Trianthlonlry: Zafiro Palma Marathon Preview

Mallorca will host the 2022 edition of Zafiro Palma Marathon on October 9th.

The race, which will take place in the beautiful city of Palma, offers 3 distances, marathon, half marathon and 10 km.

Here is what you need to know about Zafiro Palma Marathon:

1. All the activities are performed outdoors, including the pick-up of race documents, expo, pasta party, finish party, etc., thanks to its mild average temperature. And with its location in the heart of the city, only a few meters from the most emblematic buildings of Palma, bars, cafés and restaurants are very close in case the sun decides to take a short break.
2. Sustainable race and local products: The organizers try their best to protect the environment and use sustainable materials such as 100% recycled t-shirts, medal ribbons and after race bags. In addition to that, local products are served in the aid stations and after race area.
3. Where there is a will, there is a way. Almost everyone is a finisher! Last year 97% of the Zafiro Palma Marathon participants reached the Finish Line.
4. The Zafiro Palma Marathon has always attracted a very international crowd; in 2021 there were 17 participating nationalities. Runners who travelled to Mallorca for the race came from countries as far away as the United States.
5. The Zafiro Palma Marathon is one of the very few races worldwide with a large part of its course along the seaside. In addition, it runs across the entire old town of Palma. This is unusual for marathon races in large cities, which tend to guide the runners outside their centers to avoid congestion in the inner city. Moreover, the course is not as flat as one could possibly think – its height profile surprises with 242m per loop.
6. The percentage of female participants, almost 42%, is very high compared to other races. According to The Guardian, on average women represent only around 30% of marathon runners worldwide, and in many countries in Southern Europe only about 10%.
7. In 2015, The Times chose Palma de Mallorca as the “best place to live in the world” because “it has it all” and it is “accessible and affordable”. The Zafiro Palma Marathon also has it all: a promenade overlooking the bay and the turquoise-blue sea, a historic town with beautifully restored palaces, lively cafés, shaded plazas, restaurants with a cuisine to remember, small boutiques and designer shops, a sand-colored cathedral… and a bright sun with great weather! There is simply no better place to enjoy a race!
8. During October, Palma de Mallorca enjoys a spectacular climate with an average temperature of 18c with 204.6 hours of sunshine and only 6.4 days of rainfall. Zafiro Palma Marathon’s motto ‘Follow the sun’ couldn’t be more accurate! And during this time of the year the weather contrast with other European cities could not be more extreme: most of them are already preparing for winter!
9. Age is no issue! At the 2021 edition, the oldest runner was 80 years old. 1.5% of the participants were 70 years or older, while the average age was 44 years. The age group with the most participation, over 42%, was between 45 and 59 years old.
10. In many respects the Zafiro Palma Marathon was created as a touristic sports event to attract travelers to enjoy the city of Palma de Mallorca. But let’s not forget that the Zafiro Palma Marathon takes sports very seriously: it is a member of AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) and therefore the marathon is internationally recognized and guarantees a high level of quality.