Serra del Coto 2026: date, start time, routes and entry

Plan your race pace

The Serra del Coto mountain race and walking event has a date for its 2026 edition: Sunday, Dec. 20, with a scheduled 8 a.m. start in Casas del Señor, a village in the municipality of Monóvar, in Alicante province. The published information identifies it as a mountain trail event and gives an entry period running from Oct. 14 to Dec. 13, although it does not state a fee.

There is, however, an important difference between the available details. The event listing confirms the date, time, location and trail format, while a race platform attributes 14- and 23-kilometer routes and approximate elevation gains to the event. Those distances and figures are not confirmed in the main event information, so they should be treated as provisional until the 2026 regulations describe the course.

Race date, start and location

The event is scheduled for Dec. 20, 2026. The listed start time is 8 a.m. The location is given as Cases del Senyor, also known in Spanish as Casas del Señor, within the municipality of Monóvar. The listing places the race in Alicante, inland from the province’s urban coastline and away from the feel of a road race through city streets.

An early start is typical for a mountain event, where terrain and daylight are part of the experience. December can bring cool mornings and changing weather in Alicante’s inland hills, but no specific weather forecast has been published for race day. Temperature, wind and the chance of rain should be checked closer to the event, rather than relying on historical averages from other platforms as a forecast.

The available listing does not specify a street address, square or building as the start and finish location. The Aula de la Natura in the village has been mentioned in reports about previous editions, but that information relates to an earlier event and does not confirm that the 2026 start will be in the same place. Updated regulations will be the reference for access, parking and any change of venue.

What is known about the routes and what remains unconfirmed

A specialist platform lists two competitive options, at 14 and 23 kilometers, and a noncompetitive 14-kilometer walk. It also attributes around 600 meters of elevation gain to the shorter route and about 1,100 meters to the longer one. These figures suggest an event with sustained climbs and trail sections, but they do not appear in the main event listing provided for the 2026 edition.

The difference between the two distances substantially changes the type of effort involved. A route close to 14 kilometers may demand strong climbing and careful descending without extending the day as much; a 23-kilometer course, if confirmed, requires runners to sustain their effort for longer and manage their energy more carefully. In either case, mountain running calls for watching the ground and adapting one’s stride, unlike maintaining an even pace along a road.

A walking event also appears in the platform’s description, but it is not detailed in the event listing that gives the date and start time. Therefore, the events, distances and conditions should be checked against the current regulations. The available information does not confirm official elevation, aid stations, time limits, categories, mandatory gear or participant limits.

Registration: dates and entry fee

The stated registration period opens on Oct. 14, 2026, at 9:59 a.m. and closes Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. Entries are listed as being managed by Mychip through RockTheSport. The same information says registration will open soon, in line with the listed schedule, but does not publish fees or price brackets.

Without a stated price, participants cannot calculate the cost or compare fees across event formats. An outside platform shows an indicative amount of 20 euros or more, with variation, but that reference is no substitute for an official fee and should not be taken as the confirmed 2026 price. The final fee, any service charges and refund terms should appear in the registration form or event rules.

It is also important to distinguish announced dates from actual availability. Registration could close before the stated deadline if the participant limit is reached, although the available information does not specify a cap for this edition. Payment confirmation, the selected category and proof of registration depend on the terms published on the event platform.

A mountain race in inland Alicante

Casas del Señor is part of the Monóvar area, an inland setting where mountains and country tracks offer a different backdrop from coastal road races. The trail format stated in the listing points to a natural-surface event, although the exact 2026 course is not included in the available details. It is not possible to say which peaks, tracks or paths it will include without an official route.

In mountain races, elevation matters as much as distance. A long climb increases muscular and cardiovascular effort; a technical descent puts strain on the quadriceps and demands steady footing, even when the watch shows a slow pace. If the elevation figures circulating on outside platforms are confirmed, the two distances would have distinct profiles, but those estimates are not an official GPS track or certified measurement.

