For Barbara Amor – or simply Barbie, as many in Sofia’s running community know her – running is much more than a sport. It is a way to discover a city, meet people and find a sense of belonging. Born in Spain, Barbara has become an active part of Sofia’s sports community. She is a pacer with Sofia Run Club, founder of Sofia Climb Club, and, more recently, a member of the international ASICS FrontRunner team. With her big, genuine smile and seemingly endless energy and positivity, she is also someone who is hard to miss on Sofia’s running routes.

Barbara knows Wizz Air Sofia Marathon well, too, having completed the 21K through the streets of the capital twice. We spoke with her about the course, running in Sofia, the community that has made the city feel like home, and the little moments and people that make a race truly memorable.

You’ve run the Wizz Air Sofia Marathon half marathon twice. What is the first thing you would tell someone who is about to line up for their first 21K?

Don’t be afraid of the 21 kilometres! My first one was not perfectly prepared at all. I just wanted to finish, and I ended up having a great experience. I realised that you are never really running alone – there are thousands of people around you giving you energy.

So start easy, enjoy yourself and don’t worry too much about the clock. Your first 21K is about creating a memory, not necessarily a personal best.

Which parts of the course are the most challenging, and where do you think it is important to conserve energy?

The hardest part can actually be the part you don’t expect: the moment when the initial excitement disappears. That’s why I would conserve energy early and avoid getting carried away by the atmosphere.

You don’t need to prove anything in the first 5 or 10 kilometres. Stay comfortable, enjoy the race and trust that the crowd will give you another boost when you need it.

And where is the right moment to pick up the pace and take advantage of the course?

For me, the right moment is when you realise you still have energy. Maybe that’s at 15K, maybe at 17K, maybe later. Everyone is different.

The important thing is not to force it because your watch tells you to. Let your body tell you.

What is your favourite or the most beautiful section of the half marathon course?

The cathedral is probably the obvious answer. The atmosphere there is incredible, the views are beautiful, and by that point you know the finish line is getting closer. Then you get the downhill and suddenly you can almost see the end.

But after two editions of this race, I realise that my favourite parts are actually connected to the people I’ve met along the way.

Around kilometre 12, two girls once shouted “Aydee Barbie!” at me, and that completely lifted my energy. Last year, my ASICS FrontRunner teammates were waiting near the finish, cheering for me, and one of your photographers captured my smile in that moment.

I also remember running past St. Dominic Church with a wonderful 60-year-old Spanish pacer. He told us that his wife had already finished the race and won! I remember thinking, “Okay, I need to meet this woman at the finish line.”

That’s what I love about this course. You don’t just remember the streets. You remember the people, the surprises and the little moments that happen along the way.

You’re from Spain, but Sofia is now your city too. What are your favourite places to run here?

Borisova Gradina is probably one of my favourite places. I love having that feeling that you’re still in the city, but suddenly you are surrounded by trees and nature.

And one of the best things about Sofia is that you can also escape towards Vitosha. Having the city and the mountain so close gives you an incredible variety of places to run.

What does the running community in Bulgaria look like through the eyes of someone who came here from abroad? Was there anything that surprised you?

Coming from Spain, one thing that really surprised me was how quickly the running community made Sofia feel like home. You can show up to a group run without knowing anyone and, after a few kilometres, you’re already talking and laughing with people.

I think runners have a strange superpower: you can meet a complete stranger and immediately have something in common.

And honestly, if there is one thing that keeps me in Bulgaria, it is my Bulgarian family, and almost all of them came into my life through running and climbing. So when I think about the running community here, I don’t just think about people I run with. I think about the people who have become my family.

You’re a pacer with Sofia Run Club. What does running in a group give you, and why do you think more and more people are looking for a sense of community around the sport?

Running in a group gives you something that you simply cannot get from running alone: energy. There are days when you do not feel like running, but if you know people are waiting for you, you show up.

And as a pacer, I love being able to help people reach their goals. Sometimes you do not need someone to make you faster, you just need someone beside you saying, “Come on, we’ve got this,” or “Айде, коньо!” – which in Spanish has absolutely nothing to do with a horse but works anyway.

You recently became part of ASICS FrontRunner as well. What does being part of this international team mean to you?

For me, being part of ASICS FrontRunner means being part of a global running family. It’s an opportunity to learn from people from completely different backgrounds, have an even bigger Bulgarian family, and, hopefully, inspire someone else in the same way that other runners have inspired me.

What would you like someone who travels to Sofia from another country specifically for Wizz Air Sofia Marathon to experience and feel?

Come as a tourist, leave as a runner.

I want you to discover the true spirit of the city. Meet our vibrant local community and live the race entirely from the inside, rather than just passing through as a typical visitor.

And if you want even more, reach me on IG: @barbarian_pride and I will tell you my definitive MUST list for the ultimate Balkan experience!

And finally – what is your most important piece of advice for everyone running the 21K in Sofia on October 11?

My biggest advice is to enjoy it to the fullest. Seriously!

My second 21K is the perfect example of this. I actually walked the entire distance because I was injured and could not run, and I had an absolute blast! Time was completely irrelevant. I still earned my medal, but more importantly, I met some truly amazing and inspiring people.

Taking it slow allowed me to wave, motivate, cheer, and clap for everyone who crossed my sight.

So, listen to your body, enjoy Sofia, talk to the runner next to you, and let the energy of the race carry you. And if you see me out there, say “Hi Barbie!”

The finish line is a wonderful goal, but the moment you cross that starting line, you have already achieved something beautiful.

I am proud of you all! Гордея се с всички вас! ¡Estoy orgullosa de todos vosotros! SEE YOU RUNNING, AMIGOS :)