VIII Almèdia Trail in Callosa: date, formats and prices

Plan your race pace

The eighth edition of the mountain event in Callosa d’en Sarrià has a date: it will take place on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2027, with the start scheduled for 8:30 a.m. at Plaça del Convent. The available information lists three entry formats and fees of 21 and 25 euros, although the final details of the 2027 routes should be distinguished from those published for the previous edition.

The event is part of the 2026-27 Circuit Trail La Marina and once again puts the Almèdia mountain area at the center of a day combining trail racing with a walking option. To read the information accurately, it is important to separate what has been confirmed for January 2027 from the distances and course characteristics described in 2026: the date, time and location have been announced for this edition, but not every technical course detail has been updated.

Race date, start and location

The event is scheduled for Jan. 17, 2027, in Callosa d’en Sarrià, a town in the Marina Baixa area of Alicante province. Plaça del Convent is listed as the start location, and the published schedule gives an 8:30 a.m. start. This is the key information for anyone planning travel or checking the registration details.

The January date places the race in midwinter, when mountain conditions can change quickly. Temperatures, humidity and trail conditions depend on the weather at the time, so it would be unwise to assume the course will be dry or that regular training clothes will be enough. The weather forecast and the organizers’ instructions will be particularly relevant as race day approaches.

Plaça del Convent was also associated with previous editions, but practical details for race day — including bib pickup, available services or the precise finish location — should be checked against the updated event documents. Additional times should not be inferred from the general start time: each format may have separate instructions, and the available information does not list other start waves.

Three formats and announced entry fees

The 2027 registration information lists three options: Almèdia Trail, Sprint Almèdia and Almèdia Senderista. The published fees are 25 euros for Almèdia Trail and 21 euros for each of the other two formats, including taxes. These amounts provide a concrete reference for considering entry, but it is still worth checking the current listing in case of changes or specific conditions.

The registration platform stated that the entry period would run from Nov. 16, 2026, at 10 a.m. until Jan. 13, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. The platform showed registration as coming soon when the information was published. The advertised opening date and closing deadline are therefore separate from the actual availability of places: availability should be confirmed on the platform once registration is underway.

The format names indicate a main race, a shorter alternative and a walking option, but they are not enough to confirm the 2027 distances. The 2026 edition described three routes of 22, 15 and 12 kilometers, respectively; that historical reference helps explain the event’s format, but it does not establish the figures for the next edition. Until updated regulations are published, those distances should be attributed to the previous edition.

What is known about the Almèdia routes

The 2026 description outlined a varied course, with technical trails, forest tracks, paths through pine and holm oak woods, rocky sections and agricultural terraces. The profile alternated more runnable stretches with technical areas, a combination that explains why a mountain distance cannot be measured in kilometers alone. Surface, changes in gradient and terrain difficulty affect both pace and cumulative effort.

The long course that year ended with a climb up the Almèdia, where runners could see the valley between the Bèrnia range and the Ponotx, opening toward Altea Bay. That panorama was part of the scenic appeal highlighted by the organizers, but it should not be presented as a confirmed feature of the 2027 route without that edition’s map or regulations. Courses can change between editions, even when the event keeps its mountain character.

The 2026 Sprint Trail covered 15 kilometers with 650 meters of elevation gain, with repeated climbs and descents; the walking option covered 12 kilometers with 500 meters of elevation gain. These figures help explain what the event offered in its seventh edition, but they do not prove that the same distances, elevation gain or routes will be used in 2027. The updated technical document will be the definitive reference for comparing the demands of each format.

Elevation and terrain change how distance feels

In a mountain race, distance alone does not describe difficulty. A 15-kilometer route with repeated climbs, descents and uneven sections can take more time and concentration than a similar distance on uniform ground. Elevation gain adds up the climbs, but it does not tell the whole story: slope, climb length, technical descents and accumulated fatigue all matter.

The previous edition’s description pointed to that variety, with runnable sections alongside technical stretches. On tracks, it is often easier to keep a steady stride; on a narrow or rocky path, the priority shifts to choosing safe footing and adjusting pace. Actual difficulty depends on how elevation and surface combine, not on a single figure in the course profile.

