Valencia Marathon 2026 in 4 Hours 30: Pace and Splits

To finish the Valencia Marathon 2026 in 4:30:00 you need to hold a steady pace of 6:24 per kilometre from the starting gun to the 42.195 km mark. That is what the calculator on the race’s official website gives. The race takes place on Sunday 6 December, with the start at 8:15. It is the 46th edition of the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich, and many runners will be aiming to finish at around four and a half hours.

Key split times for running 6:24 per kilometre

Running at an even pace means every kilometre takes 6:24, so the first is completed in 6:24 and the fifth in 32:00. These are the most useful splits for checking your watch:

The course is urban, 42,195 metres on asphalt, and every kilometre point is marked with a sign, so each split in the table can be checked against a marker at the roadside.

Start and waves: the 9:35 wave for those with a 4:10 mark or slower

The race starts at 8:15, but not everyone sets off at the same time. The rules divide participants into nine start waves according to their accredited times. Each runner receives an email telling them their wave, which is also printed on the race bib. These are the waves:

• 8:15: athletes under 2:50:00.
• 8:25: between 2:50:00 and 2:59:59.
• 8:35: between 3:00:00 and 3:11:59.
• 8:45: between 3:12:00 and 3:19:59.
• 8:55: between 3:20:00 and 3:31:59.
• 9:05: between 3:32:00 and 3:42:59.
• 9:15: between 3:43:00 and 3:55:59.
• 9:25: between 3:56:00 and 4:09:59.
• 9:35: athletes from 4:10:00.

Each person’s wave depends on the time they accredited when registering, not on the time they aim to run on race day. Wheelchair athletes start ahead of time in the third wave, and those with a visual impairment may start early and at the front of their own wave. The organisers also reserve the right to add start times for safety, organisational or logistical reasons, notifying those affected.

Time limit and the 25 km cut-off

The race closes at 15:15 and the official time limit is 5:30:00 from crossing the start line. To make sure nobody exceeds that limit, the rules set an intermediate cut-off: anyone reaching kilometre 25 after 12:57 will have to hand in their bib and withdraw or board the sweeper vehicle. That time already accounts for the gap between waves and reflects the overall 5:30:00 limit.

Accrediting times and changing box until 26 November

Anyone registering with the aim of finishing under 3:32:00 must accredit with a document their best previous time in the marathon, half marathon, 15K or 10K from the last three years. Runners who improved their time could request a free box change until 6 November inclusive, from the Runner Area, in the “Solicitar cambio de Box” section, providing a link that showed the improvement.

That deadline has now passed, but changing is still possible for a fee: from 7 November until 26 November 2026 it costs 25 euros for reprinting and administration costs. From 26 November (inclusive) no changes are made, either online or at the Expo 42K Feria Valencia.

Entry limit, prices and waiting list

The quota is 36,000 bibs available to the public. According to the rules, bibs 1 to 10,000 cost 80 euros and bibs 10,001 to 36,000 cost 180 euros. Bibs from the draw cost 180 euros, and the waiting list carries a fee of 200 euros. The 5 euro day licence is not included for those without an RFEA, FACV or Carnet del Corredor Plus licence.

Registrations are processed only at tickets.valenciaciudaddelrunning.com, managed by S.D. Correcaminos, the sole official online distributor. To transfer a bib you must use the “Solicitar cambio de titular” section of the Runner Area: anyone who passes on a bib without following the process may be banned for four years. Athletes with disabilities must register through FESA (21k42k@fesa.es, +34 963465726) to compete in the four adapted categories, and the guide of a blind or visually impaired (B2) athlete registers for free only through that route.

A certified race with Platinum Label status

The race is certified by AIMS and the RFEA, appears on the International Calendar of both and holds the World Athletics Platinum Label. It is organised by S.D. Correcaminos with the institutional support of the Ajuntament de València and the collaboration of the OAM Fundación Deportiva Municipal del Ajuntament de Valencia.

Participants, whether licensed or not, must be 18 on the day of the race. Under-18s, including in strollers, are not allowed, nor are participants on roller skates, bicycles or vehicles, except wheelchairs for people with disabilities. Runners with pets or accompanied by minors are also not permitted.

The elite field running in Valencia on 6 December

Among the elite field of this edition is the Spanish marathon champion from the Valencia Marathon 2025, Ibrahim Chakir, with a best of 2:07:21. He is joined by Yago Rojo, with a best of 2:07:47 and the aim of going under 2:06:00, Daniel Mateo (2:08:22), Jorge González (2:08:34) and Valencian runner Andreu Blanes (2:09:18).

In the Spanish women’s category, four of the six best Spanish marathoners of all time will take part: Laura Luengo, with a best of 2:22:31, Meritxell Soler (2:23:49), Fatima Ouhaddou (2:24:05) and Ester Navarrete (2:24:31). Steeplechaser Irene Sánchez-Escribano will make her debut over the distance.