carried runners past prominent Basque landmarks, beginning at the San Mamés stadium esplanade and concluding near the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Both winners emphasized that the dense crowds lining the cordoned streets provided essential energy during the grueling final kilometers.
«Pocas pruebas en España se corren un sábado por la tarde, y es un acierto porque es cuando más público se congrega en las esquinas de la calzada», González observed. He noted that hearing spectators call out his name throughout the course helped fuel his effort, particularly with family members traveling from northern Spain to watch him compete.
Azzahraa echoed those sentiments regarding the nocturnal city environment, describing how the enthusiastic local support lifted competitors up the challenging inclines.
«Los seguidores te llevan en volandas y se te hace ameno. La verdad es que se me han hechos cortos los diez kilómetros», Azzahraa said.
Preparation for the Valencia Marathon
The timing of the Bilbao competition fit directly into the broader training schedules of both distance runners, who are currently building up mileage for the upcoming Valencia Marathon. González arrived in Bilbao carrying heavy fatigue from a massive training week that included over 150 logged kilometers.
Weather conditions on race day cooperated fully, offering dry asphalt and ideal cool temperatures that allowed for fast pacing once athletes warmed up. Following their victories, both runners turned their immediate focus back to recovery and their respective training regimens, with Azzahraa returning straight to her ongoing athletic concentration.
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