The post Elhousine Elazzaoui Pre-2026 Zegama-Aizkorri Marathon Interview appeared first on iRunFar.
Elhousine Elazzaoui of Morocco returns to the 2026 Zegama-Aizkorri Marathon happy to race as the defending champion. In the following interview, Elhousine talks about what makes the race special, what he thinks about the muddy conditions for race day, and his goals for the year.
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Elhousine Elazzaoui Pre-2026 Zegama Marathon Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Eszter Horanyi with iRunFar. I’m here with Elhousine Elazzaoui. We’re two days before the Zegama Marathon. How are you?
Elhousine Elazzaoui: Yeah, I am good. I am happy, always, I am with iRunFar. I hope good answer you.
iRunFar: Hopefully.
Elazzaoui: Yes, of course.
iRunFar: Hopefully we do this well!
Elazzaoui: Of course. Yeah.
iRunFar: Well, iRunFar is happy to have you here. Thank you.
Elazzaoui: Yeah, thank you. Thank you.
iRunFar: You’re returning as the defending champion. This is your fifth year in a row back. How does that feel?
Elazzaoui: Yeah, I am happy I am here again at Zegama. I like this race. I am six years here now, where I think you have a lot of experience, and very, very happy I am here again.
iRunFar: I feel like this is a course that it really benefits if you know the course. What have you learned about the course in your many times here?
Elazzaoui: Yeah, for me, Zegama, one race, special, one of the best race in the world. The condition is very, very hard uphill, downhill and rain sometime. This is a special race, Zegama.
iRunFar: For you, what is it that makes it so special? Is it the people? Is it the course?
Elazzaoui: Yes, of course. It’s all, the people, the energy, the awesome spirit. For example, you have most people, most fun, and Zegama is really trail running.
iRunFar: Yeah. Do you have a favorite part of the course that you look forward to? Is it? Yeah. What do you look forward to out there?
Elazzaoui: Yeah. For me, for example, I like if you have bad condition. For example, Zegama, you rain. I don’t need to take with me a lot of water. You have a lot of water here. It is okay.
iRunFar: Well, right now it’s currently raining. It’s been raining for a couple of days now. It’s going to be muddy. You’ve seen this course in the mud, you’ve seen it in the dry; do you like it better one way or the other?
Elazzaoui: Yeah. For example, if you have sun, because I live in the Sahara Desert, if you have sun, it is okay. But for me, water is life, and if you have water here, water gives me a lot of energy. This is important.
iRunFar: And are you worried about the mud, or are you looking forward to mud, the muddy trail?
Elazzaoui: Yeah, yeah. For me, it is okay.
iRunFar: So last year you won the Golden Trail World Series. You won four of the Golden Trail World Series races. You won this race. What did you do after the season ended? How did you reset coming into this year?
Elazzaoui: Yeah, reality, I am happy. I have run Golden Series two years. This year, I hope for a good result because, for this moment, any kind athlete, you are never winner, victory again. I hope this year to win the Golden Trail World Series again. This reality is my big objective.
iRunFar: This year, for Zegama, it’s the 25th anniversary. They’ve invited all the past champions back. It’s a big field.
Elazzaoui: That’s a good question, and I think you have the best athlete in the world. I will be good race, you have confidence. I am feeling good, but reality, you have some new athletes, very, very strong. But I give my best, and I am happy. Kilian [Jornet] is here again, Lucille [Germain], all the team Nnormal athletes, and I’m happy here with the team.
iRunFar: In the past, it feels like the way you race is you stay with the lead group until the top of the last descent and then you take off.
Elazzaoui: Yes. I don’t know because after the race I can think what is situation, but for this moment you have some new athlete, is very strong, and I will see someday what is situation.
iRunFar: You’ll make it up as you go.
Elazzaoui: I hope.
iRunFar: Well, best of luck this Sunday and defending your title at Zegama, and we will be cheering you on out there.
Elazzaoui: For me, I give my best. And I think you have best athletes in the world, and I give my best, and I will be good result.
Elhousine Elazzaoui Pre-2026 Zegama-Aizkorri Marathon Interview by Eszter Horanyi.