That is why it makes sense to wait for the 2027 distances, elevation gain and course map before choosing a format. Someone used to road running may need more time to complete a mountain route, while a person familiar with trails may be better equipped to interpret technical sections. The point is not to compare pace across disciplines, but to assess experience and terrain realistically using the published regulations.

A race option and a walking alternative

The walking format makes this event different from a race focused exclusively on competition. In 2026 it was presented as a 12-kilometer route with 500 meters of elevation gain, open to people with varying levels of experience. It offered a slower-paced way to explore the area, although the elevation still needed to be considered.

Walking in the mountains does not remove the demands of the route. Long climbs can tire the legs, and descents require attention, especially on loose stones or uneven paths. The distance announced for the previous edition can serve as a general reference, but the 2027 route and its conditions need to be confirmed before treating it as definitive. The walking format also calls for footwear suited to the terrain.

The race formats offer different profiles in the same setting. The long course in 2026 combined greater distance and elevation, while the sprint reduced both without avoiding the climbs and descents. The walking alternative widened access to the event, with a different kind of effort, not necessarily no effort at all. A sensible choice depends on fitness, familiarity with the mountains and the official details published for the new edition.

Registration, schedule and details still to verify

The registration platform listed a period from Nov. 16, 2026, at 10 a.m. to Jan. 13, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. The stated deadline falls four days before the race, although that does not guarantee places will remain available until then. The information also said registration would open soon, so the announced schedule should not be mistaken for confirmation that sign-up is already active.

The published fees — 25 euros for the main race and 21 euros for Sprint Almèdia and the walking format — include taxes. The reference information does not specify possible booking fees, price changes, refund conditions or services included with each entry. These details can affect the final cost or participation terms, so they should be checked in the event listing and regulations before registration is completed.

The full technical route information also remains to be confirmed, along with possible instructions on bib pickup, aid stations, recommended equipment or course controls. Previous-year details should not automatically be carried over to 2027, even if the overall format looks similar. Documentation for this edition should take precedence over historical references, especially for specific start times, distances, elevation gain and race rules.

Callosa d’en Sarrià and the appeal of running in La Marina

The event uses a mountain landscape near Callosa d’en Sarrià and La Marina Baixa, where trails and tracks offer an experience different from urban running. The previous edition’s description highlighted pine and holm oak woods, rocky sections and agricultural terrain, a patchwork of open spaces and more sheltered stretches. In that setting, the course is not simply a line between start and finish: the landscape and surface change as the route gains elevation.

References to Bèrnia, the Ponotx and Altea Bay help locate the horizon described near the end of the 2026 long route. However, those views depend on the specific course and visibility, so they cannot be guaranteed for the next edition. The surroundings give the event its identity, but the updated map determines where the race will actually go.

The event also reflects a familiar feature of mountain races: the meeting point between sport and place. In previous editions, organizers described support from volunteers and local businesses; that information is part of the event’s history, not a confirmed figure for 2027. The race’s place in the regional circuit puts Callosa on a calendar that invites participants to experience the mountains at different levels of effort.

An edition with a confirmed date and course details still to come

The most reliable information for the eighth edition is specific: the race is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 17, 2027, with an 8:30 a.m. start at Plaça del Convent in Callosa d’en Sarrià, and three formats have been announced. Published fees range from 21 to 25 euros, while the planned registration period runs from Nov. 16 to Jan. 13. Those details establish the event without turning previous editions’ information into guarantees for this one.

The 2026 edition provides a useful picture of the terrain and variety that have characterized the event: running and walking routes, elevation gain, tracks, paths and technical sections. However, its 22-, 15- and 12-kilometer distances, together with their associated elevation figures, belong to that edition. The 2027 distance and profile need to be confirmed through updated technical information, an important distinction for planning both participation and travel.

In a mountain race, the date sets the calendar, but the route defines the experience. Callosa d’en Sarrià will welcome runners and walkers again in January; the final details will show how much of the familiar course remains and what changes the new edition brings. Until then, the responsible approach is to keep confirmed information, announced registration details and descriptions of the previous year’s event clearly separate.