Asto Trail Mendi Lasterketa Short Race 2026

Race registration for the Asto Trail Mendi Lasterketa 16K opens the door to one of the most beloved dates on the Biscay mountain running calendar: a race organized by Garaiko Triatloi Taldea in the small municipality of Garai, right in the Duranguesado district, at the foot of Mount Oiz. The race's name — "Asto Trail," literally "donkey trail" in Basque — is a Basque-humor nod to the stubbornness it takes to design and run a course this demanding and this beautiful. The 2026 edition — the third for this short distance — takes place on Saturday, July 18th, starting at 10:00 am from Plaza de Garai (Herriko Plaza), 30 minutes after the mountain walk that shares the same course but isn't competitive, and half an hour before the demanding 26 km long race.The 16 km course, with 700 meters of accumulated elevation gain, is pure Biscay trail: after leaving the village square and crossing the Arria erreka canals, runners climb the day's first peak, Sarrimendi, around km 5. From there, the route descends to the Arlabar stream, loops around the Oizetxebarrieta area, and tackles the day's second and final big climb up to Askako peak — a natural viewpoint with privileged views over the entire Oiz mountain range. After circling Mount Jandolamendi, runners descend back toward Plaza de Garai, closing a circuit with very little asphalt and plenty of genuinely runnable terrain, according to those familiar with it.Registration costs €20, through the Kronoak platform, with a window opening February 9th, 2026 and closing July 15th, or sooner if all 175 bibs for this distance sell out. Those who register before July 9th at 8:00 pm have the edition's commemorative technical t-shirt guaranteed; after that date, the price stays the same but the garment is no longer guaranteed. Bib pickup takes place at Garai's town hall, the day before from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, and on race day itself from 7:15 to 9:00 am, with gear-check available at the same spot.Along the course there are two aid stations — at the Gorliz spring (km 6.3) and at the foot of Askako (km 10.5) — with solid and liquid products served in biodegradable paper cups, plus a third station at the finish that adds beer to the mix, a fitting Basque touch to cap off a morning of mountain effort. The time limit to complete the race is 3 hours and 15 minutes, and runners have access to medical assistance along the entire course, showers at the frontón until 2:30 pm, and gear-check at bib pickup. The race also counts toward the Durangaldeko Kopa (Sugaar) — the district's mountain racing circuit — with a 20% points bonus in this 2026 edition.The awards ceremony, at 1:30 pm in Garai's own square, hands out trophies and cash prizes to the top three finishers in each category (men's and women's), a special trophy for the first male and female runner registered as residents of Garai, and a raffle of gifts among all participants present at the finish. All in all, it's a race with a village soul: demanding on the terrain, but warm and welcoming in everything around it.