Marathon Popular de Valencia - Race Reviews

Incredibly poor organisation. Has now totally ruined our trip. Expo is crowded and busy. Staff rude and unhelpful. Avoid at all costs. Organización increíblemente pobre. Ha arruinado totalmente nuestro viaje. Expo está llena y ocupada. El personal es grosero y poco servicial. Evitar a toda costa.

every thing was perfect, i love this city of running

Expo, start and finish of the marathon (on the blue carpet) at the museum of arts and sciences is spectacular as is most of the course, with many spectators, but there's also a part without any people. The course is flat, but with temperatures around 20 degrees it gets hot, making a flat hard to beat. The medal you get is really heavy, the bag with food and drinks is a big extra when you pass the finish line. The shirt I got is the ugliest I ever got.

This was #34 for me, and has to be one of the best. Not the biggest start number in the world but has all the organisation and plus-points that you could wish for. Location and course are second to none. The number of volunteers at all the important times and places were an indication of Valencia's commitment to this event. Full marks!

Too many pros. here they are: 1. Flat, flat course, especially if you want BQ 2. Lots of goodies in the bag both before and after the race 3. A decent hotel very near the start and finish line (Hotel Ilunion Aqua 4) 4. Amazing weather - cool, dry and sunny. Couldn't have asked for more 5. Lots of volunteers, water and gatorade every 5 Km; also, gels and fruits along the way Cons: Not really a 'con', but the crowd support (especially in the intial miles) was a bit low. But it was great towards the end.

Total and comprehensive superlatives. So many great volunteers to help you navigating through expo and collecting your bib number a day before. All signposted. Paella party on Saturday afternoon, superb. Start colour coded according to your speed. Course totally flat. Countless refreshment stations, every km drummers cheering you on, general public in masses supporting you. Beautiful city, running a lot between the buildings shading your from sun. Medical staff on cycles and along the route. I hate the grey colour of the T-shirt (hate grey), but otherwise it was perfectly light for running. So many volunteers, so well organised. Valencia is a beautiful city with such a good spirit for relaxing time, tapas and paellas. Thank you Valencia, thank you incredible Spanish hosts, I will come again and most highly recommend it to everyone, Such a contrast to Milano Marathon I ran earlier in the year, which was disappointment, especially from the cold crowd totally uninterested in the event in their city. Valencia was full on for the event and so welcoming. The best event ever for me.

Ran this a few times now and just gets better and better. Spain's' first gold label marathon. Well deserved. Great organisation. Start and finish in the centre. Flat and fast course. Definitely PR friendly if it's not too hot. Normally about 13-18C and sunny. Loads of entertainment and crowd support. Has been voted Spain's best marathon and not hard to see why. Much better than Madrid, where the last 10K is uphill.

Valencia is a medium marathon with the entourage of a major. Positive side: The course is fast and a lot of it is in the shade. There are a LOT of supporters and they are LOUD! You see all the sights. Super finish on the water. Spanish marathons are always well organised. Not expensive. Downside: I can't think of any! Just run this one.

I've run most of major marathons and can say this one is a gem. Course is flat and never boring. Crowd support is fantastic all over. Well stocked oasis every 5k, gels, entertainment. My only complain would be the starting corrals Need to create smaller corrals in smaller time increments. The city of Valencia is top notch with plenty of things to go see and enjoy, good transportation and much cheaper than northern Europe.

Great marathon! Temp 18°C -22°C, clear sunny sky and flat course. Good support from spectators. Water in bottles every 5 K and gels. So thats OK. Nice t shirt. Free pasta!! So if you want to run a flat and good organized marathon this one to choose from. Start and end is in a super location.

