Course Map
Route based on 2024 course — may differ slightly from this year.
About this Race
The Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso is widely regarded as one of the fastest courses on earth, a pancake-flat layout through the Spanish city that has staged world records and produces an extraordinary density of personal bests. The route runs on smooth, wide roads and culminates in an unforgettable finish on a blue carpet laid over the water beside the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences. Held in early December, it delivers cool, calm, near-ideal racing conditions that draw elite fields and time-hunters from across the globe. There is virtually no climb to manage, leaving fitness and pacing as the only limits. It suits the dedicated PB chaser above almost any other race, rewarding those who arrive sharp and run the tangents on its lightning-fast streets.
Course Insight
Valencia is one of the fastest marathons on earth, a dead-flat December course on smooth, wide roads that has become a magnet for record attempts and personal bests. The cool late-autumn air and absence of hills strip away every excuse, which means the only obstacle is your own pacing discipline early on. The course builds to a striking finish on a blue carpet beside the City of Arts and Sciences, crossing over water into the line. There is nothing to hide behind here. Go out controlled and this is as close to a guaranteed-fast course as the sport offers.
Difficulty Breakdown
Mostly due to very flat.
Course Details
- Course type
- Loop
- Elevation gain
- 62m
- Elevation loss
- 67m
- Highest point
- 28m
- Lowest point
- 2m
- Net elevation
- -5m
- Start
- City of Arts and Sciences
- Cutoff time
- 5h 30m
Course Records
- Men's
- 2:01:48 — Sisay Lemma (Ethiopia), 2023
- Women's
- 2:14:00 — Joyciline Jepkosgei (Kenya), 2025
Race History
The Valencia Marathon was first held in 1981 and has risen to become one of the fastest marathon courses in the world, finishing on a blue carpet laid over the water beside the City of Arts and Sciences. Backed since the mid-2010s by the Trinidad Alfonso foundation, it has staged blistering performances, including Kelvin Kiptum's stunning 2:01:53 debut in 2022. Its flat layout and cool December conditions draw elite fields and a vast personal-best-hunting turnout. Today it stands among the premier destinations in the sport for fast times.
Plan Your Trip
Everything you need to know to get there, get settled, and get to the start line.
- Nearest airport(s)
- Valencia (VLC), Alicante (ALC)
- Best area to stay
- Ciutat Vella for atmospheric central hotels, the Eixample for elegant stays near the route, and the City of Arts and beach area for modern hotels near the finish.
- Getting to the start
- The start is near the City of Arts and Sciences; take the Metro or a bus to the southern start area and walk in.