On December 5, 2027 Valencia hosts the fastest marathon in Spain and one of the five fastest in the world. Course record at 2:01:48 (Sisay Lemma, 2023), an essentially flat profile (~12 m of elevation gain), sea level, 30,000 runners, World Athletics Platinum Label and an iconic finish across the lake of the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias). This guide covers what the official site never quite explains: why Valencia is the perfect track for your PB, what the route really looks like, where the race is decided (yes, in Valencia too) and how to put your race-weekend logistics together in the Running City.

The Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich is the fastest marathon in Spain and one of the fastest in the world. The organization (SD Correcaminos + Trinidad Alfonso Foundation, with Zurich as title sponsor since the 2026 edition) has spent fifteen years building a record-setting track with a flat course at sea level, an elite field chasing the world record every December, ~30,000 runners in the marathon, 80+ countries represented and an iconic finish across the lake of the City of Arts and Sciences. It holds the Platinum Label from World Athletics — the highest tier on the international calendar.

Valencia is the opposite of Madrid. If Madrid is atmosphere, hills and experience, Valencia is pure track: sea level, flat profile, ideal temperature, moderate wind, smooth asphalt. What you give up in scenery you gain on the clock: the average amateur knocks 3–6 minutes off their previous PB when jumping from a rolling marathon (Madrid, Bilbao, San Sebastián) to Valencia. For elite runners it's the track where Kelvin Kiptum ran 2:01:53 in 2022 and Sisay Lemma set the record at 2:01:48 in 2023 — the second and third fastest times in history at that point.

• If you've recently run sub-3:30 in Madrid or rolling terrain: target 3:20–3:25 here. The flat track + sea level give you 3–6 minutes back.
• If you're stepping up from halves to your first marathon: Valencia is a solid choice — the flat profile and massive organization help debutants. But be realistic with your time goal.
• If your goal is sub-3h, sub-2:45, sub-2:30: it's the obvious pick in Spain. No other domestic track has the same combo of flat + sea level + organization.
• If you're after a massive festive vibe in the city center: Madrid or Barcelona draw bigger crowds on the central avenues. Valencia has solid crowds, but more spread out.
• If you're training for Boston, Berlin, NYC: use it as a highway — its 2:01:48 record proves it's the best non-major track in the world. Your time here counts as an international benchmark.

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The Valencia Marathon course is a single loop of 42.195 km through the center and seafront neighborhoods of Valencia with ~12 m of total elevation gain — essentially flat. It starts next to the City of Arts and Sciences (Avinguda d'Antoni Ferrandis), runs through the former Turia riverbed (cauce del Turia) turned park, the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, the Cathedral, the Malvarrosa beachfront promenade, returns to the center and finishes with the iconic Hemisférico walkway over the City of Arts lake.

The first kilometers drop gently north along the Paseo de la Alameda and the former Turia riverbed (cauce del Turia) — a 9 km linear park that is Valencia's green spine. The course passes through Plaza del Ayuntamiento (around km 12), runs the historic center next to the Cathedral and the Lonja de la Seda, and heads out to the seafront promenade and Malvarrosa beach (km 22–28) — a section with crowds, festive atmosphere and Mediterranean Sea views. The final third returns to the center via the north and enters the City of Arts from the Oceanogràfic side. The finish crosses the pedestrian Hemisférico walkway over the lake's water surface — one of the most photographed finish lines in the running world.

The asphalt is uniform and smooth along almost the entire course (with short stretches of fine cobblestones in the historic center, easy to run). Aid stations with water and isotonic drink are roughly every 5 km, with solid fueling stops (gels, fruit, banana) at km 21.1 and km 33. Crowd density is highest at the Turia riverbed, Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Malvarrosa and finish — thinner in the transition stretches between neighborhoods.

The elevation is negligible for a marathon — barely 12 m of total positive gain, spread across imperceptible undulations. There are no structural hills. The only functional "rise" is the overpasses across the Turia riverbed (1–2 meters tall, ridiculous), and the entry/exits to the bridges in the center. The factor that does matter is wind: Valencia can have a sea breeze on the Malvarrosa stretch, but it rarely exceeds 15–20 km/h.

