Trail San Silvestre Les Ferreries 2026: date and course

Plan your race pace

The Les Ferreries mountain race has a date for its next edition in Borriol: Dec. 20, 2026. Available information describes a 12.75-kilometre course, made up mostly of trails, tracks and technical sections, with a festive element tied to costumes and the holiday season.

The clearest sporting detail is the published distance, but practical information such as the start time, entry fee, exact start location and final 2026 route has not yet been reliably detailed. The race takes place in Borriol, in Castellón province; details from previous editions help explain its character, but do not establish that the programme will repeat without changes.

A mountain race with a holiday spirit

Les Ferreries brings together two elements that do not always share the same event: a physically demanding mountain route and a festive atmosphere associated with December races. Costumes are part of that identity. They are not merely decorative: running in eye-catching clothing can affect comfort, ventilation and freedom of movement, so the playful setting does not remove the need to prepare properly.

The name San Silvestre is commonly associated with popular races that mark the end of the year, although the announced date for this edition is Dec. 20, several days before the 31st. That difference does not make the event any less distinctive; it places it in the holiday calendar and sets it apart from urban races held at year’s end. The name refers to a sporting tradition, not necessarily a race held on the final day of the calendar.

The event is aimed at people looking for a trail-running experience, not a fast road race. The natural setting and social character add to its appeal, but do not automatically make the route easy. In the mountains, a moderate distance can take more time and attention than a similarly long urban course, especially when the terrain is uneven, steep or slippery.

Date and location: what is confirmed

The date provided for 2026 is Sunday, Dec. 20, and the stated location is Borriol, in Castellón province. This is the most useful core information for runners planning their race calendar: it allows them to reserve the date and locate the event inland from the province, without confusing it with other San Silvestre races held in different cities or towns.

Some event listings show postal addresses that may belong to an registration platform or an administrative location, rather than the start line itself. For that reason, an address displayed on a third-party page should not be treated as the definitive venue unless the organizers confirm it. The 2026 start and finish locations have not been verified in the available information, so it would be unwise to assign them to a particular square or street.

A confirmed start time for the next edition is also unavailable. Specific times and locations have been published for previous years, but those details belong to past editions and should not automatically be carried over to 2026. The start time affects practical matters such as travel, parking, warm-up and clothing; until the official schedule is published, any figure would be a guess.

A 12.75-kilometre course across uneven terrain

The distance published for the race is 12.75 kilometres. The available description says that more than 95% of the route runs along trails, tracks and technical paths, while asphalt accounts for about 5%. That ratio points to a mountain race in which pacing depends less on maintaining a steady speed and more on adapting to each section.

A narrow trail can require runners to slow down and choose their footing carefully; a track allows a more consistent pace, although a sustained climb can still raise the effort. Technical paths add changes of pace and call for care on descents. Looking only at the kilometres is not enough: the surface and course profile determine much of the difficulty, and the available information does not specify the total elevation gain for 2026.

The distance provides a reasonable reference for assessing the race load, but cannot by itself predict finishing time. Someone used to road running may need more time on a route with loose dirt, stones or tight turns. Rain can also make mud and wet rocks decisive factors. Until a course map is published for this edition, the distance is a guide, not a complete description of the effort involved.

What it means for trails to dominate the route

In a race with such a high proportion of unpaved paths, the surface shapes running technique from the first kilometres. Footing is usually less uniform than on a road, and runners have to read the ground ahead: roots, rocks, camber and changes in texture come one after another. Paying attention to the terrain is part of setting the pace; accelerating without control can waste energy and increase the risk of a stumble.

Tracks and trails also present different challenges. On a wider track, effort can be regulated with some continuity, while a narrow path can create small bottlenecks when the field is tightly packed. Technical descents often require shorter strides and a cautious approach. Since the definitive route has not been released, these features describe the advertised terrain rather than specific sections of the 2026 course.

The small proportion of asphalt also means that a shoe designed exclusively for road running may not be the most stable option, depending on its tread and the condition of the ground. In trail running, the outsole and fit should suit the actual surface. The available public information does not require a particular shoe model or specification, so it makes sense to wait for the route and weather conditions before drawing conclusions about suitable gear.

Difficulty and level: distance does not tell the whole story

At 12.75 kilometres, the race falls into a middle-distance format for popular trail running, but that label does not mean the difficulty is consistent. Elevation gain, steepness, technical sections and ground conditions can significantly change the experience. Without official elevation and profile data for 2026, its difficulty cannot be precisely rated or compared with another mountain race.

The event description’s reference to a demanding route suggests it should not be treated as an easy run on paths. Still, demanding is a general assessment, not an objective measurement: for someone accustomed to trail running it may be a manageable challenge; for a runner who trains only on flat roads, the same climbs and descents may require different preparation. Road-running pace cannot directly predict a result on uneven terrain.

Experience helps, but it is not the only factor. Care on descents, effort management on climbs and the ability to adapt to changing surfaces all matter. If the route is muddy or the rocks are wet, caution becomes even more important. The event is best understood as a mountain race of almost 13 kilometres, with its own demands, rather than an urban San Silvestre moved onto a trail.

