Trail Refugis de Pedra in Onda: 2027 date and race guide

Plan your race pace

The Refugis de Pedra trail race will return to Onda on March 13, 2027, according to the confirmed date for this edition. The mountain race is associated with the Sierra de Espadán, and its main distance is listed at around 41 kilometres. Essential details, including the start time, entry fee, registration system and final course, have not yet been publicly confirmed.

The available information also makes it important to distinguish 2027 details from those of previous editions. In 2026, the event included three distances of 14, 22 and 41 kilometres, on demanding mountain courses; those figures provide historical context but do not by themselves confirm the 2027 programme. The March edition will need to publish its regulations to set the elevation gain, services, aid stations and participation rules.

Confirmed date and venue in Onda

The next edition is scheduled for Saturday, March 13, 2027, in Onda, in Castellón province. Located beside the Sierra de Espadán, the town offers a mix of urban streets, forest tracks and mountain trails that helps explain the race’s traditionally varied and technical character. The date places it in the spring trail calendar, although the actual weather will not be known until much closer to race day.

The date is the firmest detail provided for this edition. No official 2027 start time or confirmed start and finish address is available yet. In 2026, the organisers placed the start at Plaza Raval de San José and staggered the starts for the three courses, but the same logistics should not be assumed without confirmation. The new regulations will be the reference for the meeting point and schedule.

Spring can bring cool mornings and changing temperatures between the town and higher ground. Rain or mud is also possible, but conditions cannot be predicted so many months in advance. The season offers context, not a forecast: clothing and equipment should be chosen using an up-to-date weather report and the organisers’ instructions.

Advertised distance and what remains unknown

The available 2027 listing identifies a 41-kilometre event. That is the clearest figure for runners interested in the long course, although no edition-specific regulations are available to confirm its profile, elevation gain, checkpoints or cut-off time. One race listing mentions around 900 metres of elevation gain, while information for the 2026 edition describes a course with roughly 2,400 to 2,500 metres. The difference is substantial, so neither figure should be presented as final for 2027.

In 2026, the event also included the approximately 22-kilometre Media Refugis and the 14-kilometre Refugis Sprint. These distances add useful context, but there is no confirmation that they will return in 2027. Nor has an official table of distances, elevation gains or participant limits been released for the new edition. Registration details should clarify whether there will be one distance or several.

This distinction matters especially in a mountain race. On a road course, a difference of a few kilometres changes the finishing time; on a trail with elevation and uneven ground, a change in the profile can alter the difficulty far more significantly. Until updated documents are available, the 41-kilometre figure should be read as the advertised distance, not as a complete description of the effort involved.

The course character of the Sierra de Espadán

Previous editions have linked the race to a mountain route around Onda, featuring trails, tracks and nearby villages. The 2026 long course was described as passing through Tales, Benitandús, Sueras and Artesa, as well as climbing the Órganos and Montí. These names help explain the landscape, but they do not make up a confirmed 2027 route: the course may change, and the relevant edition’s documents must be checked.

Espadán terrain typically alternates between surfaces that call for different responses. A track allows a more consistent pace; a narrow trail with loose stones calls for shorter strides and attention to foot placement. On descents, roots, bends and sudden changes in footing can make concentration more important than speed. This combination is part of trail running’s appeal and helps explain why distance alone does not measure how hard a race will be.

Onda’s urban start can also contrast with the quiet of the mountain sections. Passing through villages and rural paths, when included in the route, brings changes of pace and local encouragement. There is no official 2027 information confirming which settlements or peaks will feature, so any previous course should be treated as historical context rather than the current route.

A long race that calls for mountain experience

A 41-kilometre mountain race is not equivalent to a road marathon. Climbs may require walking, and a technical descent can tire the legs even when the heart rate seems controlled. If substantial elevation gain is confirmed, the challenge will depend on aerobic fitness, climbing strength and muscular endurance on the way down. The official course profile will be essential for assessing the difficulty.

General preparation for a long trail race often combines time on feet, strength work and practice on terrain similar to the course. It is also worth getting used to eating and drinking during prolonged efforts, without trying unfamiliar food or equipment on race day. These are general principles, not an individual plan or a guarantee of results: appropriate training loads depend on each runner’s experience, health and history.

