Nine Thousand Athletes Send off 2009 with the Nassos Race    11/01/10

The recently proclaimed runner up in the European cross country championship, Rosa Marató, and the current Spanish champion over 10,000 metres, Carles Castillejo, were the female and male winners in of the Cursa dels Nassos respectively. This final running event of 2009 brought together a total of 9,000 participants, making it the most successful edition in the history of the race.

Both winners did more than win their races: this year both Catalan runners broke 10 km. road race records. Castillejo took the Catalan record with a time of 28 minutes, 41 seconds, breaking the previous record set last year by José Ríos in the same event. Morató broke the Spanish record over the distance with a time of 31 minutes and 6 seconds. The previous record of 32 minutes, 22 seconds had been held by Patricia Arriba since 2000.

In the men’s event, second and third place finishers on the podium were the Moroccan Mohamed Blal, with a time of 29 minutes, 8 seconds, and the Portuguese runner Fernando Silva, clocking in at 29 minutes 39 seconds.

In the women’s event, the Portuguese athlete Ana Dias came in behind Morató with a time of 32 min. 52 sec, while Beatrice Jempchumba of Kenya came third with a time of 33 minutes.

 

More than 7000 Registered for the Race    22/12/09

This year’s Cursa dels Nassos race continues to arouse great interest, as can be seen by registration numbers. With only two weeks to go before the event there are more than 7,000 signed up, while last year at this time participation was just over 5,000.

“This race continues to grow like other Barcelona races over the last few years”, said Pere Alcober, the Sports Delegate, during the official presentation. Alcober recalled that “2009 has been a spectacular year for urban running races in Barcelona in terms of growth in participation.”

The Cursa dels Nassos-Gran Premi Ibercaja, like other races such as the Mercè Race and the Barcelona Half Marathon, has grown by a thousand participants each year. In 2007, the final race of the year brought together 7,126 runners, while last year participation topped out at the maximum set by the organization, with a total of 8,500 runners.

This year, the maximum number of participants has been set at 9,000 runners. The reason for this, as Alcober explained, is that “we want to have more participation, but not in a way that will affect the quality of the race.” As long as registration does not reach this figure, it will be possible to sign up until December 27th at midnight.

Due to the expected participation, as suggested by the maximum set out, the main novelty in this year’s race is that the start will be done in two groups of 4,500 runners. These groups will set out five minutes apart from each other to avoid excessive crowding, as well as to allow runners to move more fluidly. The race finish line is set to close an hour and 30 minutes after the start.

 

Many Elite Runners to Participate this Year    22/12/09

At this point in time a large number of professional runners have chosen to participate in this popular open race over ten kilometres.

Amongst the female participants special mention should be made of Rosa Morató, recent silver medal winner in the 2009 European Cross Country Championship. Another high level female runner is Maria José Pueyo, who was the Spanish Marathon runner-up in 2005 and 2008, and who participated in the Gothenburg World Championship in 2006 and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Another noteworthy participant is Elena Moreno, the silver medal winner over 10,000 metres in the last Spanish championship.  

Another runner who will have to be considered as a candidate for a good result is the Portuguese athlete Ana Dias, 16th in the Berlin World Athletic Championship in 2009 in the 10,000 metre race, fifth in this year’s European Challenge, and 2nd in the most recent Barcelona Half Marathon. Other challengers include Hasna Bahom, a Moroccan runner residing in Catalonia who has won the last two editions of the Mercè Race, and Beatrice Jepchumba, the Kenyan runner who won the last edition of the Granollers Half Marathon and Cross Country Race.

In the men’s category there is the European silver medallist in Cross Country from 2006, the Portuguese athlete Fernando Silva, who placed 13th in Marathon in last summer’s World Championship in Berlin, and was third in the 2009 edition of the Barcelona Asics Half Marathon.

Running alongside Silva there will be athletes like Pol Guillén, who has been a habitual competitor in Barcelona races. Other runners to be taken into account are Angel Mullera, bronze in the recent 3,000 metre steeplechase in the most recent Spanish Athletics Championship, and Ruben Palomeque, who participated in the same category in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

As has been habitual in Barcelona running events, there will be a large contingent of Moroccan athletes in the event. This is the case of Driss Lakouaja, who has won various editions of the Jean Bouin and Mercè races, and who also won the Terrassa Half Marathon this year. Another strong competitor will be Ilias Fifa, who won the latest Mercè Race and the recent Jean Bouin in an underage category, as well as the 2009 Granollers Cross Country race.

Other elite athletes who have to date confirmed their participation in this year’s final running event are Abdelaziz Merzougui, who has the best Spanish junior time in the 3,000 metre steeplechase, Mohamed Bembarka, who was second in the 2009 Granollers Cross Country race, and the Kenyan athlete Kemboi Cosmers, winner of the Mataró Half Marathon in 2009.

 

More than 4300 Registered for the Cursa dels Nassos Race    11/12/09

As the Christmas season gets closer and closer, so does the moment for the Cursa dels Nassos, the emblematic athletic race that takes place on the last day of the year, December 31st, at 5:30 PM.

To date more than 4300 people have made sure they will be able to participate in the 11th edition of this race. The number suggests we are in for a surprise, as the race approaches a new participation record. At this time registration is 30% higher than at the same time last year, when slightly more than 3300 individuals had signed up.

For all these reasons, interested runners should be sure to register for the race as soon as possible. The final day to sign up is December 27th at midnight. Remember, however, that registration will close early if the maximum participation of 9000 runners is reached before that time.

