San Martiño 2026 in Ourense: course, start time and fees

Plan your race pace

Ourense will host the 49th edition of its major popular road race on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, a 10-kilometer event that brings together tradition, competition and community participation. The main race will start at 11 a.m. from Ponte do Milenio and finish on Progreso Street, beside Concepción Arenal Square. The certified course has a revised route, and registration is open through Carreiras Galegas.

The day will also include races for children and an inclusive event, while organizers have announced prizes of up to 4,000 euros for the top overall finishers who meet specific time standards. For participants planning to enter, the key details are clear: the main race is 10 kilometers, the fee is 5 euros through Oct. 21 and 7 euros from the following day until registration closes on Nov. 1.

A November event with almost half a century of history

The San Martiño reaches its 49th edition as one of Galicia’s most recognizable popular races. Every November, the event turns the streets of Ourense into shared ground for athletes chasing a time, recreational runners and residents who come out to cheer. Its long history helps explain its appeal: this is not only a 10-kilometer competition, but a sports day woven into city life.

The previous edition drew close to 10,500 participants, a figure that conveys the scale of the event and the range of paces within the field. For 2026, the main race is listed on the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation calendar as an International Level II event, a designation that applies to the 10-kilometer race. That classification places it on the federation calendar and adds to its appeal for competitive athletes.

The race is organized by the Municipal Sports Council of the Ourense City Council, with support from sports bodies and public institutions. It retains a dual character: on one hand, a race with results, timing and certified performances; on the other, an open event that brings together people with very different aims. That combination is one reason it has remained a fixture on Galicia’s racing calendar.

Date, start and finish of the main race

The race will take place on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. The main event is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. at Ponte do Milenio, while the finish line will be on Progreso Street, beside Concepción Arenal Square. The start and finish locations allow the route to pass through different parts of the city on an urban course that combines broad avenues with downtown streets.

Runners will be arranged in color-coded starting corrals according to their verified times. The system is intended to organize entry onto the course and reduce crowding in the opening meters, when the field is still spreading out and changes of pace require attention. Organizers also plan to use electronic chip timing and course checkpoints.

The available information puts the main race start at 11 a.m. As with events featuring several categories, children’s races and the inclusive event may have separate start times; participants should follow the final instructions issued for their category. Times attributed in some reports to the accompanying races should not be mistaken for the start of the main event.

A revised course through the streets of Ourense

The 2026 edition features a revised route that starts at Ponte do Milenio and continues along Xesús Pousa and Marín Avenue. The course then follows Otero Pedrayo, passes the second roundabout on the C-536 and connects with Rodríguez Castelao Avenue and Cardenal Quevedo Street. From there, the race moves onto central thoroughfares such as Habana, Curros Enríquez and the Paseo.

The urban section continues along Lamas Carvajal and Praza Maior before taking in Bispo Carrascosa, Moratín, Colón and Padre Feijóo. It then passes Lugo, Ben-Cho-Shey, Galicia, Ramón Puga and Saínza, heading toward Zamora Avenue and O Cumial. The return along Zamora and Progreso leads to the finish beside Concepción Arenal Square.

The certified route and official distance of 10 kilometers make it possible to compare results with recognized athletic standards. Still, an urban course is more than a line on a map: turns, changes in street width and the pace of the pack can affect how runners distribute their effort. Anyone aiming for a steady pace may find it useful to learn the sequence of avenues and streets, without assuming that the route from previous editions remains unchanged.

Registration, fees and deadlines

Registration takes place online through Carreiras Galegas. The general registration period will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 1, according to the information released for this edition. Entry to the main race costs 5 euros for those who register by Oct. 21; the fee rises to 7 euros from Oct. 22 through the closing date.

Children’s races and the inclusive event have free registration. Schools registering students for the youth races must complete the process by Oct. 19, ahead of the general deadline. The separate dates reflect the specific organization required for school groups and are worth noting to avoid confusion with individual registration.

Early registration is also linked to advance bib pickup: organizers list Oct. 21 as the deadline for that option. The bib and chip identify runners during the event and record their time, so the details entered during registration should match those of the participant. The fee does not change the sporting conditions of the race, but the cost depends on when the runner signs up.