Technique matters particularly on rocky trails. Looking ahead, anticipating foot placement and avoiding an early surge on descents when the legs are tired can help reduce mistakes. Strength work may improve tolerance to changing gradients, but it should be increased gradually. For a race of this kind, familiarity with the terrain and effort management matter as much as pace.

Registration, fees and race numbers: details still to come

The information available does not confirm when 2027 registration will open, how much a race number will cost or when entries will close. It also gives no details about participant limits, price tiers, payment options or included services. Fees quoted for 2026 belong to a different edition and should not be used as a guide to the next race, because prices can change from year to year.

Before entering, runners should review the regulations and participation conditions. These should set out race-number collection requirements, necessary documents, transfer options and the policy in case the event is postponed or cancelled. In mountain races, information about mandatory equipment and time cut-offs may also affect the decision to take part.

For now, there is not enough information to say that registration is open or to provide a reliable price. Once entries are announced, runners should check that the selected distance, total cost and refund conditions match the option they want. A race number offered by a third party is not a substitute for confirmation from the organiser, particularly if transfers are not permitted.

Aid stations, cut-offs and race services

Information for 2026 described seven aid stations on the long course, in addition to the finish, and three on the middle distance. It also noted time cut-offs and the absence of cups at aid stations, meaning runners had to bring their own drinking container. These details help show how that edition was organised, but they have not been confirmed for 2027 and should not be used as the sole basis for planning the new race.

Aid stations affect how much water and food each participant needs to carry. The distance between stations, available supplies and container rules should appear in the regulations or runner’s guide. If long sections without support remain, runners will need to calculate their needs with a margin, taking pace, temperature and personal tolerance into account.

Previous documents also mentioned medical assistance, accident insurance and chip timing. Their presence in 2026 does not guarantee that the same services will be provided on the same terms next year. Confirmed services, emergency contacts and withdrawal procedures should be checked in the 2027 information, rather than inferred from previous editions.

Equipment and March conditions

Equipment choices will depend on the course and the mandatory kit list set by the organisers. For a trail with rocks and narrow paths, shoes with suitable grip and adequate protection may be more appropriate than a model designed solely for road running. A light windbreaker, a stowable layer and a hydration reserve may also be useful, but the final kit should follow the regulations and expected conditions.

In March, the difference between the start and the middle of the day can be noticeable. A cool morning may give way to sunshine, while wind or rain can change how exposed sections feel. A reliable forecast will only arrive nearer race day; versatile layers help avoid relying on a single weather scenario. It is not possible to give a specific temperature forecast for March 13, 2027, at this stage.

Poles, water reservoirs and an emergency blanket are examples of equipment that may be required or permitted under the regulations. Runners should not assume that an item is mandatory just because it was used in another race or edition. Before travelling, check the equipment list and test everything in training: using new shoes, a pack or a hydration system for the first time in a long race adds avoidable risk.

Getting to Onda and planning the trip

Onda is the stated host town, but the 2027 start and finish locations have not yet been confirmed. Plaza Raval de San José was described as the start and finish point for the 2026 edition; the new event may keep it or make changes. Until a services map is published, it is unwise to book accommodation based on an unconfirmed start location.

Visitors from outside the area should allow time for travel and check where parking will be available, whether roads will close and how race numbers will be collected. None of those details has been specified for 2027. The start time will also shape travel plans: without it, runners cannot reliably decide when to arrive or whether to stay overnight.

Onda can also serve as a base for exploring the Plana Baixa and the approaches to the Sierra de Espadán. The race should not, however, be confused with a public hiking route: the course, passage points and restrictions may apply only on race day. The official map will be the reference for runners and spectators, particularly where sections have no direct road access.

What to look for before race day

The 2027 information should resolve several open questions: available distances, measured elevation, course map, start times, aid stations, mandatory equipment and entry fees. Cut-off times, safety rules and registration conditions will also matter. These are not minor details; they help determine whether the race suits each runner’s experience and preparation.

Previous-edition listings can help explain the race’s character and setting, but they do not replace updated regulations. The discrepancy between elevation figures attributed to the long course in different references reinforces the need for caution. Until an official figure is published, the 2027 elevation gain should be treated as unconfirmed, along with any operational details that have not been announced.

The date, by contrast, makes it possible to mark March 13, 2027, on the calendar. With Onda as the venue and a long course advertised at 41 kilometres, the next edition points to a day of mountain running around Espadán. The full picture will depend on the documents released by the organisers: only then can the route, difficulty and conditions for starting be established with confidence.

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