Valencia Marathon

Location: Valencia
Country: Spain
Website: https://www.valenciaciudaddelrunning.com/en/marathon/maraton/
2025 Marathon Date: 07/12/2025
2026 Marathon Date: 06/12/2026
Winning Time 2025: 2:02:23
% Sub-3s: 15-20% # Sub-3s: 5,000+ Total Finishers: 30-40k

The Valencia Marathon is an annual December road race held in Valencia, Spain, widely regarded as one of the fastest marathon courses in the world. Set in a Mediterranean coastal city known as La Ciudad del Running (The City of Running), the event combines an exceptionally flat, sea-level profile with a purpose-built urban route designed to maximise performance.

The marathon takes place entirely within the city of Valencia, following a largely looping course that connects historic districts, modern neighbourhoods, and expansive green spaces. The route begins near the Pont de Montolivet and finishes at the City of Arts and Sciences, one of Valencia’s most distinctive architectural complexes. The finish is a defining feature of the race, with runners crossing a long, straight blue runway laid over water in front of the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum, creating a visually striking and uninterrupted final stretch.

Course design is central to the marathon’s reputation. The terrain is almost entirely flat and run at sea level, with total elevation gain typically limited to around 60–70 metres across the full 42.195 km. Wide avenues, smooth road surfaces, and long straight sections dominate the layout, while sharp turns and elevation changes are deliberately minimised. These characteristics make the course particularly attractive to runners targeting personal bests or specific time thresholds.

The route provides a comprehensive tour of Valencia. It passes through sections of the historic city centre, modern residential and commercial districts, and the Turia Gardens, a nine-kilometre green corridor that follows the former riverbed of the Turia River. This stretch offers extended straight running in a parkland setting before the course returns toward the city’s architectural landmarks.

The marathon was first established in 1981 as a local race and gradually evolved into an international event. Its modern transformation accelerated during the 2010s, driven by a sustained focus on course optimisation, elite-level standards, and large-scale participation. Over time, multiple revisions were made to improve flow, reduce congestion, and enhance speed, resulting in the current record-eligible configuration.

Held annually in early December, the race benefits from typically stable, cool conditions that further support fast performances. Combined with dense crowd support and a consistent race-day atmosphere, the Valencia Marathon has become a benchmark event for performance-focused marathon running, attracting both elite competitors and a high proportion of time-driven amateur runners from around the world.