At 63 years old, Spanish distance runner Martín Fiz prepares to run his 42nd and final competitive marathon at the New York City Marathon, elcorreo.com reported. The veteran athlete, who helped popularize long-distance running in Spain during the 1990s, plans to share the course with his son, Álex, in a hybrid relay format that marks the definitive end of his elite 42-kilometer career.
From Vitoria to Global Championships
Fiz built a career defined by international titles across cross country and the marathon. His breakthrough arrived at the 1994 European Athletics Championships in Helsinki, where he claimed the marathon gold medal. He followed that performance by winning the marathon at the 1995 World Championships in Göteborg, Sweden. Beyond those global victories, Fiz secured the European title and earned a silver medal at the 1997 World Championships in Athens, alongside a fourth-place finish at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and a sixth-place finish at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
His competitive longevity extended into masters and veteran categories. Fiz completed the prestigious World Marathon Majors—comprising New York, Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago, and London—in the veterans division. Last year, he rounded out his resume by finishing the final event of the SuperHalfs half-marathon circuit in Valencia, setting the stage for his final full-distance appearance in New York.
Passing the Baton in New York
Rather than running solo, Fiz will tackle the New York course alongside his son, Álex, who faces his first marathon. The pair spent five months preparing for the race, initially targeting a 3 hour and 30 minute finish before gradually adjusting their training pace toward the three-hour mark. Fiz stated that the primary objective on race day is reaching the finish line together rather than chasing a specific clock time.
Reflecting on his decision to step away from the distance, Fiz noted that while he will continue competing in shorter events, the physical toll and demands of the 42-kilometer distance require a permanent departure. The veteran runner departs the marathon discipline holding a legacy as one of Spain’s most accomplished endurance athletes, having inspired a generation of runners who adopted the sport following his international successes in the 1990s.
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