Cádiz Half Marathon in doubt over police cover

The III Cádiz Half Marathon, scheduled for Sunday 8 November 2026 at 9:00 in the city of Cádiz, is in doubt because of a lack of Local Police cover. Unions have asked officers not to volunteer to cover the race by working overtime.

Police meeting and search for a plan B

All police personnel have been called to a meeting on the afternoon of Thursday 5 November to decide whether to cover the event through voluntary overtime. Cádiz City Council is negotiating with the unions in an attempt to resolve the situation.

Organiser Juan García, of Chronofinisher, learned of the problem on 3 November. García explains that work is under way on a plan B with the Local Police leadership and the officers available.

Juan García says the race can only take place if safety is guaranteed. García says the City Council will be the one to say if the event cannot go ahead: “The race will take place if safety is fully guaranteed; if not, it won’t take place, and it will be the council that tells us the race cannot go ahead.”

The organiser hopes an agreement will be reached: “I hope they reach an agreement, because it’s frustrating that, after all the work, the race is at risk because of a dispute that has affected us.”

The overtime dispute

The situation comes amid a dispute over delays in payment for Local Police overtime. Police unions say that overtime from 2025 is still owed.

Two laps and wind forecast

The planned course consists of two laps and passes through Campo del Sur, the main avenue, Paseo Marítimo and the historic centre. The finish is planned for plaza de la Catedral.

The organisers are also keeping an eye on forecasts of strong winds, with gusts of up to 50 kilometres per hour, because of the potential risk to structures such as marquees. “There must not be any structure that could create a danger,” says García.

Race numbers, parking and a charitable cause

Race numbers can be collected at El Corte Inglés from 5 to 7 November. No numbers will be handed out on Sunday, the scheduled race day.

The organisers have made 125 parking spaces available at colegio San Felipe Neri. The race has a charitable aim: to raise awareness of Rett syndrome.