 

More than 2500 Registered in the Race    03/12/09

When only a few weeks are left until the long-awaited Cursa dels Nassos, the number of registered runners for the Christmas race has gone over 2500. These statistics are updated to early December.

This number is 30% higher than the quantity of registered runners for last year’s edition at this time, when only 1850 participants had signed up.

These stats show just how much interest in the Cursa dels Nassos has grown, as there are more and more people interested in ensuring a place in this 10 km athletics race. Registration for the Cursa dels Nassos will close online on December 27 at 8 PM, or earlier if the total number of registered runners reaches 9000, since that is the maximum number of runners allowed by the race rules.

 

Barcelona 2010 Promotional Tent in the Runners Fair at Cursa dels
Nassos 2009    24/11/09

All participants who pick up their runner’s number on December 29, 30 and 31 at the Runners’ Fair of the Cursa dels Nassos, will have the chance to visit the space set up by the organizers of the European Athletics Championship Barcelona 2010.  Once there you can find information on what’s new, purchase or acquire promotional products, and participate in the “Wish for 2010” project.

From amongst the many “wishes” sent in, a draw will award 2 full passes for the 20th Championship, which will take place from July 26 to August 1, 2010 at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium. Six-day passes can be purchased from Servicaixa at www.servicaixa.com, while 3-day passes will be available starting December 10.

Furthermore, by showing your pass at the shop Wala (Passeig de la Zona Franca, 191), you will receive a gift box with promotional material and a voucher with discounts for various leisure spots and cultural centres in the city of Barcelona.

For more information see www.bcn2010.org.

 

Registration for the Cursa dels Nassos Quickly Approaching 2000    24/11/09

Approximately 1800 runners have signed up for the final athletics race of the year, with the idea of sending off 2009 doing sport as part of this great Christmas season run.

Once again, this year has seen increased interest in this running event. While last year at this time the number of registered runners was around 1200, in 2007 there were only 400 who had signed up at this stage of the game.

The organization recommends anyone concerned about missing out on this race to register as soon as possible. Remember that the Cursa dels Nassos takes place on December 31 at 5:30 PM, and that registration could close early, before the final registration date of December 27, if the established limit of 9000 registered participants is reached beforehand.

All the information you need on registration in the race can be found here.

 

Orienteering to End the Year    16/11/09

The Orienteering Club of Catalonia (the Club d’Orientació de Catalunya) has joined the Cursa de Nassos to send off the year in the most sporting way possible.

For this reason, on the 31st of December two open Orienteering competitions will be held. These events consist in finding a series of points or controls on a map in the shortest time possible, so as to move along a set route to the finish line.

In this way the proposal for the last day of the year includes a short initiation course for beginners; the three kilometre circuit is designed to be done in 25 to 30 minutes. The competition also offers a long course set up for experienced runners over 6.7 kilometres, to be carried out in 50 to 55 minutes. Both competitions will be Score Orienteering events.

The starting line will be at the Parc del Poble Nou at 7 PM, an hour and a half later than the starting time of the Cursa dels Nassos. This will allow everyone who wants to take part in the 10 km. race first to have the chance to do so.

All the information you need to participate in one of these Orienteering competitions can be consulted at: www.clubcoc.cat.

 

Over a Thousand Signed up for the Cursa dels Nassos    16/11/09

 More than a thousand people have already signed up for the emblematic Cursa dels Nassos, less than a month after the registration period opened.

It is a spectacular figure that nearly doubles the number of registered runners for the race at this time last year, when slightly more than 600 had signed up.

This wave of keen athletes for the eleventh edition of the race is the reason why runners should keep in mind that it is best to register as quickly as possible. Remember that registration could even end before the final day if the number of runners signed up reaches the established limit of 9,000 participants.

The registration period will be open until December 27th at midnight, if doing so by internet, or in person by consulting the authorized locations in the Registration section here.

 

Enjoy Deals, Draws and Freebies with the Cursa dels Nassos!    03/11/09

The eleventh edition of the Barcelona Christmas season race is back with new deals, draws and freebies. This is our way of saying thanks for participating to all those running the 10 km on the last day of 2009.

This year New Balance will grant you free registration in the race with the purchase of any New Balance running shoes in authorized shops. At the same time New Balance is holding a draw for two sets of running material, open to all registered runners who visit the New Balance stand.

Then there’s Polar, a brand that has been long faithful to athletic competitions held throughout  the city. Polar is holding a draw for 4 running computers: two model RS400 sd computers and two of the model RS300X sd, open to all runners finishing the race.

Finally, there are two new sponsors offering deals to participants in this athletic event. The runners’ network Strands is holding a draw for a laptop computer for all those participating in the race registering on the Strands website. And the Olympic and Sport Museum invites all participants to visit the museum for free on the 29th, 30th and 31st of December.

Everything you want to know about these deals can be found here.

 

Registration Opens for the “Cursa dels Nassos”    23/10/09

On December 31st, 2009, the Cursa dels Nassos - Saint Silvestre of Barcelona - Ibercaja Gran Prix, will once again send off the year in the most sporting way possible. At 5:30 PM, thousands of runners will take to the streets to defy winter temperatures and take on the 10 official kilometres in race’s eleventh edition.

For those who don’t want to miss the chance to participate in this new edition, internet registration is now open, from now until the 27th of December at midnight.

It is obligatory to register to participate in the race and receive a final, official classification. The registration fee is 12 Euros. If you do not have your own yellow timing chip, the organization will make a single-use chip available to you at a price of 3 Euros. In-person registration will begin on November 4th.

The race is open to men and women age 16 and over.

All the information you need about the race can be found on this website.