I ran this marathon on 16 Nov 2014. If tyou want to achieve PB with a decent crowd support, this is the one for you. I beat my previous PB by 5 minutes. Pros: Great weather (18-21 deg C) for a fast marathon. Absolutely flat course. There is a 30-40m slight uphill in the 23rd Km, but if you are busy enjoying the scenery, you will miss it. Amazing crowd support, especially on drums. There were probably 30-40 bands of drummers along the course. The support was great in the beginning and the end and pretty decent in the middle. Great choice of hotels 5 minutes walk from the start and finish. I stayed at Confortel Aqua 4 which is also a part of a mall. Sports drinks at every drink stop was a great blessing. Also, they gave gels at 20K and 30K (usually, the marathons do it only once). Water in bottles! What a blessing. Much better than cups. Lots of food given after the race. The race medal was amazing. Cons: They did not give safety pins for the bib! Mine did not have any. So I had to go shopping for it (ask for 'imperdible' on the 7th floor of Cortes Ingles next to Aqua mall). They did not give any raincoat type covering for the body after the race. I was feeling really cold (as ones does after a marathon) and it was unpleasant not be protected. Overall, an excellent experience. Thanks, Valencia.

Aside from Disney and Boston, this has been my favorite marathon! Awesome crowd support, epic start/finish area, full bottles at aid stations, post-race bag with oranges/pastries/persimmons, and perfect weather! I don't know when, but I will be back for this one!

This was my 3rd marathon and for sure the best so far. The race is flat and quick, the weather was amazing and the supporters just great: people from Valencia are very warm and friendly and you will enjoy your stay there. Also the city surprised me, it's really worth a visit. I ran my PB (2h51') and really enjoy the experience. The only thing I didn't like is that only XL T-Shirt were available, so totally useless for me! For the rest just very very nice!

This race was much larger than we expected. The course was flat, but I would not say fast as it is so crowded that it made it very hard to run a decent pace for at least 5K. My biggest complaint was that they ran out of race shirts in normal sizes. I came all the way from the US to run this race and all they had for me was a mens XL. There were also no race jackets or running shirts to buy that had the race on it. I have absolutely NOTHING with divina pastora valencia on it and I'm very disappointed in that. Otherwise, AMAZING fans!!! Also, you may want to note that prizes/placement are done on gun time, not chip time, which is unusual. May want to know about that if you are in contention for a place.

I enjoyed this course and I can see why it is rapidly becoming one of the most popular races in Spain. The course itself is quite flat with minimal incline and decline. I think it is well-suited for new PRs and BQs. The finish is pretty neat, as you run past the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences along a long blue carpet/walkway. For organization, I have a few complaints, particularly about the distribution of sports drink. Sports drink should never be in a cup, and the quantities distributed were quite low (and even lower after attempting to drink out of a sloshing cup at race pace). Also at the 35km mark it was a farce when a pack of runners showed up and they had only two people handing it out. Finally, the bag storage before the race was very poorly situated. it was no where near the start line, so it required me to do an extra warmup run just to find it and make it back to the start on time. I didn´t need that extra stress! It also caused me to make the tactical error of entering the throng nowhere near the goal pace I was targeting. My mistake yes, but the bag issue was partially to blame for sure. The spectators were great throughout, and enjoyed some of the music (particularly just the drumming) and encouragement from the crowd. At times some cyclists crept onto the course and I had to yell at them, but that´s my only complaint. Overall it was a good experience and I think it could easily be one of the top races in Europe in a few years, especially if it can get more top level elites like this year (top finisher was 2:07.14, fastest ever for a race in Spain).

