Valencia is the flattest, fastest big-city marathon we know: under 30 meters of total gain, finishing on a 300-meter blue pontoon over the water by the City of Arts and Sciences. Early December runs 12 to 17 degrees, dry and close to ideal. The catch is the new 2026 ballot, plus a waitlist that fills, so plan a year out. Flat also means no downhill to coast on late.
Better info coming — we're still verifying 1 field on this race.
Why we'd pick it
- The 30 m climbing estimate is useful for planning, not a verified pacing number.
- The ballot is open; apply before the published deadline and keep a backup race.
- A non-racing partner gets a real weekend here — 4/5.
- Race day usually sits 8.9–16.5°C, about 16% chance of rain.
The course
One of the flattest, fastest marathons anywhere — under 30 meters of total gain, run almost entirely at sea level on wide avenues, with only a mild rise around km 31. It holds a World Athletics Platinum Label, and Valencia's streets have produced a string of records, including Letesenbet Gidey's women's half-marathon world record (1:02:52) in 2021. The finish runs out onto a roughly 300-meter blue pontoon over the water in front of the Hemisfèric at the City of Arts and Sciences.
Difficulty and PR scores
Difficulty is the course and the conditions. The PR score is a separate read on a fast clock. Missing inputs are dropped and the other weights are rescaled. The method, with the weights.
- Difficulty
- 18 / 100
- PR / BQ friendliness
- 80 / 100
Weight used: 90%. Need 40% before we print a number.
Band: fast. Weight used: 70%. Need 45% before we print a number.
Weather median for 2011–2025, race date ±7 days, 225 days, at Start. Grid elevation 5 m.
No cited BQ rate for this race.
| Input | 0–100 | What went in |
|---|---|---|
| G Gain | 2.4 | 0.71 m/km. 30 m/km maps to 100. |
| A Altitude | 0 | 5 m. 0 below 300 m, 100 at 2000 m. Source: open-meteo-grid. |
| H Heat | 50 | High 16.5°C, dew point 6.7°C. The hotter of the two bands is used. |
| W Wind | 15 | 2.82 m/s median. Bands: under 3 → 15, under 5 → 40, under 8 → 70, else 100. |
| S Surface | 15 | road. Road 15, mixed 45, gravel 70, trail 90. |
| F Flatness | 96.5 | 0.71 m/km. 100 minus gain/20×100. No net-drop bonus without a cited certificate. |
| T Cool temps | 50 | 100 minus heat (50). |
| B BQ evidence | — | No cited BQ rate. |
Stays around the race
These are area searches near the published start, finish, and course pins. TripRace may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. We are not naming a hotel.
- Near the start — Start area
- Near the finish — Finish / City of Arts
