Cercedilla is gearing up to host a high-mountain weekend with the Madrid Alpine Marathon (MAM) and the Telegraph Alpine Cross (CAT). Both competitions, which have sold out all available bibs, will bring together a total of 800 participants, reinforcing their popularity among national and international trail running enthusiasts.
Saturday, June 13th, will feature the 24th edition of the Telegraph Alpine Cross, while Sunday, June 14th, will host the 29th edition of the Madrid Alpine Marathon. The latter, with its extensive history, has become an unmissable event on the mountain racing calendar.
The Madrid Alpine Marathon, with a challenging course of approximately 44 kilometers and 2,500 meters of positive elevation gain, will traverse iconic landscapes of the Sierra de Guadarrama, including Siete Picos, Puerto de Navacerrada, La Bola del Mundo, Puerto de Cotos, and the summit of Peñalara, the highest point in the area at 2,428 meters.
This race has been the venue for significant national competitions, including the first official Spanish Mountain Running Championship in 2002. In the 2025 edition, the winners were Claudio Díaz and Silvia Serafini.
The Telegraph Alpine Cross, on the other hand, will offer a 19-kilometer route with just over 1,000 meters of positive elevation gain, passing through areas such as Siete Picos, the Navalmedio valley, La Fuenfría, and the vicinity of Puerto de Navacerrada. In 2025, the winners were Jorge Aaron Alonso and Sara Pérez.
The races will feature notable international participation, with runners from countries like Azerbaijan, Venezuela, Portugal, France, and the United Kingdom, as well as representation from all 17 Spanish autonomous communities. The 'CrossMAM' challenge, which involves completing both races in under 11 hours, and the special mention of the 'Megasupervivientes' – the only three runners who have completed every edition of the MAM – stand out.
The organization maintains a strict commitment to the conservation of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, limiting participation to 400 runners per event. Participants are encouraged to use their own containers at aid stations, and food is distributed without wrappers or packaging to minimize environmental impact.
The Madrid Alpine Marathon preserves unique traditions, such as the 'Supervivientes' (Survivors) designation for those who complete the race and 'Metanudos' for Telegraph Alpine Cross finishers. MAM winners receive a 13-kilogram trophy made of Guadarrama granite. The event was also a pioneer in live internet broadcasting in 2003 and in the inclusion of visually impaired runners.