🚨 Where the race is decided (yes, here too)

Course data for Strava / Garmin: the organizer publishes the official GPX a few weeks before the race on its website. Popular Strava segments to scout are "Cauce Turia maratón Valencia" (the spine of the course) and "Pasarela Hemisférico final" (the last km).

The Valencia Marathon has been raced since 1981, making it one of the five oldest international marathons in Spain (along with Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastián and Sevilla). In its early decades it was a modest race of a few thousand runners. The transformation came around 2014 with the entry of the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation as the lead driver: investment in the elite field, course tweaks to make it even faster, World Athletics certification and sustained growth to the 30,000 entrants the race has hit since 2018. In 2026 Zurich Insurance stepped in as title sponsor, replacing the brief 2024 sponsor EDP.

Race and roll-of-honor data (recent editions):

Verified winners and times of the 5 most recent editions:

Data verified against the public archive of Valencia Marathon (Wikipedia EN). Bold times = current course record.

Entry for the Valencia Marathon 2027 opens in January–February 2027 and typically sells out within hours (the 2024 edition closed in under 4 hours; 2025 took 6 days with an expanded cap). The organizer publishes an early alert with the exact date and time — schedule it. The RFEA federation license costs +€5 on top of the bib.

Reference for the 2026 edition close:

• Marathon: sold out in 6 days (opened January, closed first week of January).
• 10K: sold out in 1 week.

Assuming there are always last-minute bibs in Valencia is a mistake: from March onwards, the only routes are bib transfer through the official Marketplace or waiting for charity bibs sold by partner non-profits (with a 30–50% surcharge).

Valencia Marathon uses a tiered pricing system — the bib price rises every time a tier closes. Slots are split into limited quotas, so the first tier disappears in hours: if you can afford it and you know you're running, set the alarm.

Indicative prices based on the 2026 edition structure. Always confirm on the official entry site — amounts and tiers are updated there.

Things to factor in beyond the bib price:

• Refund policy: ~85% refundable on presentation of medical proof before mid-November (check exact date on the website). Entries are not transferable to another edition or another race.
• Official Marketplace / bib transfer: if you get injured, the organizer runs an internal bib-transfer system to another runner (admin fee applies) — open until late October.
• Full event cancellation: the entry rolls over to the next edition; money is not refunded.

Bib pickup happens at the Runner Expo, normally held the three days before the race (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) at Feria Valencia or the City of Arts exhibition center. No bibs are issued on race day: you must pick yours up in person before the expo closes on Saturday, historically around 21:00.

You'll need:

• The entry confirmation (printed or on your phone)
• A valid photo ID

Family and friends can pick up on your behalf with a signed authorization and a copy of your ID. The race kit usually includes the finisher technical T-shirt, the bib with chip, a bag tag and the course map. Finisher medals are handed out in the post-finish zone after crossing the line.

The most practical way to reach Valencia from outside is the AVE high-speed train from Madrid (1h45) or a flight to Valencia Airport (8 km from the center), with a direct Metrovalencia connection (lines 3 and 5) to Xàtiva or Alameda stations — both under 15 minutes' walk from the center. Manises Airport has low-cost flights from across Europe, and the AVE links Valencia with Madrid, Sevilla and Barcelona in 1h45–3h depending on destination.

On race day, take the metro to the start. The Alameda (lines 3 and 9) and Ayora (line 6) stations leave you 8–15 minutes' walk from the start area at the City of Arts. The metro starts running around 05:30, and in some recent editions it has been free for runners with bibs — confirm via official communication.

For the expo, the closest stations to Feria Valencia are Benimàmet (line 2) or a direct bus from Alameda. From the center the metro ride is about 25 minutes door to door.

If you're driving, park in the south of the city (areas: Marítim-Vivers, Camí del Mar) and take the metro in. Forget about parking near the start — the City of Arts area is closed off from early Sunday morning and public car parks fill up by 06:30. The CV-30 / V-21 motorway is the natural northern access; the A-3 / A-7 from Madrid or Barcelona.

