What is it?
Welcome to Barcelona
It is a walk by the city of Barcelona and its surrounding area, where everybody can participate. It has international echo, in order to let everybody know the wonderful beauties and particularities of the city of Barcelona.
In 2001 there was the first International Walk in Barcelona, but its vocation was decidedly towards continuity. In 2002, the proposal was enlarged, and there were two different routes, one of 11 km and another one of 21. Another novelty was to give them a thematic condition. The Modern Style was the chosen proposal for that year. Its third edition, in March 2003, followed the same pattern than the last one, but it was dedicated to let the visitors know about the different public parks and gardens of the city. Its fourth edition, in October 2003, a big change appeared: now, the visitors had 2 days to walk in the city (a weekend). This change had a double purpose: to enlarge the number of routes and, at the same time, to adapt this activity to the rules marked by the IML (International Marching League) in order to become one of its members.
In 2004 edition, the proposal of routes was widened. Those routes were created having into account the great attractions of Barcelona. It is, also, another way of making exercise in a funny way.
The experience of the 2004 has been repeated in 2005. For obvious reasons of repairs in the street, the begining and end point was changed, and it was moved to the front of the Casa del Mig, inside the Espanya Industrial park. This change has been qualified as very positive, and all the walkers could enjoy of a beautiful party dedicated to them on saturday afternoon.
Another changed that had to be made was the dates. In 2004, the walk was made by the end of October (and the aim is to keep doing it by the third or fourth weekend of October). But, because of our trial to become a member of the International Walking Association (IML), in 2005 this walk was made in June.
In 2006, the walk was made in January 28th and 29th in order than the inspectors of the IML could come and see how we organize our walk.
But the "official" version of the International Walk of Barcelona of 2006 took place in October 7th and 8th. In both days, there were 3 routes, one of 10 km, another one of 20, and a third one of 30 km long. The 10 km route was part of the walks of Barnatresc, and counted in order to obtain a pin of this activity. The begining and end point was placed inside the sports center of the Espanya Industrial, so inscriptions, party, etc, were made without taking into account weather or any other kind of problem.
For the 2007 walk (we hope that, by then, the CIB has been included in the IML calendar) there will be some changes in order to keep or increase the interest on the CIB by those who love these kind of activities. There will be absolutely new routes, but they will be of 10, 20 and 30 km long as before.
The main goal is to have two kinds of routes: the “Llobregat routes”, that are the routes that have been present in the CIB in the previous years, and the “Besòs routes”, a new collection of routes in the other side of the city. We desire to alternate those routes, one kind a year, the other the next year, in order to be able to offer a bigger variety to the participants.
The International Walk of Barcelona, a non-competitive walk, is a good excuse to get health, alone or with friends, and to rediscover our city.
Serra de Collserola (torre de Collserola i Tibidabo) Foto: J.M. Jerez