The published 2026 race is a flat urban marathon finishing at the City of Arts and Sciences. The 2027 date and final arrangements are not confirmed here, so use that route only as a reference.
01 Know what you are taking on
What is the race like?
The course, section by section
Open a section for the terrain and a practical pacing cue.
Settle into the openingPlaça de la Marató
The 2026 route starts here on a largely flat urban course.
How to approach it Let the field settle. Use your practised effort rather than weaving to recover seconds in the opening kilometres.
Run the city sectionsEl Cabanyal · Historic Valencia
The reference route combines neighbourhood and city-centre roads.
How to approach it Keep effort steady through turns. A favourable early split is not a reason to raise your target before you have settled.
Finish the actual distanceCity of Arts and Sciences
The reference finish uses the blue carpet beside the water.
How to approach it Keep concentrating until the finish line. Save the strongest effort for the distance genuinely left, rather than the first sight of the finish district.
Official maps & course details
The following course details are from the edition shown. They help you understand the route while your edition’s final information is being prepared.
- Course profile
- The 2026 organiser guide describes a flat urban course.2026 course
- Start
- Plaça de la Marató on the published 2026 course.2026 course
- Neighbourhoods
- The 2026 course description includes El Cabanyal and historic central Valencia.2026 course
- Finish
- The 2026 finish uses the blue carpet over the water at the City of Arts and Sciences.2026 course
The linked 2026 course is a reference for the city and terrain. The 2027 route, start and race-day arrangements have not been announced.
02 Choose your approach
Find your race strategy.
Choose your goal. These are our pacing suggestions, based on the published course, rather than organiser instructions.
My first finish
Choose an effort you have practised over sustained road running; do not let the fast-course reputation choose your pace.
Settle behind the early congestion without weaving for every second.
Carry the fuel you know you tolerate; 2026 stations are a reference until the 2027 list appears.
Use the urban sections as small stages and reassess how you feel before asking for more effort.
Keep travel and detailed supporter plans flexible until the 2027 date and route are confirmed.
A PB or time goal
Base the target on recent training or a race, then prepare a sensible fallback.
Aim for a controlled opening and a steady effort through turns. Banking time early is not a free advantage.
Check elapsed splits at official markers instead of correcting every watch fluctuation.
Change the target for the actual forecast rather than assuming flat roads guarantee a PB.
Wait for the final route before fixing the last kilometres or station-by-station plan.
If the weather or your pace changes
Do not predict race-day conditions from a month or a destination reputation. The practical preparation is learning to adjust effort when a flat route becomes windy or warmer than expected, then waiting for a meaningful forecast near the event. Keep kit decisions familiar and avoid last-minute nutritional experiments. Leave travel flexibility until the official date and place are secure. If the next course changes, assess its actual exposure and elevation before setting the final pace; a previous edition’s weather and geometry cannot establish the conditions of your day.
03 Know what is on the course
Drinks, fuel & toilets.
2026 course information. The 2027 station plan and race date are not confirmed here.
| Where | What is listed | Plan around it |
|---|---|---|
| Nine refreshment points; use the official map for positions | Aquabona water and Aquarius | The course page describes 330 ml water bottles and cups for Aquarius. |
| Three Enervit Red Points; use the official map for positions | Energy gels with and without caffeine | Do not plan exact gel timing from this summary; pair the published station positions with fuel you have practised. |
This route page does not supply a complete toilet location list. Use the final runner guide or official map for those locations.
Official station informationMore published facilities and planning notes
2026 station information · Check the final 2027 guide for changes.
- Drinks on the published course
- The 2026 guide lists nine refreshment points with Aquabona water and Aquarius.
- Gels on the published course
- The 2026 guide lists three Enervit gel points, including caffeinated and non-caffeinated choices.
Toilet locations: a confirmed location list is not available here. Check the official course or runner map before race day; a drinks table does not automatically mean there is a toilet beside it.
Turn the station list into your plan
Mark the stops you expect to use and the fuel you will carry. If you use a gel that needs water, pair it with a published water point. Practise the products and cup or bottle format before race day; you do not have to try every item offered.
04 Before the start
Your race morning.
Times are local to the event. Work back from your own wave, allowing for the walk, toilets and bag drop.
Your allocated start-wave time is not listed here. Use your entry email and final runner instructions for the time and assembly deadline.
Your allocated wave, event emails and final runner instructions take priority. Read the guide for your distance before travelling.
05 Make the day work together
Supporters & getting around.
Plan your support
The City of Arts and Sciences is the reference finish district. Treat any spectator itinerary as provisional until the 2027 map and pedestrian access plan are published.
The places below are viewing ideas from the linked route or spectator guide. Use your edition’s access map for barriers, permitted crossings and any crew restrictions.
City-centre streets
Use the final edition’s map to choose a pavement on the urban loop and allow for crossing restrictions.
City of Arts and Sciences surroundings
A distinctive finish base; the finish platform and recovery areas should be treated as controlled runner space.
current calendar
Official spectator or route informationMake the cheer easy to find
Agree a named point, the side of the road and your likely arrival window. Share your bib number for official tracking. Pick a separate reunion beyond the finish exit and a backup if the phone signal is poor.
06 Before you book
Entry, fees & time limits.
2027 marathon entry details have not been confirmed.
Check official entry optionsWhat you need to enter
Check the organiser’s current age, eligibility and documentation rules before booking. These requirements have not yet been confirmed for this edition.
Read the entry rulesStay in the loop
Email me event updates.
Spend more time training and less time checking. Get the key updates for your race, straight to your inbox.
07 Make your training relevant
Practise for this course.
One thing to rehearse
Practise steady road running and your own nutrition routine. Keep race-dependent travel and split plans flexible.
08 Put your plan together
Useful before race day.
Plan your pre-run fuel
Explore meals and snacks around the time you have before running.
Explore the fuel plannerMake race fuel feel familiar
Understand how to practise taking carbohydrate during longer runs.
Read the guideArrive ready, not worn out
Understand what changes in the final weeks before a marathon.
Read the guideA plan that fits your life.
Running, strength or both, with feedback and adjustments as your training develops.
Official race information
Use the organiser’s information for current entry terms, the published route and your final runner instructions. Course resources show their edition where it is known. Pacing and training suggestions are The Runner’s Journal’s guidance and should fit your experience, health and conditions.