Sara Alonso's Season Takes Another Unexpected Turn
Just when everything seemed to be falling into place, Sara Alonso's season has hit another frustrating obstacle.
The Spanish trail running star has been forced to withdraw from the upcoming European Athletics Off-Road Running Championships after suffering from a kidney stone, an issue that recently sent her to the emergency room and ruled her out of one of her major targets of the season.
For most runners, a kidney stone would simply be bad luck. For Alonso, it feels like the latest chapter in a career that has become strangely defined by resilience.
Because if there is one thing the last few years have shown, it's that Sara Alonso rarely gets a smooth path.
After emerging as one of the brightest talents in trail running, she endured a lengthy recovery from a hip stress fracture that threatened to derail her momentum. She fought her way back, rebuilt her fitness and returned to winning races at the highest level.
Then came another bizarre setback in 2025, when she suffered a fractured rib after being charged by a cow while training in the Pyrenees. The injury forced her to miss key races during the heart of the season, only for her to return later and once again prove she belonged among the sport's elite.
The 2026 season had looked like another breakthrough campaign.
Alonso opened the year with victories at Acantilados del Norte and Calamorro Skyrace, putting herself at the top of the Skyrunner World Series standings before returning to Zegama as one of the favourites. She followed that up with a podium finish at the 25th anniversary edition of Zegama-Aizkorri, confirming that her form was exactly where it needed to be heading into the summer.
Which is why this latest setback feels particularly cruel.
Not because of an injury caused by training load or racing intensity. Not because of a tactical mistake or a crash on technical terrain.
A kidney stone.
One of those random, uncontrollable moments that reminds us how fragile even the best seasons can be.
The European Off-Road Championships in Slovenia were set to feature one of the strongest women's fields of the year, with names like Tove Alexandersson, Scout Adkin, Maude Mathys and Sara Alonso all expected to challenge for medals. Instead, Alonso will be watching from the sidelines.
The good news is that this appears to be a temporary setback rather than a long-term issue. If recent history tells us anything, it's that writing off Sara Alonso is rarely a good idea.
Her career has become a collection of comebacks.
And chances are, this won't be the last one.