Mediterranean scenery can include dry slopes, low vegetation, rocky outcrops and dirt tracks, but those general characteristics of the area are not enough to describe every section of the race. The specific route determines whether runners will mainly use wide tracks or narrow paths, how long they will spend on rocky ground and where the steepest climbs are concentrated. For now, the only format confirmed in the listing is trail.

How to read the published information

Event listings and running platforms do not always update at the same time or provide the same level of detail. In this case, one source places the event on Dec. 20 while another gives a different date; for 2026, the main event listing and the additional details provided agree on the 20th. Dec. 20, 2026, is the date to use as the reference, while the organizer’s regulations will settle operational details.

There are also historical references to previous editions with different dates, routes or start locations. They help show that the race has a history in the area, but should not automatically be carried over to the next event. A start location mentioned in an older report, for example, does not by itself confirm the current venue; the same applies to the edition number, which is not clearly established in the 2026 information.

Caution matters especially when it comes to distance and elevation figures. If the regulations confirm 14- and 23-kilometer courses, participants will be better able to judge which one suits their experience. Until then, presenting those details as final would create certainty that the main source does not provide. The date, time and location are clear; routes, fees and technical details still need official confirmation.

General preparation for running on trails

Trail running is not prepared for simply by adding miles on flat roads. A typical approach combines steady running with hills, strength work and practice on varied terrain, depending on each runner’s fitness and experience. Descents deserve particular attention: building stability and control can matter just as much as gaining speed on climbs.

The duration of the effort depends on the actual distance, elevation and trail conditions. Anyone considering the event should wait for the official profile before adjusting long runs or deciding what gear is needed. Loose rock or mud is very different from a firm track, and course information helps runners choose shoes, clothing and pacing more thoughtfully.

In December, dressing in layers can be practical for an early start, but the right choice depends on the forecast and event rules. Trail shoes should provide suitable grip for the surface; no single outsole works perfectly on every terrain. It is also worth checking instructions on water, aid stations and mandatory items, because those requirements are not included in the available 2026 event details.

The mix of walking and racing

Combining a race with a walking event can broaden the range of people taking part in a mountain gathering. Walkers can enjoy the landscape at a different pace, while the competitive event calls for more intensive effort management. Even so, the short event listing does not sufficiently explain how those options will work in 2026, or whether they will share a route or have separate starts.

On an event like this, sharing narrow trails calls for awareness and respect among participants. Yielding when it is safe, following course markings and leaving no litter are basic trail etiquette, not minor details. The rules often explain what to do in the event of a withdrawal or incident, too. The specific Serra del Coto rules should be checked in this edition’s regulations.

A race’s local character is also shaped by volunteers, course marking and coordination of services, although no detailed information about on-course arrangements is available here. It is therefore not possible to confirm what finish-line services will be provided, whether medals will be awarded or what facilities will be available nearby. Those details should not be assumed without explicit confirmation.

The details that will define the 2026 edition

For now, the event’s essential details are set: Sunday, Dec. 20, 2026, a scheduled 8 a.m. start, Casas del Señor and a mountain trail format. The announced registration window runs from Oct. 14 to Dec. 13, and Mychip is listed as the registration platform through RockTheSport. The available information does not state the entry fee.

The main question for prospective participants is the final course and its regulations. Those should establish distances, elevation, event formats, safety rules and services. Outside platforms offer context with their 14- and 23-kilometer figures and approximate elevation gains, but those details still need confirmation. An accurate route description is essential for judging how the challenge matches one’s experience.

The Serra del Coto will once again bring trail running to the inland landscape around Monóvar in midwinter, when early mornings still hold a chill and the trails move to a different rhythm from city streets. Until complete regulations are published, the firmest details are the date, time and location; the rest should be read with care. In a mountain race, knowing where the course begins matters, but knowing what lies underfoot matters even more.