Presentation
Valencia Ciudad del Running was created in January 2014 to provide coverage of all the amateur running events held in the city. Its aim is to join forces to consolidate the city as an international benchmark in the world of running.
The initiative is promoted by the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation with collaboration from Valencia City Council. It brings together the city’s most international competitions, including the Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich and Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich, the Valencia 10K Ibercaja, races with an Wordl Athletics Label, and the Valencia 15K Night Race, and the Circuito de Carreras Caixa Popular, with a calendar of more than 40 races per year and many approved events.
#MadeToRun
Because of its topography, its climate, its atmosphere… Valencia is a city that is made for running. So much so that since 2017, its streets have seen twelve world records broken.
The first came in the Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP 2017 set by Joyciline Jepkosgei, who achieved the best female world record in history over 21K with her time of 1h04:51.
A few months later, in March 2018, Valencia hosted the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships where Gudeta Kebede set the Women’s World Record in an all-female race with 1h06:11.
In 2019, Ugandan athlete Joshua Cheptegei set the 10K World Record in the Valencia 10K Trinidad Alfonso with a time of 26:38, which was then beaten in January 2019 in the Valencia 10K Ibercaja. With his 26:24, Rhonex Kipruto became the new world record holder at the distance and he also won the 5K title in 13:18.
In 2020, Kenyan Kibiwott Kandie made history in the Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso EDP Elite Edition, with a time of 57:32 that set a new world record under 58 minutes in the fastest race in history, with four athletes coming in under that time.
In 2021, Ethiopia’s Letensebet Gidey achieved the women’s 21K world record in the Valencia Half Marathon with a stratospheric time of 1:02:52.
In January 2024, Kenyan athlete Agnes Jebet broke the women’s 10K world record at the 10K Valencia Ibercaja with a time of 28:46. She also set the women’s 5K World Record, equaling the time of another Kenyan athlete, Beatrice Chebet, 14:13.
5K Circuit: unique infrastructure
With the aim of going one step further, in 2015 the ‘Turia Gardens 5K Circuit’ was inaugurated, a piece of sports infrastructure designed to be used by runners and located in an ideal space for running, the old riverbed of the river Túria. The 5K Circuit has a specific lane for runners that is 5,731 metres long, with a special pavement, signposting, lighting, bio-fitness areas and many advantages for users and lovers of this sport. And it has become the nerve centre for running in the city.
Platforms for runners
In addition, Valencia Ciudad del Running has created several platforms aimed at supporting runners, such as the VCR mobile application that allows users to check the calendar of races in the city or see where the most common running routes are located, with advice on how to make the most of them.
Runners also have access from their mobile device to Amics del Running, another platform that connects them to different services and businesses offering them the best professionals in all areas, with discounts and offers to get the most out of them.
Finally, Welcome To Valencia brings together everything the city has to offer for runners and their companions travelling to Valencia to enjoy its races, with the best prices and extra services in selected hotels especially for runners (early breakfast, late check out included, bus transfers, free cancellation, etc.).