The Valencia Half Marathon is, alongside its big sister the Marathon, one of the true heavyweights of road running. It still holds the women’s world record (an out-of-this-world run from Letesenbet Gidey) and, back in the day, the men’s too (courtesy of the great Yomif Kejelcha, who has since smashed it himself in Buenos Aires and looks set to tear up the Valencia Marathon in December). But it’s not just the elites who fly here: for us club runners and weekend warriors it’s the perfect shot at a shiny new PB.
A pancake-flat course, an organisation that bends over backwards so all you have to think about is running, and a cracking atmosphere both in the field and along the roadside make the Valencia Half Marathon every PB-hunter’s wildest dream. Here I’ll walk you through everything you’ll come across on race day in this attempt at a guide: a km-by-km course breakdown, race strategy, assorted tips…
