Valdejalón 2026: course, schedule and race services

Plan your race pace

The 20th Valdejalón Region Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, with the longer race starting at 9 a.m. in Épila and finishing in La Almunia de Doña Godina. The event will also include a 10K starting in Calatorao at 9:45 a.m. and ending in the same town. The road race links several towns in Zaragoza province on a point-to-point course, rather than using a closed urban loop with a shared start and finish.

Registration is listed at 15 euros, with the published deadline set for 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 12. Organizers have announced a limit of 250 participants per distance, as well as children’s races after the adult events. The morning combines mass-participation racing, travel between towns and children’s activities, with services designed to address the logistics of finishing somewhere other than the starting point.

A long-standing event in Valdejalón’s calendar

The 2026 edition is the 20th half marathon, making it one of the longest-running events in the region’s sports calendar. It is organized by the Valdejalón Region together with La Almunia de Doña Godina Town Council. Its character is rooted in the local area: this is not simply a race that ends in one town, but a course that passes through several communities along the Jalón River valley.

The race is scheduled for Nov. 15, an autumn date when conditions can change during the morning. November in La Almunia is usually cooler than late summer, although wind, rain and how cold it feels cannot be reliably predicted so far in advance. Clothing choices should be based on the forecast close to race day, rather than treating a general climate average as a guarantee.

The half marathon is included in the regional calendar, according to the event information. That brings a federation presence and judges from the Aragon Athletics Federation, although the distance is not listed as certified by the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation. Taking part in a federated event does not necessarily mean its course has been certified for record recognition; these are separate matters when comparing times.

Two distances and two starting points

The adult programme offers a 21.097-kilometer half marathon and a 10-kilometer race. The first starts in Épila at 9 a.m.; the second leaves Calatorao at 9:45 a.m. Both finish in La Almunia de Doña Godina, so each distance links its own starting point to a shared finish. The staggered starts make it possible to stage two different courses in one event.

Separate start and finish locations change the practical preparation compared with a loop race. It is not enough to go to the finish and leave a car there: participants need to know how to reach the start and what to do after crossing the line. The event information lists a bus service before and after the race, which must be requested during registration. That transport is central to the logistics, not an optional extra.

The 10K is also a point-to-point race, starting in Calatorao and finishing in La Almunia. Its start is scheduled 45 minutes after the half marathon, but the difference in timing does not mean the two events share the same route throughout. The available description presents separate courses that converge on the same finishing town. Runners choosing the shorter distance should pay particular attention to its start time and location, which differ from those of the longer race.

A course along the Jalón River valley

The half marathon starts in Épila and follows roads toward La Almunia de Doña Godina, passing through Salillas de Jalón, Lucena de Jalón and Calatorao. The course follows much of the Jalón River valley and offers views of the region’s farmland and towns from a perspective different from a city loop. The route’s appeal lies in its connection across the region: each section is part of a journey between towns, rather than repeated laps on the same streets.

A point-to-point race also calls for a different approach to pacing. On a loop course, runners can measure progress against familiar surroundings; here, the landscape changes gradually, with the finish always ahead. Pace should reflect individual effort and the route details provided by the organizers. There is not enough information to state specific elevation changes, turns or course profiles, so those details should be confirmed in the event rules or official race materials.

The 10K begins in Calatorao and shares the destination, but not the distance or starting point. This lets people with different goals take part in the same event without having to run the same route. The format brings the race to several towns and spreads activity across the region, while making it important to check each start location and travel instructions carefully.

Schedule, registration and entry fee

The announced date is Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. The half marathon starts at 9 a.m. in Épila, and the 10K starts at 9:45 a.m. in Calatorao. Children’s races are scheduled from 11 a.m., after the adult events. The schedule links adult competition with activities for younger runners, although the specific times for each children’s category are not included in the available information.

The listed entry fee is 15 euros, and registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 12. The stated registration period began Oct. 2, 2026. The event has a limit of 250 bibs for each distance, so availability and registration status may change before the deadline. The fee and dates reflect the information published for this edition; registration should not be assumed to remain open until the final day if the cap is reached earlier.

Registration is handled through the platform listed for the event. Before completing the form, runners should select the correct distance and indicate whether they plan to use the bus, as transport must be requested during registration. Personal details, category and bib conditions should also be checked. At an event with starts in different towns, a mistake about the distance or travel plans can complicate race morning, even when training is complete.

