Wednesday, 12 April 2023 12:55
This weekend the island welcomes the 12th Formentera All Round Trail (FART). The three standard trials - the 72K FART, the 42K Half Round Formentera Trail, and the 21K Tros de FART- will take place Saturday 15 April, and a new 12.5K race will make its début Sunday. All told, roughly 620 participants are registered between the three races of a competition that is organised by the Consell de Formentera, Son Marçal Sports Club and Elitechip.
Running along the Formentera coastline, FART participants will set out at 9.00am from the Port of La Savina. For their part, runners in the Half Round Formentera Trail will depart at 11.30am from Platja des Arenals. Runners in the Tros de FART will get their start at 4.30pm, setting out from Es Caló. All three trials end at the Port of La Savina. In a first, Sunday 16 April at 10.00am there will be a fun run alongside Estany Pudent and Ses Salines. This trial is open to everyone, even those that competed the previous day. It is worth remembering that the FART can also be done in relay pairs.
Formentera's spring of sport
Ana Juan, president of the Consell de Formentera, said that the FART's combination of outdoor sport and respect for the environment made it "one of the biggest events on our sports calendar". The president stressed that "spring is an ideal time to enjoy sports on our island".
Alejandra Ferrer, vice president and tourism councillor, said that "whether for sport or culture, Consell-backed events tuned to extending the tourist season are perfect for enjoying Formentera at its quietest and most natural".
For her part, Paula Ferrer, sports councillor, said, "After iconic Easter-season competitions in judo and the Ophiusa regatta, next weekend Formentera will host the all-terrain cyclists' Volta Cicloturista and a new windsurfing and wingfoil trial organised by the Office of Sports, and in May we will have the Half Marathon, the Marnatón and Formentera to Run".
Caring for the environment
Since part of the FART takes place inside protected areas, which will be properly identified and marked, participating in the event means agreeing to follow special rules. Among other restrictions, in these zones runners may not use noise-makers, stray from the established route or litter. Each participant must mark their gels and bars with their bib number.
Six refreshment areas will be set up along the route.
12 April 2023
Office of Communication
Consell de Formentera