Race Date: Sunday 27th October 2024

Race Report by Hannah Wright

Superhalf series: 5/6 (one more to go then I get a really big medal)

About Valencia Half Marathon:

It has a cut off time 2h 30.

Annual half marathon road running event held in Valencia, Spain, since 1988. The event was initially founded as a race of 20 km (12 mi), called the “20 kilómetros Adidas”, with the inaugural race taking place in 1988.

The race was later lengthened to a half marathon, beginning with the 2006 edition of the race.

It is categorized as a Gold Label Road Race by World Athletics. The race is organised by the Valencian sports club SD Correcaminos, which also organises the annual Valencia Marathon.

Event Expo:

Prior to race day you collect your bib number, t shirt and goodie bag from the expo at Feria Valencia Exhibition Centre (Hall 5). The expo was easy to get to on local transport. The goodie bag was loaded with everything from chub rub to washing detergent.

Race Day:

After checking the weather forecast for weeks prior to the race I was glad to see rain and highs of 12 degrees on race day…. I promise I was in Valencia. I was probably the only person happy about this. As we know in the UK if it is raining it is still running vest day… I also hadn’t packed anything with a longer sleeve so committed to the vest.

Race village was walking distance from the air bnb. Woke up early… a bit disoriented as I hadn’t realised the clocks had also changed in Valencia. No chocolate hob nobs, but had my cuppa tea, yoghurt and banana. Headed out to the race village which was walking distance from the air bnb.

The race start/finish, loo’s and bag drop was laid out on one long road. Being the last wave I felt I had already walked miles in the rain from the bag drop to the starting pen. On a positive note plenty of porta loos.

Heading to the start line was pretty uneventful. Usually there is music etc to get you hyped up ready for the race. There was none of that, just puddles and more rain.

The Race:

Valencia half marathon boasts to be the fastest and the flattest in the world.

The route takes you first across the City of Arts and Sciences before making a loop around the Camins al Grau and Algirós districts for the first third of the race. It then largely follows the roads along the Garden of the Turia as it makes its way northwest to Ciutat Vella and then back to the start.

Across the finish line you receive your medal, fruit and water. After a quick change of clothes it was time for a pint in the Irish pub with dear friends who I have met on my Superhalf journey.

Results:

World Record 57:30 for Yomif Kejelcha
Clara Evans 69:00 PB & Welsh Record
Natasha Phillips 70:18 PB & British U20 Record
Hannah Irwin 70:49 PB & Northern Irish Record

Hannah was the sole Strider among 24,095 runners who lined up for the Valencia Half. The men’s race was won by Yomif Kejelcha (unaffiliated) in a time of 0:57:30. Agnes Ngetich (also unaffiliated) won the women’s race in a time of 1:03:04.

Striders Results