Services planned for participants

Event information includes a runner’s bag with a commemorative technical shirt, a timing chip and aid stations during the half marathon. The shirt is guaranteed for people who register before Oct. 9, according to the published details; availability for later registrations is not guaranteed on the same terms. The bag and timing chip are among the advertised services, but specific conditions may depend on when registration is completed.

The longer distance has liquid aid stations listed at kilometers 6, 9, 13 and 17. Liquids and solid food will be available at the finish. This setup can help runners plan their intake along the course, although each person should assess their own needs rather than assume a single approach suits everyone. Aid-station locations matter especially on a point-to-point course, where runners do not pass the same place more than once.

Other announced services include medical support with an ambulance, accident and public liability insurance, free parking, and showers and changing rooms in Épila, Calatorao and La Almunia. A light meal is planned after the awards ceremony. Organizers also expect to provide buses before and after the events, with a request required during registration. Together, these services address both the start and finish, which are separated by several miles of road.

Minimum age and participation conditions

The stated minimum age is 18 for the half marathon and 16 for the 10K. That means the shorter race is not automatically open to younger children: participation depends on the age rules in the regulations. The children’s races are a separate activity, aimed at children ages 2 to 14 according to the available information.

The children’s events take place after the adult races and are free, according to the published details. Their inclusion gives the day a broader scope than the main competition and allows families and spectators to stay in La Almunia after the finish. The distances for each age group and the specific sign-up process are not detailed here, so those details should be checked in the event information. A family programme does not remove the need to check the rules for each age category.

Registration information states that entry fees are nonrefundable unless the event is canceled for safety reasons. It also sets specific conditions for any cash prizes: only athletes licensed with the Aragon Athletics Federation or residents of Aragon would be eligible. Refund and prize rules apply to different situations and should be reviewed before paying, particularly if there is a chance of being unable to take part.

An autumn race with its own logistics

In a conventional race, the start and finish are often in the same venue, but here each distance begins in a different town and ends in La Almunia. That design makes it possible to cover the region, but it also adds decisions that do not arise in an out-and-back race: where to leave a car, when to take a bus and where to meet others afterward. Transport planning is part of the sporting experience, just like choosing a pace or footwear.

The advertised bus service is intended to make travel between the start and finish points easier. However, the available information does not specify every stop, exact departure times or the number of seats. Those details should be checked in the organizers’ updates as race day approaches. Requesting transport during registration is an important practical requirement; arriving without having selected it could limit travel options.

The weather also deserves attention, although conditions on race morning cannot be predicted months ahead. In November, an early start may feel cold, while sunshine and exertion can raise body temperature later. For a road race, a light layer that can be removed and a sensible choice of clothing are generally more useful than dressing as if the temperature at the start will last all morning. The forecast in the days before the event will be more useful than a broad estimate.

What sets this edition apart

The 20th half marathon and ninth 10K bring two separate milestones together in one event. The longer race has a two-decade history, while the shorter distance is being held for the ninth time. Both share a finish and services, but retain their own starts and schedules. The event’s continuity and range of distances explain its place in the regional calendar, without making the courses interchangeable.

According to the event description, the half marathon links Épila, Salillas de Jalón, Lucena de Jalón, Calatorao and La Almunia de Doña Godina. That sequence makes the journey itself a visible part of the race: the setting is not confined to one city’s boundaries, and the towns along the way become course landmarks. The Jalón River valley provides the event’s geographic thread, although exact route details should be checked against the organizers’ official map.

The event also includes features beyond the clock: children’s races, aid stations, buses, changing rooms and a meal after the awards ceremony. Together, they shape a local and regional sports morning, with La Almunia as the meeting point at the finish. The format combines competition, place and family participation, making travel arrangements as important as physical preparation.

A shared finish line as a meeting point

The common finish in La Almunia de Doña Godina brings together runners who started in Épila and Calatorao, even though their distances and start times differ. That shared arrival gives unity to a race that begins across several towns. For spectators, it also provides a clear reference: the adult events finish in the same place before the children’s races begin. The finish line becomes the center of the day, while the course extends the event across the region.

For participants, the appeal lies both in covering the distance and in following a route that links towns along the Jalón. Practical details still matter: confirm schedules, transport, bib conditions and services before traveling. With the 2026 edition set for Nov. 15, those details provide a concrete picture of the event, subject to updates from the organizers. A shared finish brings a journey through Valdejalón to its close.