A Dentist and a Pastry Chef: The Unlikely Backgrounds of the Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half Marathon Favorites
Among the top contenders at this year’s Mattoni Half Marathon Karlovy Vary are two Spanish long-distance stars: Chakib Lachgar in the men’s field and Meritxell Soler among the women. Both runners are not only strong candidates for victory but could also challenge the event’s European race records. The race, which proudly carries the World Athletics Road Race Label, welcomes these elite athletes who bring with them, not only outstanding performances, but also captivating personal stories.
Meritxell Soler, the fastest woman in the field with a personal best of 1:10:21, comes from the small Catalan town of Sant Joan de Vilatorrada, about an hour from Barcelona. “I started running when I was fifteen, and I couldn’t even last more than fifteen minutes at first,” recalls Soler. “My twin sister was with me—she didn’t like running, but I was instantly hooked.” Just a month ago, Soler placed fourth at the European 10K Road Championships, drawing international attention.
In Karlovy Vary, Soler looks forward to combining her two great passions: running and travel. “Whenever I can, I love to travel, visit new cities, and meet people from different cultures,” she says. “We visited Prague in 2018 and absolutely loved it—it felt like a fairytale. I’m excited to discover more of the Czech Republic and its unique atmosphere. Running gives me the perfect opportunity to do that.”
Soler made her half marathon debut a decade ago and has since reached the podium five times, including wins in Seville and Lleida in 2022. Off the racecourse, she leads a busy life working part-time as a dentist. “I’m a bit addicted to Coca-Cola,” she laughs, “and my favorite meal is pizza. For dessert, I’ll take anything with chocolate!” She and her husband even named their black cat Choco after her sweet tooth. And her favorite movie? “Of course—it’s Forrest Gump,” she says with a smile.
In the men’s field, Chakib Lachgar holds the second-fastest personal best of the race at 1:01:45, and his journey to elite athletics is nothing short of remarkable. Originally from the farming town of Ouargui in central Morocco, Lachgar worked a variety of jobs before turning to sport: he sold fruit as a teenager, worked as a bricklayer and baker, and after moving to Spain, pursued pastry chef training. “I took various pastry courses and eventually worked in a bakery,” he recalls. It wasn’t until the age of 23 that he began systematic training as a runner.
Lachgar became a Spanish citizen in 2021 and has since proudly represented his adopted country—most notably winning the World Championship in the 50K ultramarathon in India. In the 2023 RunCzech series, he finished fourth in Karlovy Vary and later placed sixth in České Budějovice. Earlier this season, he finished fifth at the Warsaw Half Marathon with 1:04:36.
EUROHEROES ATHLETE PROFILES
Meritxell SOLER
- Date of Birth: July 20, 1992
- Country: Spain
- Half Marathon Debut: 2015
- Personal Best: 1:10:21 (2024, Santa Pola, ESP)
- Notable Results:
- 1st – Seville (2022)
- 1st – Lleida (2022)
- 2nd – Santa Pola (2015)
- 2nd – Granollers (2021)
- 3rd – Hamburg (2023)
- 5th – Santa Pola (2024)
- 2025 Season Highlights:
- 4th – European Half Marathon Championships (April 12, Brussels-Leuven)
- 7th – Seville Marathon (February 23)
- 9th – Seville Half Marathon (1:10:55, January 26)
Chakib LACHGAR
- Date of Birth: March 21, 1989
- Country: Spain
- Half Marathon Debut: 2019
- Personal Best: 1:01:45 (2023, Azpeitia, ESP)
- Achievements:
- 1st – World 50K Ultramarathon Championships (2023)
- Notable Results:
- 2nd – Azpeitia (2023)
- 4th – Karlovy Vary (2024)
- 6th – České Budějovice (2024)
- 2025 Season Highlight:
5th – Warsaw Half Marathon (1:04:36, April 30)
Chakib Lachgar competing at the 2024 Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half Marathon
Mattoni Half Marathon Karlovy Vary 2024
