Your plan in four answers
Behobia is on November 8, 2026, under four weeks away, so we have set next year's race in November. Change the date below if you are running this one.
- Distances
- 20K
- Terrain
- Rolling
- Field
- Capped at 30,000 runners
Course
The Behobia course
This 20 km point-to-point race starts beside the Bidasoa river on Nafarroa Hiribidea in Irun, at 10:00 for the main field, and finishes on Zurriola Avenue by the Kursaal in San Sebastián. Total climbing is 192 m, packed into three named hills: Gaintxurizketa from about km 6 to 8 (roughly 2 km at an average 3%, steepening near the top), Kaputxinos at km 13 to 14 (about 450 m at 5%, the steepest of the day) and Mirakruz from km 16 to 17 (about 1.5 km at 3% with a hard finish).
Read the full course notes
Between them come long descents, about 3 km down into Errenteria after Gaintxurizketa and a long straight drop into Gros after Mirakruz, plus a flat, loud stretch through the Errenteria zumardia. The early kilometres rise gently through central Irun, the course runs beside the port at Pasaia around km 15, and the last kilometre is flat along Zurriola to the line. The course is not homologated for records, the time limit is 2 hours 35 minutes, and there are 8 drink stations.
- Terrain
- Rolling
- Distances
- 20K
- Field
- Capped at 30,000 runners
- Weather on race day
- Early November on the Basque coast is usually mild and damp, around 10–15 °C at the 10:00 start, with humidity near 75% and rain on about half the days. Pack a light rain layer for the wait in Irun, and on a still, muggy day drink at the early stations so you have something left for Mirakruz.
What to train for
The Behobia is decided on its three climbs, so train for sustained effort on 2 km grades and a short, steep 5% kick at km 13.
Once a week, run 4–6 × 3 minutes uphill at half marathon effort, and finish some long runs with a hill around km 13–16 of the run to mimic Kaputxinos and Mirakruz on tired legs.
Practise relaxed, quick descending too: the drops into Errenteria and Gros are where good pacing banks free time. Build long runs to 18–22 km so the 20 km distance feels comfortable.
Sample week
A sample Behobia training week
A week from the middle of the build, about six weeks out. Your plan sets the real distances and paces from your own fitness and adjusts them every week as you train.
- Monday
- Rest, or 20 minutes of mobility
- Tuesday Key session
- Intervals: 5 × 1 km at 5K to 10K effort, easy jog between
- Wednesday
- Easy run, 8–10 km
- Thursday Key session
- Goal-pace run, 11 km with 6 km at race pace
- Friday
- Recovery run, 6 km, or cross-train
- Saturday Key session
- Long run, 16–19 km easy
- Sunday
- Easy run, 6 km, then 6 relaxed strides
Taper
Tapering for the Behobia
Start the taper ten to fourteen days before race day. Cut your weekly volume by about a third, then by half in race week, and keep a few short efforts at race pace so your legs stay sharp. The course rolls, so keep one short session on undulating ground in the first taper week.
Also in Claude
Ask Claude for this plan
Add AthleteSpace to Claude once, then paste this prompt and put in your own numbers.
Build me a training plan for the Behobia - San Sebastián (20K) in November. I run [distance] a week, [days] days a week, easy pace [pace].
Behobia training questions
How long should I train for the Behobia?
Most runners give a 20k twelve to sixteen weeks of focused training on top of an existing base. The plan above counts back from your actual race date, so if you have less time than that it builds the best plan the remaining weeks allow rather than pretending you have longer.
Is the Behobia course hilly?
Rolling. This 20 km point-to-point race starts beside the Bidasoa river on Nafarroa Hiribidea in Irun, at 10:00 for the main field, and finishes on Zurriola Avenue by the Kursaal in San Sebastián.
What is the weather usually like at the Behobia?
Early November on the Basque coast is usually mild and damp, around 10–15 °C at the 10:00 start, with humidity near 75% and rain on about half the days. Pack a light rain layer for the wait in Irun, and on a still, muggy day drink at the early stations so you have something left for Mirakruz.
When should I start tapering for the Behobia?
Start the taper ten to fourteen days before race day. Cut your weekly volume by about a third, then by half in race week, and keep a few short efforts at race pace so your legs stay sharp. The course rolls, so keep one short session on undulating ground in the first taper week.
Do I need an account to get a Behobia training plan?
No. The plan above builds in your browser with no account, no email, and no card. Make a free account only if you want to keep it, log your runs against it, and have the coach keep adapting it as your training goes.