Cash prizes and benchmark times

The announced prize pool adds to the race’s competitive appeal. In the men’s and women’s overall classifications, the top three finishers will receive 4,000, 3,000 and 2,000 euros, respectively, if men run under 29 minutes and women under 32. If those marks are not reached, the prizes for those positions will be 2,000, 1,500 and 1,000 euros.

There will also be awards for local athletes registered as residents of the municipality: 600 euros for first place, 400 for second and 200 for third in each category. The CaixaBank Special Prize awards 300 euros to the first man and first woman to pass the 5-kilometer checkpoint. The event therefore recognizes both the finish result and a fast split at an intermediate point.

Organizers are also offering a 1,000-euro incentive for breaking the course record. The benchmarks are 28 minutes, 42 seconds for men and 30 minutes, 23 seconds for women. The main prizes depend on time thresholds, so the payout is not determined by finishing position alone: place and performance must be considered together.

Youth races and the inclusive event

The program extends beyond the main distance. The Under-18, Under-16 and Under-14 categories have a 5-kilometer race, while the Under-12 and Under-10 categories run 1.1 kilometers, a distance suited to younger participants. The day also features an inclusive race, designed as a participatory, noncompetitive event open to people with and without disabilities.

This structure brings different generations into one event without asking everyone to cover the same distance or make the same effort. In the youth races, age determines the category and route; the inclusive event focuses on shared participation. Specific start arrangements and any guidance on assistance should be checked in the relevant race information.

Involving schools broadens the event beyond individual runners. Their registration deadline comes earlier than the general cutoff, helping organizers coordinate large groups. At an urban race of this scale, that planning helps manage the arrival, start and movement of participants across different age groups.

Race-day services and organization

Organizers plan to provide practical services for runners, including free parking during the event, lockers, a bag drop and showers at the Pavillón Municipal dos Remedios. These facilities are especially useful in a race that starts in one location and finishes in another, allowing participants to manage clothing and belongings without relying solely on friends or family.

Chip timing, course checkpoints and starting corrals are part of the event’s sporting framework. In a large field, these measures help record times and organize runners with verified marks, while also reserving space for popular participation. Aid stations are also planned along the course, although the available information does not specify their number or locations.

The race occupies city streets and avenues during the morning, so its progress requires coordination among organizers, participants and municipal services. Traffic closures and changes to local mobility are common features of urban races, but the available details do not specify affected streets or schedules. Those arrangements should be confirmed through official communications closer to race day.

A charitable dimension alongside the sporting event

The edition will retain a charitable option through donations made during registration. A bib-zero option is also planned for people who want to contribute without running. The available information does not yet identify the beneficiary, so that detail should not be treated as final until organizers announce it.

This format separates taking part in the race from making a financial contribution: registering is not the only way to support the charitable initiative. Donations can be added during the online process or made through the option provided for people who will not start. The purpose and terms of contributions depend on the cause selected for this edition.

At a large event, that element adds a community dimension to the competition. It does not change the distance or classification system, but connects the day to a cause beyond the results. The race therefore brings together popular sport, community participation and solidarity, three features that have shaped its public identity over the years.

What to know before Nov. 8

The main details already give a clear picture: Ourense will host the 49th edition on Nov. 8, the main race will cover 10 kilometers and it will start at 11 a.m. from Ponte do Milenio. The finish will be on Progreso Street, beside Concepción Arenal, and the revised route will cross several urban corridors before returning to the center.

For individual registration, the key deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 1. The main race costs 5 euros through Oct. 21 and 7 euros from Oct. 22, while youth categories and the inclusive event are free. Schools have until Oct. 19, and organizers set Oct. 21 as the deadline for those seeking advance bib pickup.

Start times for categories other than the main race, operational details and the charitable beneficiary may require confirmation in final communications. At an event with youth races, inclusive participation and a revised course, that precision matters as much as training the distance: it helps runners reach the right place, know their assigned category and understand how the day is organized. The San Martiño will measure pace once again, but it will also show how Ourense turns its streets into a meeting place.