October Trail Menorca 2024: dates, routes and prices

Plan your race pace

Menorca once again puts the spotlight on autumn trail running with an event that combines scenery, logistics, and real toughness: the October Trail is contested on the Camí de Cavalls, a route that hugs the island’s south and southwest coast and turns every kilometer into a mix of sand, rock, trail, and sea wind. The competition was born to make the most of that setting and, over the years, has established itself as one of the most distinctive events in the Balearic calendar thanks to its format, its three distances, and the variety of athlete profiles it welcomes.

The 2024 edition was held on October 26, with a main start at 09:30 and a staggered schedule for the 19- and 11-kilometer races. The long distance, 32 kilometers, starts in Son Bou and finishes in Cala’n Bosch; the middle distance starts from Cala Mitjana; and the short race from Cala’n Turqueta. This is not a road race or a tourist outing with a bib: it is trail running with rules, mandatory gear, chip timing, and a high demand for self-sufficiency in an environment that, while mild in climate, gives nothing away in terms of terrain.

A route that traces the Menorcan coastline

The great appeal of the October Trail lies in the course. The race runs along the Camí de Cavalls, the historic path that circles Menorca and links coves, pine forests, cliffs, and stretches open to the sea. In this competition, the focus is mainly on the south and southwest, a strip of land where the scenery changes quickly: the trail narrows between vegetation, then opens onto rock, then drops to sand and, almost without warning, forces runners to manage their effort over uneven ground.

That detail matters because this is not a homogeneous circuit. Runners encounter technical downhills, areas with unstable footing, soft-sand sections, and more runnable tracks that provide a chance to recover. The overall feeling is one of effort written in chapters, not in a straight line. That is why, even though the distances are not extreme, the accumulated elevation gain, exposure to the elements, and broken rhythm make the experience feel tougher than the raw kilometers might suggest.

The flagship distance, 32 kilometers, starts in Son Bou and completes a route that ends on Cala’n Bosch beach before the final run-in to the finish. The 19-kilometer race starts from the Cala Mitjana parking area, while the 11-kilometer race begins in Cala’n Turqueta and finishes at the entrance to the Hotel Lago Resort Menorca, next to Cala’n Bosch beach. The fact that each distance has its own start is no small detail: it organizes the race, spreads out participation, and adapts the experience to different levels without losing the event’s identity.

Schedule, starts, and logistics for a race spread over time

The October Trail does not run as one compact start, but as a staggered race day. The long race gets underway at 09:30 from Son Bou. The 19-kilometer distance had two waves, one at 09:30 and another at 10:15 from Cala Mitjana. The 11-kilometer distance followed the same model, with a first start at 12:00 and a second at 12:50 from Cala’n Turqueta. This structure makes it possible to manage the flow of runners and also adds competitive nuance, since in the 19- and 11-kilometer races only the first wave is eligible for the overall win.

The organizers also provided a bus service from the Hotel Lago Resort Menorca to take participants to the starting points. In a race like this, that transfer is part of the experience just as much as the bib. Runners not only have to think about running, but also about arriving on time, carrying the required gear, and knowing the exact schedule of their start wave. In island trail running, logistics are not a formality: they are an essential part of the day.

Race bib collection was concentrated on Friday, October 25, between 16:00 and 21:00, at the same Hotel Lago Resort Menorca. That kind of setup reduces last-minute travel and brings the pre-race atmosphere together in one place. It also makes clear that the event aims to be more than an isolated competition: around the bib, a small temporary community of runners, companions, and organizers is created, making the social dimension of trail running visible.

Registration, prices, and tiers that define the real cost

Entry fees were structured by tiers and distance, following a fairly common model in mountain races with limited bibs. For the 32 kilometers, the price was 39 euros in the first tier, 53 euros between registrations 301 and 1,000, and 63 euros in the final tier until the planned 1,700 entries were filled. In the 19-kilometer race, the figures were 28, 38, and 48 euros. For the 11-kilometer race, the cost started at 25 euros, rose to 32, and finished at 42 in the final tier.

That system not only encourages early registration, it also reflects the tension between demand and capacity control. The October Trail is not a mass race in the urban sense; its value lies precisely in keeping participation at a reasonable limit and in preserving the environment. In races of this kind, the runner’s experience depends as much on the course as on the start not becoming a bottleneck. That is why the number of places, 1,700 in total, matters as much as the map.

A one-day insurance policy could also be added for non-licensed runners, at a cost of 5 euros for all three distances. Changes of distance were also available for 10 euros, bib transfers for 15 euros, and specific conditions applied to cancellations and changes before October 7, 2024. These are details that often go unnoticed in a quick read, but for participants they define the real final cost, the one that emerges when registration, administration, and insurance are combined.

