Mario Mola will take the start of the Media Maratón Melilla Ciudad del Deporte this Sunday, November 15. The Mallorca-born athlete, world triathlon champion in 2016, 2017 and 2018, will compete for the first time (in athletic terms) in the autonomous city and will tackle his third 21.097-kilometre race on a flat asphalt circuit. “They’ve gone for a fast race. I’m really looking forward to the start,” he explains.
From 28:44 in 10K to Melilla’s 21 kilometres
At 36, Mola has reduced his focus on triathlon and has given more weight to running. He trains five or six days a week, covers between 80 and 100 kilometres, and occasionally turns to cycling to add hours of work without impact. On the road, his best 10-km mark is 28:44, achieved in Laredo in 2022. In half marathon, his two benchmarks come from 2024. He ran 1:05:42 in Lisbon and 1:06:29 in Pollensa. The Portuguese race was the one he prepared most specifically. There he hoped to approach 1:03, but the heat conditioned the results. In Pollensa, however, the chance to race at home weighed more. “I have little experience, so I’m going to keep learning and get the hang of the distance,” he admits. Mola faces Melilla’s race without a fixed target time. His Lisbon time will serve as a reference to gauge how he responds to a distance he is still learning to manage. “When you put on the bib, you always have the personal ambition to try to improve, to surpass yourself and to see how far you can go with the preparation you have,” he notes.
A flat circuit with finish at Plaza de España
Although it will be his first competition in Melilla, Mola already knows the coastal area. He toured it in 2025 during an activity with clubs coinciding with the European Triathlon Championship. He also recalls Reyes Estévez’s participation in the event and appreciates the treatment he has received on his visits. The Media Maratón Melilla Ciudad del Deporte will start from the avenida Juan Carlos I and finish at the Plaza de España. Racers will complete two laps of a circuit of about 10.5 kilometres, entirely on asphalt and with a flat profile. Registrations for the half marathon are still open for 15 euros. The day will also feature races of 10 and 5 kilometres and a Mini Half for under-15s.