This is a great marathon and is no surprise that it´s the fastest growing marathon in Spain - the number of runners has tripled in the past few years and Valencia now has the Bronze IAAF award. The course is fast and flat and a PB is definitely possible ( I took off 9 mins and got 3.20.30) Weather was ideal maybe a little too warm for some, about 16C at the start and reached 19C about 3 hours later, but no wind and thankfully the sunshine was hazy. There was a false start which delayed things by 5 mins. If there is anything that could be improved it is the start area, as it was poorly planned. The 4.30 pacer was next to the 3 hour pacer! This must be a first for a big city marathon. Thankfully this wasn´t as bad as it could have been, the slower pacer and runners quickly moved to the side to allow the faster runners through. Though I did pass a barefoot runner 30m from the start line going about 10 min/mile pace (no idea why he lined up or was allowed to line up next to 3 hour runners) Also there could be some more pace groups for mid packers. There was a 3.45, 3.30 and then a 3.10. The expo was efficient and no problem with race bib pick up. The fans in general are vocal and it´s a well supported race (there are some quiet areas but not too many). There could be some more music along the course or at least some more variety - Chariots of Fire is played on a constant loop. There is a tunnel around the 30km that lasts for about 1km so this may well cause problems if you run with a GPS. The end of the race is truly spectacular - it really is just as it appears on the webpage. One word of caution is to keep running until you see the clock. There are a few twists and turns in the last few hundred meters and also a few inflatable arches that can easily be mistake as the finish line, especially when you see runners slowing down or walking. Valencia is a very popular tourist destination and English is spoken in many hotels, restaurants etc. The race is popular with tourists too. The PA at the start line repeated everything in about 4 languages. I´ve run the marathon in Paris, New York, Chicago, Madrid and Valencia is one of my favourites. If you want to do a marathon in Spain I´d highly recommend Valencia or Barcelona.

Everything was well organized (without the false start), weather and temperature were perfect, music-tunnel and finish on the water are amazing. Not good: a few km in the middle of the route Marathon and cars are sharing the street. Viewers could have been more.

Fantastic marathon. Great route, super conditions, amazing support and the finish is spectacular. The real downside though was looking for a sub 3 hr PB. The course clocked in at over 26.7 miles - so you need to run sub 6.42 miles rather than 6.50s. Other than that, can't say enough about it.

What a great race. It is a very fast course through a very beautiful city. with the exception of coming out of two tunnels (very mild and short incline)the course is completely flat. I prefer water more often than every 5km as they had, but they did have firetruck along the course spraying water to help keep you cool. Temp can get warm, it was 21 cel, 69 F, so plan for a warm race (They grow oranges). You finish running over water which is awesome. They did run out of beer at the end of the race. If you want a must do marathon this is it.

I can't complain about anything. Everything before, during and after the race was just great. The organization, weather, course, and the usual just worked out fine. What really stood out for me was the loudspeakers at the tunnel. It's just amazing when you run down the tunnel and loud music is being played :) By fare the best experience for myself.

Valencia Marathon was a positive surprise! The organization has made some successful changes from autumn 2011, among others, changed the start and finish to the spectacular Modernist area of 'City of Arts and Sience', changed the race date from February to November and changed the course of being faster and simultaneously pass various cultural sights. Both 10 km and marathon was fully subscribed with respectively 5,500 and 7,000 participants. Expo was well organized, not the greatest, but okay. We obtained the starting number on Friday, when there was plenty of space and few people, in relation to the Saturday which was really crowded. We got a free t-shirt, cap and a small luggage bag as well as various commercials and magazines. And a ticket for pasta party in the park Saturday! The start for the fastest participants took place on a bridge, and there was a little cramped and chaotic to get into the right corral; calculate well before the start. The10 k and Marathon started at the same time, but in each separate trail and it worked fine. There were drink stations every 5k plus water at 2.5 K. It worked great for me, but I heard that participants about 4 and a half hour lacked sports drink. Great with water bottles and not cups! The trail was mostly flat, but the two tunnels was a bit hilly. The trail passed several of the city's sights and finish was very special with the spectacular surroundings! After passing the finish line, we got a bag of food (mostly fruits) and beverages, and a towel, which I appreciated. It could have been some fewer oranges (ok, we're in Spain!), and a bit more 'regular' carbohydrates and chocomilk or the like. Another negative thing is that there is no advantage for the runners to share the road with cars. Admittedly, there were not many or long distances this was the case, but it should have been avoided. It should also be more toilets at the start and especially during the course! The amount of spectators is not quite as in the big races, but some places it was really good atmosphere! The organizers had also done much for music and entertainment along the trail! Temperature and weather was absolutely ideal with the sun and between 10 to 17 degree C. And I beat my record, 1 1 / 2 minutes faster than Berlin last year! (2:53)

