Just two weeks after trading blows for the top two spots at the Salto 15K in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa distance runners Javi Menta and Gonzalo Fuentes found themselves sharing a very different kind of finish line at Hospital Donostia, diariovasco.com reported.
A Maternity Ward Intersection
The rivals had recently battled on the asphalt before embracing at the end of the race. Days later, their paths converged across hospital corridors when Menta was changing his newborn daughter Giulia’s diaper and looked up to see Fuentes walk in carrying his own child.
Giulia, the first child for Menta and Inma, was born on Friday, October 30. Martín, the second child for Fuentes and Ane, arrived the following day on Saturday, October 31. The newborns entered the world just hours apart in rooms situated practically side by side.
Returning to the Behobia-San Sebastián Grid
Scarcely a week after their hospital encounter, both athletes return to action at the 61st edition of the Behobia-San Sebastián race. They stand among the expected fast runners at the start line, targeting the run toward the Boulevard donostiarra.
Fuentes holds a personal best of 1h03:59 in the event from 2019, though that performance came when the course measured 20 kilometers. The current layout includes nearly 200 extra meters that he notes penalize final times significantly.
Pedigree Across Multisport Disciplines
Fuentes boasts an extensive athletic resume, featuring an eighth-place finish in 2023 and 13 completed Ironman triathlons. His trophy cabinet also includes a middle-distance duathlon gold medal at the Spanish championships in 2022 and a bronze at the 2019 European middle-distance duathlon championships.
Menta enters the race following an athletic transition born out of adversity after a cruciate ligament tear during his days as a third-tier football striker. Turning to spinning, swimming, and running to recover, he discovered a natural pace averaging 4:00 to 4:10 per kilometer before pushing toward three-minute pacing.
Menta Plans to Attack Personal Bests at Upcoming Marathons
Menta won the 3 Playas and the 15K races in October, aiming to better his 1h04:58 mark from 2025 in what marks his eighth appearance for the Zumeatarra club.
Looking past the Behobia-San Sebastián, Menta has already mapped out his competitive calendar for future seasons. Having clocked a 2h19:25 marathon at the Boston Marathon, he plans to attack his personal bests at the Rotterdam Marathon and Chicago Marathon in 2027.
For both athletes, fatherhood alters their daily routines and sleep schedules, yet leaves their competitive drive intact as they take their places on the starting grid.
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