Entre Rías 2027: route, start times and key details

Plan your race pace

O Grove will host the start on Sunday, May 16, 2027, for a race that crosses some of the Rías Baixas’ best-known scenery before reaching Sanxenxo. The programme includes a 21-kilometer half marathon starting at 10 a.m. and a 10K race beginning at 11:30 a.m. The longer course is certified by the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation.

The event also begins on Saturday, May 15, with free children’s races. From the start in O Grove, through A Toxa Island and A Lanzada beach, to the finish in Sanxenxo, the event combines competition, Atlantic scenery and logistical services for participants in the two main distances.

A race linking O Grove and Sanxenxo

The race stands out for its point-to-point route: runners start in O Grove and head towards Sanxenxo rather than completing a loop several times. The course passes through A Toxa Island and A Lanzada beach, two well-known coastal landmarks in the area, before reaching the finish. The organisers describe it as a race between the Rías Baixas, and the main distance is certified by the RFEA.

Certification is particularly relevant to runners tracking their times or comparing results with other events. It means the distance has been measured according to federation standards, although an individual result also depends on pace, conditions on race day and race management. The published distance is 21 kilometres; the information provided does not include a detailed elevation profile or a street-by-street course map.

The coastal setting can give the event a different feel from an urban half marathon. The sea accompanies part of the route, and the course passes through visually varied locations, but this does not mean the entire route is flat or that weather conditions are guaranteed. Available information does not specify elevation changes, exact refreshment points or a weather forecast; those details should be checked in the regulations and official updates as the date approaches.

Two distances with different start times

The main event covers 21 kilometres and starts at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 16. The 10K begins an hour and a half later, at 11:30 a.m. The staggered starts give each distance its own start time and help organise participant movements, but runners should still check the specific instructions for their event.

The minimum age also differs. Participants must be at least 16 on race day to enter the half marathon; the 10K is open to runners aged 14 and above, also measured on that date. The event information groups both distances into Promesa/Senior, ages 14 to 34; Veteran A, 35 to 44; Veteran B, 45 to 54; and Veteran C, 55 and older. The regulations should be treated as the final authority on entry requirements and age classifications.

The children’s programme takes place the previous day, Saturday, May 15, at 11 a.m. The races are free and divided by age: Minibenjamín, ages 0 to 4, over about 200 metres; Prebenjamín, ages 5 to 7, over about 500; Benjamín, ages 8 to 10, over about 900; and Alevín, ages 11 to 13, over roughly 1,200 metres. These are approximate distances in the published information, not certified competition measurements.

What the route offers and what is known about logistics

Because the start and finish are in different towns, travel between them is an important practical consideration. The organisers plan buses before and after the races for participants who requested the service when registering. Anyone who did not request it will not be allowed to use those vehicles, so personal transport arrangements should be considered during registration.

For the half marathon, buses to the start will depart every 10 minutes from the corner of Avenida Luis Rocafort and Rúa Castelao, opposite Cafetería Castelao. The first is scheduled for 7:45 a.m. and the last for 8:45 a.m. For the 10K, buses will also leave every 10 minutes, between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., from the same location. Return buses after the events are scheduled for 1 p.m., 1:20 p.m., 1:40 p.m. and 2 p.m.

These times provide a useful planning outline, but each participant should confirm the final transport conditions, boarding point and relevant departure time. The available information does not state the service price or whether there are intermediate stops. It also does not specify entry fees, so no reliable cost can be given for either distance.

Bib numbers, bag drop and finish-line services

The race will be timed with a chip system linked to the bib number. Runners must wear it visibly on the front throughout the race, allowing the timing system to record their passage. Details about when and where to collect it are referred to the regulations and the Participant Zone; no specific collection schedule is provided here.

The race pack includes the bib and an event gift. It is available only during bib collection and will not be mailed later, so collecting it within the stated period is part of the event logistics. Participants will receive a finisher medal after completing the race. The organisers have not yet detailed all gift items, so a shirt or any other specific item cannot be treated as confirmed.