Rules, minimum age, and race control

The race set a minimum age of 18 for the 32- and 19-kilometer events, while the 11-kilometer distance allowed runners from age 16, provided they had properly completed parental authorization. There is no vague flexibility here: the rules clearly separate the distances intended for adult participants from a more accessible option, though still not easy, for younger or less experienced runners.

The race was electronically timed using MyLaps chips, and runners without a yellow chip had to rent one for 3 euros. In addition, organizers warned that participants had to wear their bib visibly on the front, without folding or altering it. The rules were especially strict regarding leaving the marked course, littering, outside assistance, and the company of people without bibs. In mountain races where the terrain tempts runners to cut corners by instinct, this kind of sanction serves as a reminder that the competition demands respect for the full route.

The time limit for the 32-kilometer distance was 6 hours, with cutoffs at intermediate checkpoints. This is no minor detail: a limit like this not only structures the standings, it also defines the nature of the race. In trail running, the clock measures not only speed; it measures pacing, prudence, and the ability to sustain effort when the surface is no longer forgiving. Anyone finishing outside the time limit may continue at their own risk, but outside the competitive framework.

Mandatory gear and self-sufficiency on the Camí de Cavalls

The mandatory gear list sums up the race’s philosophy. Runners had to carry a hydration system with a minimum capacity of 0.50 liters, a mobile phone with credit and battery charge, a thermal blanket, a bib, and a chip. The organizers also reserved the right to require a windbreaker or rain jacket if the weather warranted it. A gear check was carried out before the start. This is not a decorative formality: in a changing coastal environment, prevention keeps a beautiful race from becoming a bad day.

The absence of cups at aid stations also says a lot about the event’s environmental approach. Each runner had to carry their own container to reduce waste, a practice increasingly common in trail running and mountain races in sensitive natural areas. In Menorca, where the scenic value is part of the sporting appeal, the balance between race and environment cannot remain an abstract statement. It translates into concrete habits: less plastic, more responsibility, and a more mature understanding of sport.

The course was marked with GR-223 waymarkers, a useful reference for tracking the runner’s progress on the trail, but also a clue to the logic of the route: there is no artifice or closed circuit, but rather a path that interacts with the existing network of trails. That requires listening to the terrain, reading changes in surface, and adjusting stride to a landscape that is not designed for continuous fast running, but for attentive running.

Race atmosphere, prizes, and participant services

Beyond the effort, the October Trail unfolds in a very distinctive Mediterranean trail-running atmosphere. The organizers planned aid stations during the race and at the finish, live tracking at checkpoints, bag drop, a finisher’s medal, and bus transfers from the hotel to the starts. The race relies on that collection of services to build a complete experience, from bib pickup to crossing the finish line. It is not just a route in the mountains; it is a day carefully designed so that participants feel everything fits together.

The trophy ceremony was scheduled for 16:00 in the stage area. There were also separate categories for the long race, with overall male and female, senior, and veteran age groups, while the 19- and 11-kilometer distances had overall male and female classifications. This structure keeps the competitive interest alive without over-fragmenting the event. The result is a race that knows how to be demanding without losing its closeness.

On an emotional level, the added value lies in the final landscape. Crossing the finish line in Cala’n Bosch after passing coves, pine forests, and coastal paths leaves a very different impression from that of an urban marathon. Here, fatigue mixes with salt on the skin, sand in the shoes, and the feeling of having crossed an island at human scale. That largely explains the race’s appeal: it does not sell pure speed, but an encounter between sport and place.

Why this race stands out in the autumn calendar

The October Trail fits well into the logic of the end of the season. October is often a month of renewed effort, changing temperatures, and a transition toward longer or more technical goals. Menorca offers a still-friendly climate compared with other mainland destinations and, at the same time, a very distinctive setting thanks to the combination of coastline, trails, and uneven access paths. For many runners, that makes it an attractive event not only for the challenge, but for the full travel experience.

The race also has value for its balance. It is not an ultra, though it demands skill. It is not a speed-focused 10K, though the short distance allows ambitious racing. Nor is it a mass-participation event that dilutes the route’s identity. Its strength lies in that very well-resolved middle ground: enough variety to appeal to different profiles, enough rules to organize the day, and enough scenery for the effort to be memorable.

In an increasingly crowded calendar, the October Trail has found a clear identity. It is built on Menorca, the Camí de Cavalls, and a distance format that makes participation easier without trivializing the terrain. The island does not act as a backdrop, but as an active part of the competition. And in trail running, that is still what makes the difference between just another race and an event that leaves a mark.

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