The person behind MAR

I'm Fernando Taboada, the founder of MAD Alternative Runs. This project started from a very personal place: my way of living through sports, my bond with Madrid, and my desire to offer experiences with more insight, detail, and authenticity. For years, I have run through the city and its outskirts, discovering neighborhoods, routes, and stories from the inside, while simultaneously building a professional career of over a decade in managing complex projects and client relations. Sports have always been a natural part of my life. I played high-level football and have completed several marathons, including international ones, while maintaining a very close daily relationship with running. I'm also a big fan of cycling and tennis—disciplines that have given me a broad perspective on movement, effort, and how people truly enjoy being active. This is paired with my deep interest in Madrid's culture, its diverse districts, its unique character, and its gastronomy, which I believe are inseparable from the experience of truly discovering a place. MAD Alternative Runs was born from the intersection of all those passions. The idea was to shape a proposal that integrates sport, city life, culture, and food to offer people a complete, thoughtful experience with real personality. That’s why I personally design every single route with a very clear vision: it shouldn't just be about running, but about discovering Madrid and its surroundings in an active, elegant, and different way.