Bag-drop facilities will be available at both start areas, with collection at the finish. The service closes 15 minutes before each race starts, an important detail for anyone planning to leave belongings there. Showers are also planned in the finish area, with separate facilities for men and women; the exact location should be checked in the Participant Zone.

The event also includes men’s and women’s categories for wheelchair athletes and for runners with disabilities competing on foot. The available information does not fully describe the participation conditions: the regulations are the document that should clarify requirements, classification and possible accommodations. That detail matters so each athlete can assess the event format and course conditions with adequate information.

Categories and half-marathon prizes

The half-marathon overall standings will award prizes to the top five men and top five women. The announced amounts are the same for both standings: 500 euros for first place, 300 for second, 200 for third, 150 for fourth and 100 for fifth. The reference information does not list cash prizes for the 10K or for age-group categories.

The age divisions bring together participants of different profiles across both races: Promesa/Senior covers ages 14 to 34; Veteran A, 35 to 44; Veteran B, 45 to 54; and Veteran C, 55 and older. Although these categories are published for both the half marathon and the 10K, the minimum age for each distance remains different. If there is any discrepancy, the official rules for the edition determine how each category is applied.

The children’s races follow their own structure, with four groups covering ages 0 to 13. Distances increase with age, from about 200 metres for the youngest children to roughly 1,200 metres for the Alevín group. Their free entry and Saturday schedule make them a distinct part of the weekend, rather than an extension of Sunday’s races.

How the event fits into a weekend in the Rías Baixas

The distance between the start and finish also shapes the day for spectators. While runners travel from O Grove to Sanxenxo, family members and spectators should remember that the start and finish are not in the same place. The organisers offer buses to participants who requested them, but the available information does not describe equivalent transport for spectators or a public-mobility plan.

Passing through A Toxa and A Lanzada gives the course a recognisable geographical setting, with coastline, beaches and open scenery. In a road race, that landscape can be part of the experience without ceasing to be a competition: runners still need to manage their effort across the full distance rather than being carried along by the scenery alone. No elevation profile has been published, so references to the landscape should not be mistaken for a technical description of the terrain.

The event brings together different formats without giving them the same schedule or conditions. The 21K starts at 10 a.m.; the 10K starts at 11:30; and children’s races take place on Saturday morning. Bag drop, showers, chip timing and transport requested in advance add practical services beyond the course itself.

What to confirm before travelling

The announced details establish the essentials: Sunday, May 16, 2027; the half-marathon start in O Grove at 10 a.m.; the 10K at 11:30 a.m.; and the finish in Sanxenxo. The children’s races are scheduled for Saturday, May 15, at 11 a.m. The minimum ages, general categories and planned bus times for participants who booked the service are also available.

Other points have not been given a price or a precise description. The entry fee, exact start and finish addresses, registration deadline, full course map, precise refreshment locations and bib-collection schedule are not listed. Cutoff times and refund conditions are also unknown. These gaps should not be filled with details from previous editions, since arrangements can change from year to year.

The regulations and Participant Zone are the references for confirming operational instructions, particularly for transport, documents, bib numbers and disability categories. It is also useful to check the organisers’ updates before travelling, as bus times and service locations may be finalised or changed. The published information sets out the event’s main structure, but practical details need confirmation through official channels.

An Atlantic race with two paces and one destination

The event’s offer is clear: a certified half marathon between two towns, a 10-kilometre alternative and a free children’s programme the day before. Passing A Toxa and A Lanzada gives the route a coastal character, while buses, bag drop and showers address specific needs in a race with separate start and finish locations.

The most important planning details are the chosen distance, its start time, the minimum age and the decision about the bus, which must be requested during registration. The date is confirmed for May 16, 2027, but the entry fee and several operational details are not included in the reference information. With those caveats, the event shapes up as a day combining sport and scenery while keeping the essentials in view: reach the correct start and pace the route to Sanxenxo sensibly.