Costumes, atmosphere and prizes

The festive element sets this event apart from competitions focused solely on the clock. Published information mentions individual and group costumes, along with prizes for the first three overall finishers and for the best costume ideas. Celebration and competitive rankings coexist, allowing participants to approach the day with different motivations.

A running costume should allow free movement, maintain visibility and avoid loose parts that could catch on branches or bother other runners. On a mountain section, a long cape, a mask that limits vision or a rigid accessory may be less harmless than in an urban race. Creative dress can still be practical: clothing should remain functional for the terrain and temperature.

The details of the 2026 prize categories, their conditions and the ranking system have not been confirmed in the available information. References to overall rankings and costumes describe the announced format, but do not replace the rules for the next edition. The official regulations will determine who is eligible for each prize and how possible ties or categories are handled.

Aid stations and race-day needs

The event description says the race has intermediate aid stations and a finish station, with some holiday-themed touches. It does not specify the exact number of stations, their locations, available products or rules on containers. The presence of aid stations does not confirm what they will provide, so it is best to wait for the organizers’ information before making precise plans.

Hydration and nutrition depend on duration, intensity, weather and individual needs. In a mountain race, the pace may be slower than in a road event, and sustained climbing can affect how food is tolerated. Possible December cold in inland Castellón is another factor. These details make it important to read the official instructions before the event, rather than assume every station offers the same supplies.

The finish station also has a practical role after the race, but no confirmed information is available about post-race services, food, baggage storage or showers for 2026. A previous edition may have included different activities or facilities. Distinguishing what was announced for past races from what has been confirmed for the next one helps avoid expectations the current programme may not meet.

Registration and details still to come

The reference information does not include a confirmed 2026 entry fee or registration opening and closing dates. It also gives no maximum field size, available categories or bib collection arrangements. There is no reliable fee that can be presented as valid, and figures from previous editions, if available, should not be described as the cost of the next race.

The registration process generally depends on the platform and regulations published for each edition, but no verifiable official link appears in the information available. A listing on a sports portal may help locate general details, but it is not enough to confirm that entries are open, that a price remains current or that places are available. Those points require an explicit announcement from the organizers.

The bib collection schedule, whether collection will be possible on race day, required documents and any separate categories also need confirmation. These details may seem secondary when looking only at the distance, but they affect travel and morning plans. Until the 2026 regulations are published, the most reliable approach is to treat those items as pending rather than fill the gaps with information from previous years.

Borriol and the race’s setting

Borriol is in Castellón province and provides an appropriate setting for a race presented as trail running: the event is linked to an environment of paths and tracks rather than an urban circuit. That connection to the area is part of the format’s appeal. The landscape, however, cannot be reduced to a postcard, nor does it reveal the exact profile without a map: the official route defines the sporting experience.

The race has been held in previous years, and historical results are available for earlier editions. This places it within the local mountain-racing calendar, but does not prove that the 2026 edition will keep the same route, start point, format or services. In local sporting events, permits, ground conditions and organizational decisions can lead to changes from one year to the next.

The holiday calendar also shapes the atmosphere: December often brings popular races, club gatherings and activities with a more social feel. In a mountain event, that spirit coexists with logistics that are more sensitive to weather and ground conditions than in a road race. The result is an event with a mixed social character, even though the advertised surface is clearly mountainous.

What to check when the programme is published

The information confirmed so far identifies the date, town and approximate distance of the described route. To complete a useful race profile, runners will need the exact start and finish points, start time, elevation gain, updated map and registration terms. It will also matter whether the course keeps the advertised proportion of unpaved paths and whether any changes have been made since previous editions.

The regulations will clarify less visible issues such as minimum age, categories, recommended or mandatory equipment, cancellation policy and costume rules. Mountain races do not all set the same conditions, so requirements from another event should not be assumed to apply. The relevant reference will be the documentation specific to this edition, published by the organizers.

The forecast deserves attention as the date approaches, but it does not replace route information. A dry day may make tracks faster, while rain can turn a descent into a tricky section. Temperature, wind and humidity affect clothing choices and perceived effort. For an outdoor race, the forecast is one part of preparation, not a guarantee of conditions on every trail.

A December event with its own character

The edition announced for Dec. 20, 2026, brings together Les Ferreries’ defining features: a 12.75-kilometre distance, mostly unpaved terrain and a festive atmosphere with costumes. That combination sets it apart from urban San Silvestre races, where pavement and the rhythm of the pack often shape the experience differently.

The available information is enough to identify the type of challenge, but not to finalize every participation detail. The start time, fee, definitive map, elevation gain and precise start and finish locations still lack reliable confirmation in the information reviewed. Keeping that distinction clear matters: a useful listing can report what is known without turning past details or third-party references into certainties for 2026.

In Borriol, the appeal lies in that blend of movement and celebration, with terrain that demands attention to every step even as costumes add colour to the field. Once the full programme is published, runners will be able to assess the difficulty and organize the day more precisely. For now, the date and trail format provide a clear picture of the event, while operational details await edition-specific confirmation.