Races Half marathon · Irun to San Sebastián (Donostia), Spain
Behobia-San Sebastián
Behobia-San Sebastián is a hilly half marathon in Irun to San Sebastián (Donostia), Spain, held each November. A point-to-point road race with two major climbs, Gaintxurizketa around km 6 to 8 and Kaputxinos around km 13 to 14, plus a third at Mirakruz Gaina. A long descent follows into San Sebastián. Early November on the Basque coast is cool and often wet, typically 9 to 16°C. A course as hilly as Behobia-San Sebastián must be trained for specifically — long-run routes should mimic its climbs and descents.
Page rebuilt 2026-11-14 · race facts not independently verified — confirm dates and entries on the official race site
When
November
every year
Course
hilly
Half marathon
Conditions
Early November on the Basque coast is cool and often wet, typically 9 to 16°C.
Racing this course well
A point-to-point road race with two major climbs, Gaintxurizketa around km 6 to 8 and Kaputxinos around km 13 to 14, plus a third at Mirakruz Gaina. A long descent follows into San Sebastián.
A course as hilly as Behobia-San Sebastián must be trained for specifically — long-run routes should mimic its climbs and descents.
Getting a place
- How you get in
- Ballot: places are drawn at random
- Entries open
- In 2026 the bib draw registration ran from 14 to 22 April, and entry for draw winners opened on 5 May
- Price
- €55 for draw winners in 2026, €50 for regular runners and Fortuna club members (2026 race)
- Places
- 30,000 runners
Official Behobia-San Sebastián site →Checked November 2026
Race day
- Start time
- 10:00
- Time limit
- 2 hours 35 minutes
- Exact distance
- 20 km
The course in numbers
The first climb of about 2 to 2.5 km at Gaintxurizketa is followed by a 3 km descent. Kaputxinos is a short, steep climb of about 450 m at roughly 5%.
- Layout
- Point-to-point
- Surface
- Urban streets, main roads and the seafront
- Total climb
- 190 m
- Men's course record
- 59:19 (Alberto Juzdado, 1996)
- Women's course record
- 1:08:54 (Rocío Ríos, 1996)
Worth knowing
- First run in 1919.
- The race is not certified as a measured course.
- Entries are allocated by a bib draw, with places for habitual runners and club members.
Pick your goal for Irun to San Sebastián (Donostia)
Pace charts, weekly structure and timelines for the most common half marathon goals:
We don’t hold a confirmed date for this edition, so any countdown comes from the date you enter here.
Build your training around Behobia-San Sebastián.
RunV works backwards from race day to today. Your plan adapts when life interrupts, and you approve every change. It does not adapt to this specific course — the pacing guidance above is where the course knowledge is.
Everything above stays free and complete — this is an optional next step, not a paywall.
Asked often
- When is the Behobia-San Sebastián?
- It is held each November in Irun to San Sebastián (Donostia), Spain. Check the official Behobia-San Sebastián site for the exact date and entry windows.
- Is the Behobia-San Sebastián course flat?
- A point-to-point road race with two major climbs, Gaintxurizketa around km 6 to 8 and Kaputxinos around km 13 to 14, plus a third at Mirakruz Gaina. A long descent follows into San Sebastián.
- How do I enter the Behobia-San Sebastián?
- Ballot: places are drawn at random. In 2026 the bib draw registration ran from 14 to 22 April, and entry for draw winners opened on 5 May. Price: €55 for draw winners in 2026, €50 for regular runners and Fortuna club members (2026 race).
- How should I train for the Behobia-San Sebastián?
- Match your preparation to Behobia-San Sebastián's profile and the November weather, then protect consistency — with RunV Premium you can adapt your plan to fit your week, so one bad week never derails the block.
Not sure what to target? Predict your half marathon time from a recent race →
More half marathon races
Supplements research for this distance
Build for Irun to San Sebastián (Donostia) — around your actual life
RunV engineers your block backwards from race day in November — and adapts it when training doesn't go to script. You approve every change.