For a marathon runner in Valencia, staying within a 20-minute walk of the start isn't a luxury: it's strategy. The marathon spits you out at the finish around 11:30–13:30 depending on your goal — you walk back to the hotel sweaty, hungry, with cramps creeping in. The difference between sleeping next to the City of Arts (15-min walk to the corral on Sunday at 7:30) and a hotel in the center 35 minutes away can cost you 1–2 minutes on the clock and double that in mental stress.

• Breakfast before 6:30 (or take-away the night before). Eating 2:30–3 h before the start is key; buffets that open at 7:00 arrive too late.
• Late check-out until 14:00–15:00. You finish later in a marathon than in a half — you need room for shower, food, rest.
• Bathtub for ice / contrast baths post-race. More useful after 42K than after 21K. Filter on Booking ("bathroom with bathtub").
• Independent, working air conditioning. For Sunday afternoon recovery and a good night's sleep before Monday.
• Inner room or high floor. Saturday night in central Valencia is loud — don't gamble on your pre-marathon sleep.
• Real distance in meters, not advertised minutes. <1,500 m: easy walk. 1,500–3,000 m: metro or Uber. >3,000 m: skip it.

• Distance to the start: 800 m – 1.5 km on foot (10–18 min). The most comfortable option for Sunday at 7:30.
• Pros: unbeatable logistics. You walk to the start and to the finish. Modern restaurants in the area.
• Cons: less touristy than the center, fewer traditional "pasta dinner" options.
• Best for: runners with a time goal who want to minimize logistics and maximize rest.

• Distance to the start: 2.0–3.0 km on foot (25–35 min) or 10 minutes by metro.
• Pros: atmosphere, top restaurants, El Carmen district, Cathedral, Mercado Central. Perfect for non-running companions.
• Cons: mandatory transport on Sunday at 7:30. Saturday night can be loud (El Carmen, Russafa areas).

• Distance to the start: 2.5–4.0 km on foot (30–45 min) or 10 min by taxi.
• Pros: beach next door, quiet area, local atmosphere, traditional paella restaurants.
• Cons: mandatory transport on Sunday at 7:30. If you're chasing a time, not the best pick.

*Indicative rate for the race weekend (first Sunday of December). Varies by booking lead time, availability and current promotions.

The weather in Valencia on the first Sunday of December averages 8 °C low at the start and 18 °C high with sunny conditions on around 75% of days, per historical data from AEMET. Rain is uncommon (one day with light precipitation every 6 editions), wind moderate (10–15 km/h, mostly easterly sea breeze) and humidity relatively low (55–70%). It's the best weather window in the Spanish marathon calendar — and one of the best in the world.

The weather variable is, ironically, a blessing. While Madrid can hit you with 25 °C in April or Barcelona with 22 °C in March, Valencia gives you the ideal thermal range for a marathon: cold (not freezing) start temperature climbing progressively without crossing into heat stress. Your body enters the optimal aerobic zone between 12–16 °C, and that's exactly what you'll have between km 5 and the finish.

Plan by forecast:

• <8 °C at the start + wind >15 km/h: Northern European conditions. Throwaway layer to the corral. Short sleeve + arm sleeves for the first 5 km.
• 8–14 °C all day: the perfect conditions. If you don't PB here, it's not the temperature.
• 14–20 °C: very good day. Watch out if you're elite or sub-3:00 — dehydration arrives sooner. Drink at every aid station from km 5.
• >20 °C: rare but it has happened in atypical years (2021). Slow your target pace 5–10 seconds per km. Carry your own bottle if you're going past 4h.

Wind can be a factor on the seafront promenade (km 22–28) — if it blows from the east (most common in December) it'll be a crosswind or slight headwind. If it blows from the west, it pushes you on the Malvarrosa stretch but hits you in the face on the way back to the center. The historical wind average is 10–14 km/h, perfectly manageable.

