Pedrezuela’s 2026 mountain San Silvestre: times, distances and fees

Plan your race pace

The mountain San Silvestre in Pedrezuela will hold its 15th edition on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2026, with several formats and staggered starts near the town hall. The long race, short race, Fast Trail and a walking event make up the provisional program for a gathering that also marks the end of that year’s Iberika Trail circuit.

The day combines competition, hiking and awards, but some route details differ across the pages reviewed. The long race is advertised as 24 kilometers, although another reference lists 25; the short course is 9 kilometers, and the Fast Trail ranges from 4 to 8. For that reason, final routes and schedules should be confirmed with the organizers before traveling.

Date, bib pickup and provisional schedule

The organizers have scheduled bib pickup from 8:30 to 10:15 a.m. near the start area. The published schedule lists the long race start at 10 a.m., the Fast Trail at 10:40 a.m., the short race at 10:50 a.m. and the walking event one minute later, at 10:51 a.m. These are provisional times and may change.

The call-up areas, where participants gather before each start, are scheduled for 10 minutes before the competitive races: 9:50 a.m. for the long race, 10:30 a.m. for the Fast Trail and 10:40 a.m. for the short race. The walking event has a 10:50 a.m. call-up. Arriving with time to spare allows participants to collect their bibs, check their gear and find the assigned area without turning the minutes before the race into another race of their own.

A schedule has also been published for the awards ceremonies: trophies for the short race and Fast Trail are set for 12:40 p.m., those for the long race at 2 p.m. and the circuit’s overall awards at 2:30 p.m. The schedule may change for organizational reasons or because of conditions on the day; these times should be treated as a guide, not a final guarantee.

Four formats for different paces

The long race is the most demanding course, advertised at 24 kilometers with 1,000 meters of positive elevation gain. One route description rounds it up to 25 kilometers, a difference that may reflect how the course was measured or an update that has not yet been made. In either case, the elevation gain and mountain terrain set it apart from an urban race of a similar distance.

The short race covers 9 kilometers and about 350 meters of positive elevation gain. It is a shorter competitive option, although distance alone does not describe the full effort: climbs and uneven surfaces can make the pace slower than on pavement. The organizers also list a Fast Trail of 4 to 8 kilometers, a shorter format whose exact distance should be checked in the final information.

The fourth option is a noncompetitive walking event of about 6.5 kilometers. Its noncompetitive format allows participants to walk through the area, but that does not mean the activity is physically effortless: the terrain may include hills and natural surfaces. The range of formats broadens the ways to participate without turning every start into the same race or suggesting that every course suits everyone.

A mountain route in northern Madrid

Pedrezuela lies in the northern Madrid mountains, a landscape of paths, hills and granite terrain that contrasts with the pavement common in year-end races. The long course passes through the area around town and accumulates close to 1,000 meters of climbing, making elevation and surface conditions as important as the distance printed on the race bib.

The available description does not establish that all formats share the same surface or an identical route each year. Courses may also be adjusted because of weather or permits. That possibility matters especially in December, when cold, rain or mud can alter trail conditions and make an apparently straightforward section require greater care.

References to the circuit place the start and finish near Pedrezuela town hall square. Before traveling, it is sensible to check the map and exact access point once the final information is published. The advertised distance does not replace the elevation profile or track: mountain runners need to know the climbs and terrain, not only the total number of kilometers.

Checkpoints, cutoffs and aid stations

The long race is listed with a checkpoint at kilometer 10 and a two-hour cutoff. According to the available information, runners who arrive after that limit must withdraw. The published overall time limits are 3 hours and 30 minutes for the long race and two hours for the short race. No equivalent limits have been provided for the Fast Trail or walking event, so they should not be assumed.

One route listing details aid stations for the long race at kilometers 8.7, 12.4 and 19.7; the first two are listed as providing fluids, while the last offers food and drink. The short course is listed with one station around kilometer 5. These details may depend on the route version and should be checked against the official race instructions, particularly when planning hydration.

The information reviewed says that cups and bottles will not be provided at aid stations. Bringing a collapsible cup or personal container is therefore a practical detail that avoids relying on disposable cups. The listing also says that the timing chip must be registered at checkpoints and that missing one may lead to disqualification. Following every checkpoint is part of safety and race validity, not a minor administrative step.

