"We shouldn't be afraid to wear our team's colors."

Barcelona"It's a bit unnerving to go out in public wearing Espanyol colors. You might get inappropriate looks or hear some off-color comments; I think most Espanyol fans have thought about it at some point. There are even some who, on match days, don't put on their scarf or shirt until they get to Cornellà, when they feel they're in a safe environment," said the Espanyol supporter. Barcelona Half Marathon"I wondered whether to do it; I didn't want to feel uncomfortable. But quite the opposite, it was an amazing experience. People were calling out to me, 'Come on, Perico!' or 'Long live Espanyol!' It was very moving to hear strangers cheering me on because they shared my love for the club," he adds with a smile.

The shirt Isma was wearing is from Runners Espanyol. "To mark the 25th anniversary of the Catalan Federation of Supporters' Clubs (FCPE) in 2016, we created a group of running "And we made kits to commemorate the club's defunct athletics section. We got carried away and ended up forming a supporters' club," explains one of its founders and current president, Carlos Chicharro. Today it has around 300 members, and every weekend dozens of its members, all Espanyol fans, compete throughout Spain and the world, always wearing the blue and white.

"Former player Víctor Sánchez is a member of the supporters' club and has run the New York and Chicago Marathons in our colors. Ángel Morales and Eloy Pérez are also members," says Silvia Rodríguez, founder, vice president of the association, and athlete, with pride. (Spanish.

Breaking stereotypes)

"It's true that many parents are afraid their children will be criticized at school for being Espanyol fans, or that some people don't put the club crest sticker on their cars for fear of it being scratched, but in our own way, we try to assert that we shouldn't be afraid to wear Espanyol's colors," says Rodrígue, a social activist with Espanyol, and he speaks from experience. "We've all had things like this happen to us. It's part of being a minority. But walking down the street in Espanyol colors isn't the same as going for a run, you know? Let's just say it's a safer public space to wear the blue and white," adds Chicharro, who on Sunday will lead the banner in Barcelona, ​​located at kilometer 18.7, in Plaça Universitat: "We put it there because the club was founded at the University of Barcelona."

As in the half marathon, the goal is to cheer on the athletes, especially those wearing blue and white. There will be 15 members of the supporters' club. "To put it simply, I suppose it's what an Espanyol player feels when they step onto the pitch at Cornellà-El Prat," explains Isma Ramos. "If you're wearing a Barça or Real Madrid shirt, nobody will pay any attention to you. Being an Espanyol fan is special," emphasizes the president of Runners Espanyol, who has encountered Espanyol fans all over Europe: "I was stunned when, during a race in Edinburgh, I heard a clear and Catalan 'Go Espanyol!'"

Running Espanyol's results

Pedro Jaime has already been approached by Runners Espanyol. Pedro is an Espanyol fan who has gone viral in recent weeks for running to match the results of his team, also known as the blue and white. "If the Espanyol match ends in a 2-2 draw, I run 22 kilometers. For example, on the day of the Villarreal game, which we lost 4-1, I ran 41," reveals Pedro, known as @parkeerun_ on social media, where he shares videos he records while exercising. Inspired by a content creator who did the same with Deportivo de La Coruña matches, he began his challenge in early 2026, after the derby against BarçaSo far he has almost 200 kilometers recorded on Strava: "After the defeat against Atlético de Madrid, I ran 42, a marathon. It was tough because I did it at five in the morning and going around a 300-meter track."

"I've had a very good reception, but more than once while running I've heard comments like 'how embarrassing, wearing that shirt.' We Espanyol fans are used to this kind of thing," says Pedro Jaime, who, while exercising along Barcelona's seafront, came across Tyrhys Dolan, one of his idols: "Days before I had put like to a video." More than ever, he'll be glued to the Espanyol match in Mallorca (2 p.m., Movistar+) on Sunday, because he promised that if he surpassed 1,000 followers this week, he'd run twice the distance of the match result. "People like to see me suffer... and I've almost reached 2,000. I hope Dmitrovic helps me," he concludes with a laugh. runner Espanyol's most viral video.