Last week Sunday, on the 4th of December, the citizens of Valencia and supporters from all over the world came to cheer for the biggest Marathon ever organised in Spain. A total of 30.000 runners, with just under 22.000 finishers,put on a spectacle of endurance and passion for thousands of onlookers, including friends and family. The day’s winners were the Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum and Ethiopian Amane Beriso Shankule for the men’s and women’s marathon,respectively.

Besides clearing the track records, they also both placed themselves in the history books with the third best times ever run in a marathon, with times of 2:01:53 for Kiptum and 2:14:58 for Beriso. Kiptum’s time was just 44 seconds off the world record, making him the fastest marathon debutant in history. With these times Valencia now decorates itself as the “second fastest marathon in the world” after Berlin, which holds the fastest two records, held by Eliud
Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele.

Since the 29th of March 1981, the Valencia marathon has been taken on by ever growing numbers of people. The city, which calls itself the “ciudad del running” (city of running), has numerous running events throughout the year and has the ideal infrastructure for it via it’s 9 km long Turia park, one of the largest urban parks in Spain. The former river also holds the beginning and start points for the marathon at the City of Arts and Sciences, an eye-catching highly futuristic collection of buildings constructed in 1998 by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela.

The marathon track itself is almost completely flat, has multiple long straights and the temperatures range between 12 and 17 degrees. This, along with the track guiding the runners through the historic center, past the beach promenade and along the well-tended Turia park, makes Valencia not just one of the fastest marathons but also one of the most beautiful in the world

Hours after the professional finishers crossed the finish line, the amateurs claimed their heavy winner’s medals. During the marathon, they enjoyed analmost constant crowd of supporters cheering and chanting. “I ran most of the marathon with a smile on my face”, one finisher said. It had been her first ever marathon and despite initial concerns she “breezed” through, crediting the many relentless supporters. Her parents had flown in from the Netherlands to watch their daughter compete and followed the 24 year old across the city on rental bikes via the city’s network of 170 km of bike lanes, supporting her at as many points as possible.

She was one of many international runners. Valencia is a popular destination for Erasmus students or digital nomads and many others who came from far andwide to participate in the world-famous marathon. Their effort was accompanied by musicians ranging from drum-ensembles and DJ’s to violinists, electrifying thecity with an infectious excitement of mutual support.

After the marathon as the hundreds of volunteers deconstructed the trackaround the city, the excitement of the day still echoed through the streets as runners and supporters alike went to celebrate. Marta Galimany, who broke the record for the fastest marathon time as a Spanish woman that day, fittingly commented on her achievement: “I am in love with this city, and it had to behere”.

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