Moraña prepares for a new trail race on Monte Acibal

Plan your race pace

The mountain race on Monte Acibal is scheduled for November 15, 2026, in the As Casiñas area of Moraña, Pontevedra. Available information places the event in the parish of Amil and links it to Club Atletismo +9 Moraña and the Comunidade de Montes de Amil, the organizations behind the first edition.

The event falls under trail running, and its inaugural edition included official races for the Galician Ranking as well as events for younger participants. For 2026, the information provided confirms the date and town but does not specify distances, start times, prices or the course. That distinction matters: the landscape and the event’s history help explain the race, but they do not replace updated regulations.

A race connected to Amil and the Moraña landscape

Monte Acibal is part of a landscape of ridges, tracks and woodland spanning the municipalities of Moraña, Barro and Campo Lameiro in the province of Pontevedra. Its highest point reaches approximately 573 metres above sea level. The mountain separates the Lérez and Umia river basins and, on clear days, offers broad views towards the Pontevedra and Arousa estuaries.

This setting gives the event an identity very different from an urban race. Instead of closed streets and kilometres marked on asphalt, the terrain and navigation are likely to play a central role. Still, no information has been published that would make it possible to describe the 2026 course, its total elevation gain or the proportions of tracks, paths and trails. The mountain is the confirmed setting; the precise route is not.

The event listing gives a reference address at As Casiñas, Santa Xusta, number 5, postal code 36668, in Moraña. The parish of Amil is the clearest local connection to the organizers and the first edition. Those travelling to the event should use Moraña as their reference point and check the signs and directions issued by the organizers closer to race day, because the exact start and finish locations have not yet been specified.

What is known about the 2026 edition

The date given for the next event is Sunday, November 15, 2026. For now, this is the most specific practical information available. No start time, bib pickup schedule, cut-off times or final registration procedure have been listed. No entry fee has been provided either, so the cost of participation cannot be estimated without speculation.

The reference to an inaugural edition relates to the event held in 2025. The Galician Athletics Federation listed the I Trail Monte Acibal in Moraña that year as a regional trail-running event, organized by Club Atletismo +9 Moraña and the Comunidade de Montes en Man Común de Amil. This history helps explain the event’s continuity, although it does not by itself confirm that the 2026 program will repeat every detail from the previous year.

The initial event information mentioned two races connected to the Galician Ranking and two additional races for children. This format brings federated competition and youth participation together in one event or program. However, the official distances and categories for 2026 have not been published in the available information. Until regulations are announced, that format should be treated as a precedent from the first edition, not a confirmed plan for the next one.

A course still awaiting confirmation

In mountain races, distance alone does not describe the effort involved. A short course with steep climbs, mud or uneven ground can be more demanding than a longer, gentler route. For the Moraña race, there is no information on kilometres, positive elevation gain, surface type or an official 2026 map. Without those details, it is not possible to compare each category rigorously or assess the technical difficulty of the course.

Comments from runners about the previous edition describe a varied route that was generally runnable, but also report marking issues at some junctions. One participant described confusion where the route left a track and rejoined it farther on. This is an individual account, not an official assessment or a guarantee that the issue will recur. It does, however, underline that in a trail race, clear course marking is part of both safety and sporting fairness.

There was also mention of a difference between the advertised elevation gain and the figure some runners estimated after the race, along with questions about the length of one course. These details come from a participant’s published opinion and should not be presented as verified measurements. For the 2026 edition, the most useful information will be the details in the regulations or official course profile: measured distance, elevation gain, checkpoints and aid rules. Without that material, any figure would be speculative.

Mountain terrain makes conditions important

November can bring changing conditions to the hills of Pontevedra. Rain, damp ground and shorter daylight hours may affect how the surface feels, especially where there are leaves, roots or wet stones. This does not predict conditions on race day, but it explains why the weather forecast and ground conditions matter for an autumn event. The same path can feel very different after several days of rain.

Monte Acibal includes wooded areas and open ground, within a landscape that ranges from steep sections to gentler slopes. That variety could create changes in pace and footing, although there is not enough information to attribute those features to the exact race route. Anyone planning to take part will need to wait for the course map and any guidance on recommended equipment, if provided.