This was my first marathon, and it was a bit scary because everyone seemed so athletic. There were not many women at all - mainly fit, serious, Spanish men. I believed the course would be completely flat, but there were a few little testers just when you didn't need them. The weather was just right - 14 degrees when I started and about 19 when I finished. A well-organized run, with plenty of water stops and sprays to keep you cool. Crowds were a bit down on a lot of the route. There were a lot of straight, long stretches, which were hard going. Overall, I enjoyed the run and enjoyed the number of people that ran. Just enough for a first marathon.

The first half is interesting, but the second half is long, straight and a bit boring. Well organized and the city is well worth the weekend away. Weather was great - 17C and sunny.

Done 7 marathons and this was distinctly average. The course was very flat and great for a PB. The route didn't take in anything special and mostly suburbia. Crowds were not that great until the running into the stadium - a great way to finish. OK overall but not one I'd do again. The gifts given were the best ever (better than NYC, London, Rome).

Very impressed with how well organized this event was, given the size (and compared with larger events like London or Amsterdam). The pre- and post-race goody bags were the best I have had. For those arriving by car, there was a car park right at the start, which was only just over 1K from the finish, so you could leave your belongings locked in the car. There was free hot chocolate and churros at the start area. The course itself is flat and very well marshaled. The relatively small field (just less than 3,000 finished the 2008 race) meant that you could run at your own steady, consistent pace. I wish all events were as good as this. Hope to be back next year. If there is a drawback, it would be that the spectators are scarce at some parts of the course.

Conditions were perfect for a fast time (cloudy, 12 degrees) and the course is very flat. Water stations every 5K with sports drinks and they serve you in bottles and not cups so you really get the fluid in. Fantastic goody bag too - towel, socks, t-shirts, wine, etc. Good support on the streets too. The race is built for PB's and it worked for me. I took five minutes off my time to run a 2:34.

I live in Valencia, this was my first marathon. Unfortunately I got the feeling during the whole race that the organizers could have choosen/planned a better course/route. Valencia is, nowadays, an incredible city - beautiful, and shining. The America's cup gave the city a new international style.... For a strange reason, the course does not pass by those beautiful areas.... Since the announcements for the race are so poor -just check the website. Valencia's citizens do not live or enjoy the marathon.... During the race we found some citizens complaining and arguing with the cops because the streets were closed. (??) That's not the kind of thing you need to see at the 30th KM of a marathon.... Things must change; the city and the Valencian runners deserved a marathon on a par with the level and importance of this beautiful city.

Flat course on an easy route marked by a blue line on the road; support stations were fine, with water and sponges (as well as isotonic drink offered at some stages); music at intervals, as well as many shouts of "animo" and "venga" to encourage you! Yes, a fine way to see Valencia - the old town, the modern area, and the beach - as well as to run a fast marathon. You also get an excellent goodie bag and T-shirt, and a good ornament at the finish. Note: 5-hour limit on race before traffic returns to the road, but the riverbed (the last 10K) is traffic free anyway.