Registration, prices and available places

Published prices vary by format, federation license and registration period. The long race is listed at 32 euros for mountain-federation members and 35 euros for runners without a license during the first price period; later rates are listed as 37 and 40 euros. For the short race, the listed prices are 24, 27, 29 and 32 euros, according to the same variables.

The Fast Trail is listed at 22 euros for licensed runners and 25 euros for nonmembers in the first period, with later rates of 27 and 30 euros. The walking event has a fixed fee of 19 euros. Platform fees may be added to the listed price, so the final total may differ from the base rate. Exact periods and the dates when prices change should be confirmed on the registration platform.

Available references indicate a limit of 800 bibs and say that registration will not be available on race day. The cap appears to apply to the event overall, but the allocation between formats is not specified. There is also insufficient information to say how many places remain. Registration appears to include entry to the chosen event, but payment confirmation, change terms and any refund policy should be checked in the rules for the 2026 edition.

What participation includes and what to bring

Services listed with registration include liquid and solid refreshments, food at the finish, a gift, a finisher medal, a free photo report, and accident and third-party liability insurance. Specific availability may be subject to the organizers’ conditions, but the package describes services both on the course and at the finish, along with timing-related items.

For bib pickup, participants are instructed to bring identification and, where applicable, their federation card. The listing also mentions wearing the bib visibly on the front and using a timing chip, which may need to be returned after the event. Since complete mandatory-gear instructions for each format have not been provided, participants should follow the updated rules and pre-race notices, especially if organizers set additional minimum equipment requirements.

Bringing a personal cup deserves attention because the absence of containers at water stations may affect hydration plans. For a December start, it is also reasonable to consider layering clothing and checking trail conditions, without treating these general points as an official mandatory-gear list. The edition’s rules are the definitive reference for requirements, not recommendations from other races or previous seasons.

Age, safety and participation rules

The reference information sets a general minimum age of 15 during the year of the event, with a stricter condition for the long race, which is limited to adults. The walking event is listed as open from age 12. A signed authorization is mentioned for minors. These conditions should be read alongside the official rules, which determine how age is verified and who may complete a registration.

A mountain-federation license is not listed as mandatory, although runners without one pay a higher fee that reflects insurance differences. The organizers also list accident and third-party liability coverage. Insurance does not remove the need to consider the route’s difficulty, personal fitness and weather conditions; in the mountains, even shorter distances can call for attention and caution.

The listing says dogs are not allowed and registration cannot be completed on race day. It also mentions a possible 50% refund for cancellations before the preceding Sunday, although this condition may depend on the terms published for this edition. Requirements and payment rules should be checked before paying, because they are among the details most likely to change between editions or according to platform terms.

Getting there and planning the morning

The location provided for the start and finish is Plaza de la Constitución, 1, beside Pedrezuela town hall. Another description refers to the area around the town hall square, so it is worth checking the exact point listed in the race instructions rather than relying only on a general address. Bib pickup is scheduled in the start area, but no separate access point for each format has been specified.

One event listing mentions marked parking areas less than 700 meters from the start. That reference helps estimate the walk, although the number of spaces and any traffic restrictions are not detailed. With several starts between 10 and 10:51 a.m., participants and spectators may arrive around the town center at the same time.

According to the provisional schedule, bib pickup ends at 10:15 a.m., while the final starts are the short race and the walking event. Late arrivals could miss the pickup window even if their event starts later. Bib pickup times and start times are different details: planning travel around both avoids relying on an extension that has not been announced.

The circuit finale and the meaning of the event

The Pedrezuela race is listed as the last event on the 2026 Iberika Trail calendar, and the schedule sets aside 2:30 p.m. for awards in the circuit’s overall standings. That role makes the day more than a standalone competition: the season’s results find their final setting here, alongside runners who have taken part in other events on the calendar.

The year-end atmosphere does not change the demands of the route. The long race features mountain terrain and a notable elevation gain; the short course covers less ground but is not necessarily an easy effort; and the Fast Trail concentrates the challenge into a shorter route. The walking event offers another way to experience the area. Each format has its own character, and comparing them only by distance leaves out terrain, elevation and start pace.

The key details of the edition already place the event on the calendar: Saturday, Dec. 19, in Pedrezuela, with four formats. Still, the difference between 24 and 25 kilometers for the long race, the variable Fast Trail distance and the provisional schedule make it wise to check for organizer updates before finalizing plans. In a mountain race, the final map and race-day instructions matter as much as the date marked on the calendar.