In general, mountain runners often check the forecast ahead of a race, choose footwear suited to uneven surfaces and bring clothing appropriate for the temperature and rain. These are common considerations, not event-specific instructions from the Moraña organizers. Specific rules, including any mandatory equipment, should only be treated as official once they appear in the organizers’ communications. The regulations take precedence over general advice.

A race with local and federated dimensions

The involvement of a local athletics club and the community land association gives the race a close connection to its territory. Organizing a race through rural tracks requires coordination of the route, signage and coexistence with the everyday use of the mountain. The role of Amil’s organizations is not purely sporting: it also connects the event with communal land and the people who care for it.

The children’s races in the first edition broadened the event beyond adult runners. Events for younger participants can introduce families to athletics and bring visibility to local sport, provided distances and conditions are suited to each age group. It should not be assumed that these races will be part of the 2026 program until categories are published. The 2025 youth program is a precedent, not a guarantee that it will be repeated.

The event’s previous link to the Galician Ranking adds another dimension: the race formed part of the regional trail-running calendar. That status may attract athletes seeking points or federated results, as well as runners drawn by the landscape. The event’s inclusion in the calendar, its categories and any federation requirements for 2026 still need confirmation in the relevant documentation. It is important to distinguish the race’s federated history from the terms of its next edition.

How to read the information currently available

Event listings and sports calendars are not always updated at the same pace. A date may appear before registration forms, regulations or course profiles are ready. In this case, November 15, 2026, and the town of Moraña are the details given for the event, while information on the route and fees is absent from the reference material.

It is also worth distinguishing between the event location and the postal address used as a reference. The mention of As Casiñas and Santa Xusta helps locate the area, but it does not prove that the start, finish, parking or bib pickup will be there. These facilities may be in different places and should be checked against the organizers’ instructions. The address helps identify the area, but it is not a logistics map.

A confirmed date does not mean registration is open. No information has been given on when entries will become available, how many places there will be or whether different price periods will apply. It is therefore not possible to present registration status as a confirmed fact. Before arranging travel, participants should rely on updated notices from the organizers or federation rather than details from previous editions.

Moraña offers more than a race setting

Monte Acibal is a distinctive feature of Pontevedra’s inland landscape, not merely a point on a sports route. Its position between several municipalities and its proximity to the city of Pontevedra make it a place where rural, forestry and recreational uses meet. On clear days, its elevation opens up views towards the estuaries; in grey weather, woods and mist can shrink the horizon to just a few metres. The character of the place changes with the light and weather.

This context also makes it important to respect paths and communal areas. During an organized race, runners share the mountain with its usual activities, making temporary signage and directions on access and parking essential. No specific arrangements for 2026 have been published, so road closures, restrictions and services cannot be anticipated. Practical information on traffic and parking will need to come from the official event communications.

The landscape around Amil and Moraña may also draw visitors who are not taking part, but a sporting event should not be confused with unrestricted access to every section of the course. Some paths may be narrow or cross land used by the community. Staying in designated areas and keeping clear of the route helps avoid interference with runners. The organizers will need to specify how spectators and supporters are accommodated, if dedicated areas are planned.

The next edition depends on official details

With the date of November 15, 2026, now listed, the next step will be publication of the regulations, distances and race format. The start location, schedule, entry fee and registration system also remain to be clarified. Those details will determine whether the event keeps the structure of its first edition, with Galician Ranking races and children’s events, or introduces changes.

The event’s recent history provides a starting point: an inaugural race in 2025, organized by groups from Moraña and Amil, with a trail-running focus and a place in the regional calendar. The mountain setting gives the event a clear identity, but the route should not be reconstructed from scattered comments or general maps of the mountain. Official 2026 information will be the decisive reference for understanding the sporting challenge and participation requirements.

For now, the confirmed information points to an autumn event in a landscape of woodland and tracks, with views from the heights of Pontevedra towards the estuaries. For runners, the difference between an expectation and sound preparation will depend on details still to come: distance, elevation gain, terrain and logistics. For Moraña, the race once again focuses attention on a local landscape often seen from afar, but experienced step by step during a race.