Aníbal Race 2026 in Santo Ángel: distances, start and prices

Plan your race pace

The El Valle Regional Park will host a new edition of the Aníbal Race on Saturday, November 21, 2026. The mountain event will start and finish at the Ágora Verdolay Sports Center in Santo Ángel, with the first start scheduled for 3 p.m. The program includes two 26-kilometer routes, one 16-kilometer route and a hiking event on the shorter course.

Participants can choose to race solo, enter as a mixed pair, take on a shorter distance or walk through the natural surroundings. The 26-kilometer events gain 1,000 meters of positive elevation; the two 16-kilometer options gain 600 meters. The announced entry price is €29 for the first 150 places overall and €39 from place 151 onward, subject to the available capacity.

A mountain event in the Santo Ángel area

The race takes place in Santo Ángel, a district of the city of Murcia, amid paths and trails in El Valle Regional Park and the Carrascoy mountain range. This is not an urban circuit with a few dirt sections: its identity is tied to natural terrain and changing surfaces, which means distance alone cannot describe the full demands of the course.

The event is organized by Club Deportivo Murcia Challenge, with the collaboration of the Athletics Federation of the Region of Murcia, according to the information available for this edition. The start and finish are at the Ágora Verdolay Sports Center. For travel planning, use the venue as a reference and check official updates about access, parking and any logistical changes as race day approaches.

Date, start time and venue

The event is scheduled for Saturday, November 21, 2026. The races are listed as starting at 3 p.m., and the published general schedule places the end of activities at 7 p.m. This gives an outline of the day, but does not replace the individual start times the organizers may assign to each category or group of participants.

The start and finish are at the Ágora Verdolay Sports Center in Santo Ángel. The reference information does not provide a more precise postal address or confirm details such as bib pickup, access cut-off times or the organization of the starts. These details can affect people traveling from another town as well as anyone arranging transport after an afternoon event, so the final schedule should be checked in the official announcements.

Four categories for different paces and goals

The long course is offered in two formats: Aníbal Epic Trail and Aníbal Epic Mixed Pairs. Both cover 26 kilometers with 1,000 meters of positive elevation; the main difference is how participants compete. The individual event is for runners taking on the course alone, while the mixed-pairs category requires participants to enter as a pair under the conditions set out in the rules.

The shorter race is Aníbal Experience, a 16-kilometer event with 600 meters of positive elevation. Aníbal Hiking takes place on the same short course as a noncompetitive walk. Although they share the stated distance and elevation, running and walking involve different paces and requirements, and the hike should not be confused with a competitive category. The event rules are the place to check age requirements, pair composition and participation conditions.

What the distance and elevation mean

The 26-kilometer course makes the longer event a trail outing that demands more than holding a steady pace. The 1,000 meters of positive elevation represent the cumulative climbing, not one continuous ascent. On paths and trails, gradients, descents and changing surfaces can make the effort very different from an equally long road race.

The 16 kilometers and 600 meters of positive elevation in Experience and Hiking shorten the time on the course, but still describe a mountain activity. Elevation gain helps compare categories and estimate the climbing involved; by itself, it does not show the length of each climb, the steepness of descents or the condition of the ground. Until a detailed profile is published, it is unwise to infer exact times or difficulty from those figures alone.

El Valle calls for attention on the trail

The routes follow paths and trails in El Valle Regional Park and the Carrascoy mountain range. This natural setting offers a different experience from running on city streets: runners adjust their footing and stride to the terrain while sharing a landscape that needs protection. The general description does not specify the proportion of track and trail, the ground surface, aid stations or the full elevation profile, so unconfirmed course features should not be taken for granted.

Following course markings and respecting organizers’ instructions are especially important in a natural area. Staying on the marked route, leaving no litter and following staff directions are basic practices for runners and walkers alike. The course may include exposed or technical sections, but this should be checked against the official map and rules rather than assumed from the distance or the park’s name.

Preparing for a 16- or 26-kilometer event

Preparation should reflect the chosen category and each participant’s experience. For the longer course, it makes sense to include gradual runs on varied terrain and strength work to help manage climbs and descents; practicing on uneven surfaces also matters for the shorter distance. The goal is not to replicate every kilometer of race day, but to arrive with a base that supports managing effort over several hours or periods of activity.

Training should not involve sudden increases in volume or an unusually long run in the days before the event. Practicing food and hydration during training helps each person find what they tolerate, while power-hiking the steepest sections can be an efficient choice on trails. Anyone returning from injury or managing a medical condition should adjust training cautiously and seek medical guidance where appropriate. There is no need to run every climb to complete the course sensibly.

Footwear, clothing and personal gear

Trail shoes with a sole suited to the expected surface can help with grip and stability, although the right choice depends on terrain and weather. It is important to test them beforehand, along with socks, a pack or a hydration system if used. Trying new gear on race day increases the risk of discomfort, particularly when elevation changes how the feet work on descents.

With an afternoon start, checking the forecast and considering temperatures throughout the activity—not just at the start—is useful. A packable layer, rain or wind protection and enough water are choices that depend on conditions and event rules. A charged phone and whistle are common mountain-safety items, but the available information does not confirm whether they are mandatory for this edition. Before packing, check the mandatory equipment listed in the current rules.

Entry and announced prices

The published price has two tiers: €29 per participant until the first 150 places overall are filled, and €39 from place 151 until the authorized capacity is reached. The information indicates that the first-150 threshold applies across all categories, not separately to each distance. The applicable price may therefore depend on total entries, whether the selected event is 16 or 26 kilometers.

The available information does not specify the registration deadline, total capacity, possible service fees, refund terms or whether different rates apply to the hiking event. It also does not confirm the current status of each category. Check these details on the official registration channel and in the rules before paying. Reviewing cancellation terms and included coverage helps clarify what the price actually covers, without assuming that all categories share identical administrative conditions.

Choosing between the race and the hike

The choice depends on the distance a participant can complete comfortably and the kind of day they want. Aníbal Epic Trail and the mixed-pairs event share the 26-kilometer course and elevation gain, but have different entry requirements. Experience offers a competitive 16-kilometer race; Hiking covers the same route as a noncompetitive walk. The shorter distance is not an urban stroll: it still includes 600 meters of cumulative climbing in a mountain setting.

Anyone comparing options should consider training time, trail experience and how their body usually responds to descents. The pairs event may also have specific rules on team composition and finishing together, which should be checked before selecting it. Hiking, meanwhile, allows participants to cover the route on foot, but still calls for suitable shoes and realistic planning. The best choice is not necessarily the longest distance, but the category that matches preparation and entry conditions.

An afternoon event with details still to be confirmed

The expected schedule, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., gives logistics a particular importance. Arriving with time to spare makes it easier to find the start and complete any procedures required by the organizers; by the finish, daylight and temperatures may have changed. Individual start times and cut-off times have not been detailed, so it is not possible to calculate the permitted duration or checkpoint times precisely. The final program will be essential for planning the day.

Updates about the route, elevation, aid stations, support and mandatory equipment also deserve attention. The event has an announced date, venue, general start time, categories and price tiers, but the available information does not specify every operational detail. That distinction matters to participants: general information gives an outline of the event, while the rules and organizers’ announcements determine what happens on the course. In a mountain race, preparation means knowing both the route and the rules that protect it.