If you're looking for a good race at which to set a personal best, check out Valencia. We had nearly perfect conditions for running a marathon... flat course, at sea level, and a starting temperature around 50 degrees with overcast skies. It is also a very small race with only about 2,600 runners. I chose to run Valencia for these reasons and because the event is early enough in the year, it gives me a chance to run more marathons later in the year. Now for the bad news.... First of all, it has to be one of the worst websites; key information was missing (like start time and details about the start location). I did not see any sports drinks until about the 20K point; after that, they had it at every 5K with the water. Only one fruit stop on the route... too bad because the Valencia oranges were delicious. And only 2 split times: one at the half and the other at the 30K point. Valencia is a nice town, but a large portion of the course is through commercial areas. There is a nice stretch along the coast and the finish is through the long park, but on an uncomfortable brick path. I will say that the event was well organized! Great goodie bag at the expo and very good support at the finish area. Be sure to brush up on your Spanish because I found very few English speakers. Also, limited but enthusiastic fan support. Valencia is a great town with a good marathon; you may want to also consider Barcelona for perhaps a better overall experience.

Route went through all of the city you would want to tour, great variety. Brilliant organization, but not many "casual" runners - these guys were serious! Was very cold on the day. Worth doing - great city, great run.

This was my second marathon (the 1st was Sydney in September 2005) and I improved my finishing time by about 18 minutes (3:46:09). The course was very flat (exactly what I wanted), the race very well organized and the support was very good throughout the course. The weather was a bit temperamental: it was quite cold at the start (about 12C), very windy in the middle section and got quite hot in the last hour of the race (21C). They had water stations every 5 KMs, oranges at the 15KM mark and sponges every 5 KMs after 7.5 KMs. Valencia is a very nice city and the weekend we spent there was very pleasant. I would strongly recommend this race to anyone and I think it is the perfect course for a first-timer.

Valencia is a city I'd recommend anyone to visit - the city of science and arts is just fantastic, stunning modern architecture, and the restaurants are wonderful. Sitting in the street cafes sipping wine and gorging on paella is a great way to spend a weekend and Valencia offers this to perfection. The race itself is perfectly organized. Don't be put off by the truly awful website - the organizers know what they are doing on the day and it all goes very smoothly. The course itself is very flat - too much so for me, as it became a bit tedious at times running at the same pace particularly in the 3rd quarter of the race, which takes you through a plain, ugly industrial area. The weather was just perfect, blue skies and warm sunshine, but there were enough water stops to stop the heat being an issue. (Not much in the way of energy drinks though.) Surprisingly few fun runners taking part - most of the entrants seemed to belong to Spanish running clubs, with a large international contingent. Could get quite lonely if you were running slowly, I suspect. And I think this also contributed to the fairly sparse spectator support along parts of the course. The start and finish were great though - loads of noise, especially the end in the local stadium.

I was totally impressed, above all else, how clean the city was. You really get to see what's in the gutters when running a marathon. I was one of the probably 4% female runners. I appreciated the hard work of the traffic officers, holding back very impatient commuters. Medical support was ok. I speak okay Spanish but found I had little conversation the whole 42 km. course. The instant printout of times and averages at the end was good. 'Thumbs down' only on a few water stations. Water ran out! I was running about a 7:50 pace. At about 16 mile mark and probably two more spots where there had obviously been a water station, there was none.

I wasn't sure what to expect coming to Valencia but I was pleasantly surprised. I received a generous bag of pre-race goodies (including a beach towel!) and the paella lunch the day before the race was great. The course was extremely flat with the only hills coming near the beginning, except for a couple painful descents to enter the finishing area. The other runners were extremely friendly and supportive and the crowds got much bigger toward the end. (My favorite shout - 'campeona!' - 'champion.') Results were nearly instantaneous - I was greeted by name and given a paper with my place, time, and pace immediately. Post-race massages and fruit were greatly appreciated. Side note - the race was 96% male, which was interesting. I did not see any port-a-potties which was not a problem for the men, but could be an issue for women. Overall, a fun and interesting experience.

Poor pre-race info made up for in a very well organized race. Fairly flat. First two thirds through the historic center, plus the port - last section a bit bland in suburbia. Nice finish in a little stadium. Super support. As expected in a Spanish marathon, a field of good runners. Loads of fruit in a bag for you at the end of the run. Plaque instead of a medal is unusual. Warm weather can catch you out if like cool running. Very friendly city; well worth the trip.