The recommended plan to prepare for the Valencia Marathon is a 16-week block with peak volume in weeks 11–13 (between 50 km and 130+ km per week depending on goal), one long run a week and a three-week taper. The key for Valencia: train sustained quality paces (tempo runs, long marathon-pace runs, 10K-pace intervals), because the track is unforgiving with the runner who shows up unable to lock in a single pace for 42 km.

Approach Valencia as a marathon where the deciding factor is endurance at target pace, not the elevation. Pick your goal and follow the table — these are peak volumes (weeks 11–13), not full-cycle averages.

How to read the table and build the cycle:

• These are peak volumes (weeks 11–13). The 16-week block average will be roughly 65% of your row.
• One long run per week, no more. It's the session that builds the most aerobic fitness. The two final peak long runs (weeks 11 and 12) are 32–36 km.
• The rest of the volume is easy conversational-pace running.
• Standard distribution: 80% easy / 20% hard, measured in total time.
• One quality session per week is enough up to the 4h00 goal; from there it's two.

Three sessions worth gold for Valencia:

1. Long continuous tempo runs (weeks 4–10). 12–18 km at your target pace, on the flat and uninterrupted. Valencia is going to ask you to hold a single pace for 3–4 hours; train your head for that tactical monotony.
2. Long run with marathon-pace blocks. In the long runs of weeks 8–14, integrate 10–16 km at marathon pace in the middle or end of the session. Learn to run target pace tired.
3. Long intervals at 10K pace on the flat (weeks 8–13). 5–6 × 1,600 m at faster than marathon pace, with short recovery. Lifts your aerobic ceiling and makes marathon pace feel easy.

The taper is three weeks, not two. Week 14 at 80%, week 15 at 60%, week 16 at 40% holding race pace in short pickups. The two last long runs (weeks 11 and 12) are what fill the cup.

Not sure what time goal is realistic for Valencia? Cross your most recent half-marathon best with the "Valencia marathon" factor (which rewards the flat profile + sea level):

How to read it: the "flat" column is the unadjusted Riegel conversion (your half × ~2.11). Valencia rewards an extra 1–2% from the combo of flat track + sea level + massive organization — that gives you the realistic range. If you've done two long runs with target-pace blocks and your weekly load was on point, aim for the low end. If the last hour usually breaks you, the high end.

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Once you have your target time, this calculator gives you the required average pace (min/km and min/mi) and the cumulative splits at 5K, 10K, 15K, half marathon, 30K and finish. Change the target time in the field below and the table updates instantly:

The calculator above gives you the pace. But a real race plan answers more questions: what strategy do I start with? How many gels do I carry? When does the caffeine go in? What do I do if I'm 30 seconds over goal at km 21?

Set your goal, strategy and fueling plan. The planner generates a personalized plan by segment (with paces, HR zones, mental cues and minute-by-minute fueling), a race-morning checklist, and a Plan B for the unexpected. Download it as a PDF to take with you on race day.

You're at the corral. You did the 16-week plan. What separates good training from a good time is what you do over the next 3–5 hours. In Valencia more than any other Spanish marathon, what you decide in the first 5 km sets up the rest.

The Valencia race plan should mix patience in km 1–8 (don't get carried away by the start party and the 30,000 runners), single-pace discipline in km 8–32 (this is where the PB is built), and mental endurance in km 32–42 (the Hemisférico walkway is approaching, but the last hour weighs). Every target time (sub-2:30 to finish) has a specific splits pattern.

• Wake up: 3 hours before (05:30 if the gun is at 08:30).
• Breakfast: 2:30–3 h before. What you've tested in long runs, no experiments. 80–100 g of carbs.
• Leave the hotel: 75–90 minutes before. Corrals fill from 60 minutes out.
• Warm-up: light. A 5–10 min jog + 4 × 50 m strides. If you're going sub-3:00, add 10 extra minutes of mobility.
• Corral: enter 45–60 minutes before the gun. The marathon goes off in waves. The corral atmosphere is legendary — soak it up, but don't burn mental energy.

