El Bosque prepares for its third trail race in January 2027

Plan your race pace

The Cádiz town of El Bosque will host the third edition of its mountain race on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2027, with a main course measuring 12.5 kilometers and 360 meters of positive elevation gain. The start and finish will be at the bullring, and the route will pass through the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. The event will include individual and walking categories, as well as a new mixed-pairs division.

Organizers expect to welcome up to 1,000 adult participants, after the previous edition exceeded 1,200 registrations. The program will begin Saturday, Jan. 16, with children’s races for different age groups. According to the available information, registration is handled through Tecnocrono and is scheduled to close Jan. 3, 2027, unless the entry limit is reached sooner.

A third edition with new formats

The event returns after two editions that have placed El Bosque on the mountain-racing calendar of the Sierra de Cádiz. The previous edition’s growth, with more than 1,200 participants, points to another well-attended gathering, although the announced limit for adults in 2027 is 1,000 bibs. The final number of runners at the start will therefore depend on registrations and available places.

The most notable change to the program is the addition of a mixed-pairs competition. It is not simply a matter of sharing the course: both teammates must cross the finish line no more than two minutes apart. That requirement makes matching pace and coordination central to the challenge, setting this division apart from the individual race, where each participant completes the route independently.

Alongside those options, the event retains a walking category and general divisions. The information provided puts the shared route at about 12.5 kilometers, with 360 meters of cumulative climbing. This profile combines a distance accessible to people used to walking or running on uneven ground with enough elevation to demand steady effort management.

Date, start location and registration

The main race is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 17, 2027, in El Bosque, a town in Cádiz province. The bullring will serve as the start and finish area, as well as a reference point for spectators and supporters. The day before, Saturday, Jan. 16, is reserved for children’s races, extending the sporting program across two days.

Registration is listed as open through the Tecnocrono platform and, according to published details, will close Jan. 3, 2027, or earlier if adult places sell out. The announced limit is 1,000 adult bibs. The deadline allows participants to plan ahead, but a place is not guaranteed until registration has been completed and confirmed by the system.

Fees vary by category: 14 euros for the walking event, 18 euros for the individual trail race and 35 euros for each mixed pair. The reference information says the fees include accident insurance, a race pack, medical assistance, showers and a finisher award. It does not detail possible processing fees or refund terms, so those points should be checked in the registration form before payment.

A route through the Sierra de Grazalema

The course will enter the surroundings of Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, the mountainous landscape that provides the race’s natural setting. The combination of 12.5 kilometers and 360 meters of climbing calls for saving energy for changes in pace and uphill sections rather than treating the course like a fast road race. The available description does not include a detailed map or full elevation profile.

Organizers have planned one aid station, at kilometer 7.5. Participants are required to carry their own bottle for that section, an important condition for runners and walkers planning their hydration from the start. The information does not specify the type of container accepted, minimum capacity or products available at the station, so those details depend on the race’s technical instructions.

A start and finish at the same location makes logistics easier to follow, but does not remove the need to review the route when final documents are released. In mountain races, ground conditions, markings and the weather can affect pace more than distance alone. Here, elevation and the natural character of the course are more useful reference points than comparing a predicted time with an urban race.

The mixed category and the challenge of running as a pair

The mixed-pairs category adds a different dimension to the competition. The requirement to complete the course with no more than a two-minute gap means the effort must be shared rather than treated as two separate performances. The faster teammate will need to adjust intensity, while the slower runner will need to find a sustainable rhythm to reach the finish alongside their partner.

On a hilly course, that synchronization can change from one section to another. Climbs tend to separate runners according to strength and strategy, while descents may demand caution and attention to the ground. The finish-line rule makes cooperation and pace management competitive factors alongside individual speed. The available information does not specify other team-composition or registration requirements for this category.

The individual event follows a different logic: each runner can regulate effort according to their own sensations and goals. Those who prefer to move without racing have another way to explore the area through the walking category, although it shares the approximate distance stated for the main course. In either case, it is worth remembering that walking or running in the mountains requires attention to the terrain, not just the clock.

A program that also welcomes younger runners

Children’s races will take place Saturday, Jan. 16, with distances adapted for different age groups. The 2027 information does not specify the distance for each category, so routes from previous editions should not be attributed to this year’s event. The plan does confirm that the program includes races for children, alongside Sunday’s adult competition.

For the 2026 edition, different children’s distances were announced, ranging from 100 meters for the youngest participants to two kilometers for juniors and cadets. Those details belong to the previous event and should not automatically be treated as valid for 2027. Organizers can change routes, schedules or categories; the official information for this third edition will be the reference for families interested in taking part.

Holding the children’s races the day before separates their activity from the main event and spreads the program across two days. It also broadens the local nature of the gathering: the weekend is not solely about adult results. Including different age groups makes the event a wider sporting occasion, although specific conditions for children’s participation still need confirmation.

Services, awards and the atmosphere around the race

The announced fees include accident insurance, medical assistance, a race pack, showers and a finisher award. These provisions cover practical aspects of the day, from help in case of an incident to changing after the course. The information reviewed does not give the hours or locations for these services, details usually provided in the instructions issued before the event.

Organizers plan to award trophies to the top three finishers in each category, the leading local athletes, the oldest participants and the podium finishers in the new mixed division. Recognition is therefore not limited to the overall standings. The range of awards reflects different ways of taking part, from competitive performance to local representation and experience.

The previous edition brought runners, family members and visitors to town, and included activities alongside the race. For 2027, the available information confirms the sports program and some services, but does not yet provide a complete schedule of performances, raffles or public activities. The bullring area will serve as the center of the event, with the race and local activity sharing the same space.

What is known and what still needs confirmation

The main published details are specific: Sunday, Jan. 17, 2027; start and finish at the bullring; an approximate 12.5-kilometer route; 360 meters of positive elevation gain; and an aid station at kilometer 7.5. Individual, walking and mixed-pairs categories are also announced, along with children’s races on Saturday. These elements define the known structure of the event.

Other details are not yet included in the reference information: the start time, full map and elevation profile, category schedules, the exact number of children’s places and detailed aid-station requirements. A dedicated official domain for the event is also not listed. As a result, the 2026 schedules or rules should not be assumed to carry over unchanged to the next edition.

The published registration deadline is Jan. 3, although entries can close sooner when the adult bib limit is reached. Fees depend on category and range from 14 to 35 euros. For a reliable plan for race day, the final technical information will be essential, particularly for the start time, mandatory equipment and any course adjustments.

El Bosque, a winter fixture on the Cádiz calendar

The January date gives this race a place in the season when mountain running offers a different experience from summer events. The natural setting and elevation shape a challenge measured by more than speed: the ability to maintain a steady effort and adapt to the terrain also matters. That combination is part of the appeal of a mid-distance mountain race.

The town will once again welcome participants across different categories and age groups, with a program combining competition, walking and children’s races. The new mixed division adds a simple rule that can be demanding to follow: finish together, no more than two minutes apart. The event retains its mountain-race character while making room for other ways to experience the route.

With the date confirmed and prices published, the third edition’s main features are now defined. The route, aid-station requirements and entry limit offer runners and supporters a useful first picture; the remaining details depend on the technical information provided by organizers. On Jan. 17, the El Bosque bullring will be the starting point and return for a day shaped by the Sierra de Grazalema and outdoor sport.