Report by Aaron Francis

Race Date: Sunday 11th January 2026

Overview

Road racing in Valencia has now taken on an almost mythical reputation, where runners of all abilities flock in search of quick times. There’s nothing magic about the courses used for the marathon in December, half during October then 10K in January. Athletes need to be fit and able to execute on the day, and there are without doubt bad days in Valencia across the athletic spectrum, but these tend to be buried under headlines of perfect days. What Valencia offers distance runners is an enticing platform to run to their best, rooted in the triad of usually predictably benign weather, near spirit level flat topography and an overall favourable climate. With thousands of athletes now attuned to this, and adding a Valencian race to their calendars, the fourth component of a pack mentality further supports the cause.

This year’s edition proved to be another outstanding day for road running in Spain’s third largest city as the 10K unfolded. I’m still on a high as I begin to write this, sitting in the morning sun next to the ultramodern City of Arts and Sciences. By now elite achievements have been beamed around and you’ve perhaps all seen them, so I’ll only briefly note a few highlights.

Ice cool in both appearance and race craft, Andreas Almgren of Sweden took down his own European record set here a year ago by winning the race in 26:45 – closing with a 2:32 kilometre. Amongst the women, Eilish McColgan clocked 30:08 (gun) to lower the European record only a week after Belgium’s Jana Vant Lent ran 30:10 in Nice. Paula Radcliffe’s previously longstanding 2003 record (30:21) has taken a battering recently. Clara Evans-Graham set a new Welsh record of 31:18 and Hannah Irwin posted 31:32 to improve her own Northern Irish record. It was a successful hunting trip for British men as Wirral AC’s Joe Wigfield equalled Rory Leonard’s British record of 27:38 – also set in Valencia last year. Hallamshire’s Alfie Manthorpe continued his upward trajectory by clocking 27:40 which moved him 3rd on the British all time list. Andy Butchart, rightly beaming during his post-race interview, set a new Scottish record of 27:43. After checking his Instagram story on Sunday afternoon I discovered he celebrated with a short trip to Benidorm – each to their own. Also of note was Team Makou’s Efrem Gidey improving on his own Irish record after finishing in 27:38.

Overall, 35 runners ran under 28 minutes, 97 under 29:00, 219 under 30:00, 379 under 31:00, 567 went sub 32 and 1183 managed sub 35 – just imagine being the 35min pacer.

The Race

For a 10K it’s colossal. 16,000 entrants for the 5K and 10K with the vast majority in town for the longer distance. At 08:15, 5K runners set off under the rising sun, with the 10K underway at 09:30. Sixteen starting pens, each going off in intervals with their own gunshot, stretching ahead to 10:05. To offer context, I’d given an expected time between 34:00 – 35:59 during registration, uploaded my Power of 10 profile link as proof of previous efforts, and was given access to the fourth pen. This was the fifth wave to get going, behind elites and sub elites, then four faster cohorts. Those in search of their sub 40 would start at 09:37 in pen 6, the seventh wave to begin.

Organisation here was flawless, baggage stored in separate manned marquees denoted by the last digit of your race number, then it was a short walk up a staircase to the start area adjacent to the Exhibition Bridge. Two levels, one down on the bed of the old Turia river helped to ease any congestion. I’d opted to warm up on a small loop further away from the baggage and start area, still within Turia Gardens but benefitting from public loos open early which avoided long portaloo queues. It was then only a 1K jog to change my shoes and ditch my bag before heading up the steps and into my pen.

Once waiting to start it was clear just how ideal conditions were. Air temperature around 7°C, a dew point (keenly looked up beforehand) of only 2°C. This meant the air wasn’t bone dry so as to be uncomfortable, but there was minimal moisture which allowed sweat to efficiently evaporate. The air actually felt light, the sky a brilliant blue, and barely a breath of wind.

The gun goes and the first 800m and more is predictably hectic. It’s a race which tempts the field to go out keenly, not least because of its vaunted reputation. After experiencing the race in 2025, I’d made a point to not brake and surge, partly because by 2 – 3K running is freer, and partly because the profile of the second half is marginally more difficult. It pays to stay patient through the first couple of kilometres and keep hold of the reins as there is plenty of open road ahead.

The course is designed to allow people to showcase their best where possible. It’s roughly an oblong shape, starting and finishing in the same place, flanking either side of Turia Gardens below. Elevation gain is minimal at under 60ft, with only a couple of small rises up and over bridges. The bends are sweeping, nothing to cause deceleration and the need to accelerate out. Long straights of well surfaced road lend themselves to pinning down 10K effort and working to sit there. I found I was able to do this, even if I would’ve liked the corresponding pace on my watch to be showing faster. By 6K I’d begun to feel mechanically restricted despite aerobically being ok. This could’ve been penance for not being able to keep up with my usual foam rolling and stretching while staying in a hostel.

The last kilometre feels special as you sweep round a bend to see the finish gantry, almost as a mirage in the Spanish sun from a long way out. It’s one of those moments to summon whatever’s left, keep a straight line and reach that point in the distance as quickly as possible. What struck me most about the finish area was the number of Spanish club tents, and how seriously they take a post race buffet/banquet. I can’t recall ever seeing anything like it at a road race. One club tent literally had a whole Serrano ham being carved.

In summary, the entry fee of only €14 (plus €3 ‘day licence’) belies what a vivid experience the day provided. The weekend is dominated by running, with trails and paths taken over by athletes from elite through to beginner. Personal highlights included seeing Andreas Almgren hover past me during his shakeout, and exchanging well wishes for race day with Andy Butchart and Alfie Manthorpe.

My own race result (35:52 – 1402nd) was slower than I’d hoped for, but it’s close to reflecting what I think my current ability is. It was a pleasure to be a tiny piece of an electric day for road running. I can’t recommend the race highly enough, and with it not going to ballot just yet I’d jump in for the 2027 edition as soon as you can if you’re considering it – it’s a welcome escape just as the January blues are setting in. Registration tends to open during February.

Switching Colours

I’ve been prompted to comment on how I’ve come to transfer from Sheffield Running Club to Steel City, along with the differences in training.

I found that the training model which saw me run all of my PBs to be unsustainable long term, particularly as I turn 40 in April and am now switched on to chasing longevity. Rather than a ‘blood and thunder’ 10 mile tempo on a Tuesday (often alone), I’ve shifted to larger group training, which tends to be either hill repeats, tempo/threshold blocks of 6, 8, 10mins or a controlled session on the track. Thursdays I’ve moved away from almost 10K of repeats around the undulating Legacy Park to lower, hopefully quicker volume at the track. Weekends still include a long run, often with tempo included after a light Saturday. Easy to steady volume has stayed largely the same with a slight decrease.

After a rank 2024 where I took four months off with knackeredness (Editor: a technical term), it was refreshing to find myself enjoying training again during 2025. I’m now looking forward to strengthening existing connections and building new ones within Steel City, and am curious to see where different training approaches/philosophies lead me over the next decade.

Results

A second Steel City man relatively new to the club also made an appearance at Valencia, Aaron Staniforth, who broke forty minutes with a new personal best into the bargain.