• Km 1–8 (patience): Valencia's trap. The start is flat, the pack carries you, the watch seems to lie in your favor. It is lying. If your target pace is 4:16 and you're running 4:08, you'll hit km 30 with a massive glycogen deficit. Let yourself run 3–5 seconds per km slower than goal, not faster.
• Km 8–32 (pure cruise): the heart of the PB. Single pace, cool head. Drink at every aid station. The Turia riverbed and Malvarrosa have the most festive atmosphere — focus on holding cadence. Gels per plan.
• Km 32–38 (the real test): Valencia is flat, but the last 10 km don't forgive anyone who pushed early. If you reach km 32 with legs, hold the pace and start counting small targets. If you arrive on the edge, hold the effort.
• Km 38–42 (the Hemisférico walkway): the last 4 km are the reward. The crowd, the fountains, the City of Arts. Cross the walkway with your head up. If you have anything left, let it go in the last km.

• Km 5: drink even if you're not thirsty. It's the most underrated aid station on a flat track where dehydration sneaks up on you.
• Km 21.1 (gels): carry your own, don't rely solely on the organizer.
• Km 30: the critical aid station. If you're hurting, walk 30 seconds and rehydrate; you lose less than from collapsing at km 35.
• Km 35–40: the last ones. If you have glycogen left, fly. If not, drink + a fast gel. The Hemisférico walkway is waiting.

This is where the marathon is decided, even on a flat track. Three anchors:

1. Name the next three points: km 32, km 35, Hemisférico walkway. As long as you have a next point, you keep going.
2. Count down kilometers from km 35: "seven km, six km, last 5K". The brain accepts small numbers better than big distances.
3. Pace by feet, not by watch: hold cadence (170–185 spm). The watch may lie; cadence won't.

• Don't stop. Keep walking 10–15 minutes. Stopping cold is the recipe for dizziness + cramps.
• Hydrate before you eat. Isotonic drink + water in the first 10 minutes.
• Thermal blanket: use it. December in Valencia can drop from 14 °C at the finish to 10 °C once you stop.
• Very light stretching: hamstrings, calves, quads. 30 seconds each, no bouncing. Easy walking beats aggressive stretching.
• Stop the watch as you cross the finishers' zone, not before. Your official time is by chip.

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The nutrition strategy for Valencia pivots on 60–100 g of carbs per hour depending on goal, with 5–8 gels spaced every 25–30 minutes from km 5 (earlier than in Madrid because the pace is higher). Carb loading the 3 days prior should be 8–10 g/kg/day, and Saturday dinner light and familiar (Valencian paella or pasta — no chorizo, no spice). Extra sodium only if the forecast goes above 18 °C or the wind picks up.

Saturday dinner is light, familiar and early (eat before 21:00). Pasta or white rice with grilled chicken or fish, bread, fruit. If you're tempted to try the authentic Valencian paella, do it on Friday — not the night before. Zero experiments.

Race-morning breakfast depends on whether you wake up hungry. The safe play: toast with honey/jam + banana + coffee (if you usually have it). 80–100 g of carbs, eaten 2:30–3 hours before the gun. If your stomach closes from nerves, swap for a sports drink with 80 g of carbs.

What the organizer puts on the course:

• Liquid aid stations every ~5 km (km 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40). Water and isotonic.
• Solid aid stations at km 21.1 and km 33 — gels, fruit, banana, bars.
• Cold water sponges at least at one point if the forecast is warm.
• Solid aid station at the finish: fruit, bars, isotonic, water, bread.

Carb plan by goal:

Three mistakes seen every year at the Valencia Marathon:

• Trying new gels on race day. Carbs are tested in at least 3 prior long runs; gut dysbiosis hits at km 30, not km 5.
• Skipping the km 5 aid station because "it's cool out". Valencia can start at 8 °C and climb to 16 °C in three hours. Drinking early prevents the km 25–32 funnel.
• Relying only on the solid aid stations at km 21 and 33. Two points in 42 km. Carry your own: 5 gels for sub-4h, 7 for sub-3h.

Hydration and sodium by forecast:

• Cold (<10 °C all day): water + isotonic at the 5K aid stations. Extra sodium optional from km 25.
• Mild (10–16 °C): isotonic at every aid station. Electrolyte salt every hour from km 15.
• Warm (>16 °C, uncommon): electrolyte salt every 45 minutes. Carry a 250 ml handheld if you're going past 4h.

