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Sun, Dec 6 · 2026ValenciaSince 1981

Maraton Valencia Trinidad Alfonso

Valencia runs a nearly pancake-flat loop through the city and finishes beside the City of Arts and Sciences. It is one of the fastest marathon courses in the world, and the December date keeps conditions cool enough to chase a real number.

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MARATON VALENCIA TRINIDAD ALFONSO · ES
Maraton Valencia Trinidad Alfonso
SUN, DEC 6
2026
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Race Overview

EST. 1981

Valencia is a race people run specifically to go fast, and the course backs that up. You start at Plaça de la Marató and spend the next 26 miles on roads that are almost completely flat. The whole course barely rises above sea level, so there is nothing to climb and nothing to trash your legs on the way down either. The streets through the old city are tight enough to feel like a race rather than a parade, and the crowds build as you get closer to the finish. You come into the City of Arts and Sciences in the last stretch and the crowd there is loud. That final approach is the moment people remember.

This is a PR-focused race, full stop. If you are chasing a time, this is one of the better setups you will find. The December date usually means cool temperatures, which helps, but be patient in the first half because the flat course can make early miles feel deceptively easy. Don't go with it. Entry is by lottery for the 2026 edition, with a priority window for returning runners before the general draw opens. It fills up fast, so register as soon as your window opens. If you are ready to run a real number, this course will not hold you back.

Field size
~31k
30,669 finishers
BQ rate
—
Not a BQ race
Time limit
5:30
Tight cutoff
Entry
Open
First-come registration
Course records
Men
2:01:48
Sisay Lemma
2023
Women
2:14:00
Joyciline Jepkosgei
2025

The Course

30 ft total gain
Total ascent
↑30 ft
Total descent
↓30 ft
Net elevation
↑0 ft
Highest point
93 ft
Lowest point
9 ft
Course shape
Loop
Start and finish in one place

Valencia is as flat as road marathons get. Elevation gain and loss are both negligible, and the course sits almost entirely at or near sea level. The loop layout means no net descent to bank on, so any fast time here is earned through effort and pacing, not gravity. There are no significant climbs to manage and no long descents to wreck the quads. The main pacing risk is going out too hard on what feels like an effortless first half. Turns exist but are not punishing. The December date minimizes heat exposure, though an open loop means some sections can catch a breeze. Overall, this course is about as close to a controlled time trial as a mass-participation marathon offers.

DIFFICULTYFLATPR-FRIENDLYMODERATE
View official course mapDownload GPXPast results

Race-Day Weather

10-year median
Low
43°F
High
61°F
30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°
What to expect

December in Valencia is generally cool and dry. The gun goes off in cold air, so plan for throwaway layers in the corral. By the later miles it will feel more comfortable, and on a clear day the sun can take the edge off. The conditions usually suit fast running. It is rarely a heat-management day, but the occasional wind through the more open stretches is worth keeping in mind.

Entry

OPEN

2026 edition uses a lottery system. Current 2025 participants receive 4-day priority window (Dec 11-15) before general lottery opens Dec 16-26. Up to 35,000 runners selected via notarized draw.

Register on race site

Logistics

For runners travelling in
Closest airport
VLC
6 mi
from the start
≈ 10 min transferOn the doorstep
What to expect

Valencia is served by Iberia International Airport (VLC), about 8 km from the city center, accessible by metro (~25 min) or taxi. Base yourself in the historic city center or near the City of Arts and Sciences finish line. Metro lines 3 and 5 serve the race start area at Plaça de la Marató.

Frequently Asked

7 questions