Race and Course Review: Valencia Marathon
- oliverbridge7
- Dec 1
- 4 min read
What is the Valencia Marathon race like?
From racing in 2023.
General
Over recent years the Valencia Marathon or Maraton de Valencia has gained reputation to being one of the fasted in the world and now arguably has the highest average quality of marathoners in the world. In 2023, I ran 2:27:09 and was around 350th place. I can imagine that is only getting quicker now.
Fast course
Incredibly high level of marathoners
Temperature typically perfect for marathons
Fantastic city
Brilliant finish
Official site:
Climate
The climate should be pretty perfect for marathon running, mild but fresh. It doesn't get too humid there at the time of year and the variations over the year have gone from 6-10 at the start to 10-15 at the end.
The Start
The start is the same place as the finish, at the stunning Science Museum complex - the Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe. It really is an architectural masterpiece that gives such a special backdrop to such a special race. You start on a bridge in waves and one thing about Valencia given the high quality of marathoners is this is a FAST start and don't be one of the overly aggressive people - I lost one of my four bib magnets because someone elbowed me into a barrier before I'd even crossed the start line. Cue a super high heart rate and a whole race with a flappy bib. Don't be one of those guys!
So after a few 100m you go slightly downwards and then either way around a roundabout. It's worth having in your mind which way your wave is going just so you expect it. You are not deciding, you are let off on either side of the bridge conforming to your big number. There is no benefit to either direction as you follow straight over.
Soon after that you hang a right and at that point you're into the race because you have 3 long straights up until about 6km. You don't quite get to the beachside but you get close and run parallel. After 6km you wiggle around buildings in probably the least interesting part of the course, but it's all dead flat and even the 180 turn points are long enough that you don't need to slow much.
The Middle
From around 18km you start to hit some straights again and you do start to see people coming the other way. Halfway point and 21km is when you hit the longest straight, around 7km, and it goes past the amazing surroundings and long, continuous park that starts with Science Museum where you started. You are running parallel to that up deep into Valencia town, turning around and coming back down.
Enjoy this glance from someone I was running with at the herd of people chasing us down.
This is the most notable part of your race because as you're doing your own mental checks at halfway, this long straight is where the ever so slight gradient is + where the wind can be at its strongest.
Of course it is still a flat race but mentally stay strong here.
At the turnaround it is 28km. Again the turnaround is across a bridge and not tight, no slowing required.
Around 29km is a cool castle on the right hand side, the Torres de Serranos. Use it as a landmark that you look forward to, just after this you bend right and it's slighly going down so you can really get some wind in your sails as you pass the 30km mark.
The Finish
From 30-35km it's quite non-descript in terms of buildings and roads but the crowds are going to start increasing and getting better so look forward to this segment.
And then....the real FUN. The last 7km are ever so slightly downhil. Whoop! If you're feeling good and strong (I wish I had been) then this will be awesome. Huge wide roads, increasing crowds, a really cool collisseum type bull ring around 40km.
Then the final 2km goes down parallel to the science museum before going left and down a big blue carpeted ramp for the final 600m. Beware it lasts longer than you think but wow that little ramp means if you can summon some effort there then do it and just tell your legs to carry your momentum to the line and squeeze out every second.
The finish line is almost like it's floating on the clear water surrounding the museum. Truly iconic.
Afterwards you can then enjoy the spanish sun in the beautiful surroundings, really good for photos!
Crazy story bonus - I ran it with glass in my foot!
I actually ran this with a large chunk of glass in my foot that had embedded itself so deep when it happened during a triathlon because I'd kept running on it, it blistered over and doctors missed it when cutting out other grit. So I thought it was a corn/verrucca in the healing and this whole race was painful af.
I somehow managed to equal my PB to the second, 2:27:09.
If you'd like to follow more of my journey then you can at
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