Post-finish recovery — the first hour matters more than after a half:

• First 5 minutes: isotonic at the finish + water.
• 0–30 minutes: thermal blanket + easy walking + second isotonic.
• 30–60 minutes: real food with protein + carbs. Aim for 30 g of protein and 80 g of carbs in this window.
• 2–4 hours later: full normal meal. Now yes: celebration paella valenciana. Beer too, just not in the first 60 minutes.

The best shoes for the Valencia Marathon are light race carbon plates for sub-3:00 (Vaporfly, Adios Pro Evo, Metaspeed Sky), protective carbon plates for 3:00–3:45 (Vaporfly 4, Adios Pro 4), plate or super-trainer between 3:45–4:00 (Endorphin Speed, Mach X), and a protective daily trainer for over 4:00. The critical thing isn't the brand but that they're already broken in and don't have more than 250–350 km on them. Valencia is the perfect track to get the most out of a carbon plate — more than any other domestic marathon.

Unlike Madrid, in Valencia speed weighs as much as muscular endurance. The track is flat, the pace is high, and the light carbon plate offers its maximum return in these conditions. For non-elite runners with an aggressive time goal, a "race" plate (sub 200 g) can be worth 30–60 seconds over a protective one. But if you trained in a protective shoe, don't swap to a lighter "for the marathon" — your quads need to be used to it.

Recommendations by goal:

Check this before leaving home:

• Mileage on your shoe. A carbon plate loses return after 250–350 km. If you used it for your October half and have done long runs in it, it'll arrive worn out for Valencia.
• Drop and footstrike style. Don't drop below your usual drop "to gain 30 seconds" — your soleus and Achilles will charge interest from km 25 onwards.
• Tested in at least two long runs >25 km. Debuting shoes in a marathon is an expensive mistake.

• Top: technical singlet if the forecast climbs above 14 °C mid-morning, normal short sleeve if 8–14 °C. Materials: polyester or fine merino, never cotton.
• Bottom: 5–7" shorts with pockets for gels. 3/4 tights if <8 °C at the start.
• Socks: thin technical, no toe seams, already tested in at least 5 long runs. Cotton socks are the source of half of all blisters.
• Sports bra: high support, already tested on a long run.
• Anti-chafe: Vaseline or BodyGlide on nipples, armpits, groin, sports-bra zone. More marathoners finish with bloody nipples than with cramps.

• GPS watch with >5 h battery. Models with a barometric altimeter are useful even though Valencia is flat — the barometric helps GPS accuracy when passing tall buildings in the center.
• Lock target pace + total time on the main screen. In Valencia the watch can drift +0.5–1% in the center (between buildings) — keep an eye on the organizer's clock at the kilometer markers.
• Hydration belt / vest: optional for sub-4h. Recommended for >4h or if the forecast goes above 18 °C.
• Phone: optional. If you carry it, in an arm holder or belt with pocket.

• Sunglasses: yes, almost always. The Mediterranean December sun hits hard even at 12 °C.
• Hat or visor: optional in Valencia — cool weather + moderate wind makes it unnecessary in most editions.
• Throwaway layer: an old shirt for the 60 minutes in the corral. Critical in Valencia — the start is early with 8–10 °C.
• Gel belt: to carry 5–7 of your own gels. Don't underestimate the space you need.
• Electrolyte salts: capsules or tablets to take every 60–90 min — only if the forecast is above 16 °C.
• Removable arm sleeves: very useful in Valencia. Start with sleeves at 8 °C, take them off at km 5 and pocket them in the shorts.

Compare with other European marathons →

Valencia Marathon is the best fast marathon in Spain and one of the five fastest in the world, alongside Berlin, Chicago, London and Tokyo. If you're after a pure PB, Valencia is the local pick; for a World Marathon Major, the big internationals are the reference.

All are marathon (42.195 km), so the choice depends on month, elevation, temperature and prestige:

See all fast marathons in Europe →

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