Valencia 10k race review: the world's fastest 10k?

I took part in the Valencia 10k for the first time this year (2024). Here’s my honest race review and what you need to know if you’re planning on entering the next edition.

Please note that I’m talking about my own experience in 2024, some things may change in the coming years.

Valencia 10k: the world’s fastest 10k course

Valencia 10k is one of Valencia’s most popular races, attracting many international runners. Taking place mid-January every year, has become a world class event with record-breaking performances making it one of the fastest 10k races on the planet.

In 2024, for the very first time in history, two women finished under 29 minutes, with Kenyan Agnes Jebet Ngetich setting a new world record for the 10k (28:46).

There is also a 5k race happening on the same day, but the key event is the 10k. Size wise, it’s a huge race that attracted over 12,000 runners in 2024 (5k and 10k combined).

The 10k course

Valencia 10k is fast and flat all the way. It starts and finishes on Paseo de la Alameda (Pg. de l'Albereda in Catalan). You can access the bag drop and starting pens when arriving via Ponte del Real.

You can check the course and all the details on Strava here.

Can you get a PB at the Valencia 10k?

If you want to start the year with a shiny new 10k PB, Valencia 10k is the race to be at! Not only is it a fast course, but it’s also a huge even which means that you’re likely to be able to run in a pack for most of the race, and it always helps!

Plus, the weather conditions are usually optimal.

How much does the entry cost?

The earlier you enter, the cheaper it is! I registered in June, six months before the race and paid 18.60€ (15€ for the actual race entry + admin fee and Spanish Athletic licence for the day).

The race entries then went up to 18€, which was still reasonable.

Race number collection and goodie bags

In 2024 we could pick up our race numbers and goodie bags at the Saler Shopping Center on the Friday and Saturday.

There are no metro stations really close by but you can get there by bus or take an Uber (it cost me less than 10€ for a ride from Ciutat Vella).

In 2024, the goodie bag contained a neck warmer, rice cakes, a gel and a sample of laundry liquid for sportswear.

The race entry usually includes a race T-shirt that you pick up alongside your number, but in 2024 due to the political situation in the Middle East, the shipment was affected and the T-shirts didn’t arrive on time.

This was completely out of the race organisers hands and considering the gravity of the situation over there, not having a race t-shirt is a first-world problem I hope no runner complained about.

What do you get at the finish?

Water, Aquarius and… no finisher medal! Yes, don’t be surprised, you won’t get to post a #MedalMonday photo on Instagram!

My Valencia 10k experience

You can watch some footage of the expo and the race in this vlog:

Valencia 10k had been on my “race bucket list” for a while and I was really looking forward to it. Before the race, my 10k PB was 40:00 and I was of course hoping to run my very first sub 40 in Valencia, the city that saw me run my first sub 90 minute half marathon!

I personally found that the even was really well organised, from the clear comms sent out via email beforehand to the smooth race morning. It was easy to access the start line, there were plenty of portable toilets and enough space to warm up nearby, on closed roads.

The atmosphere at the start line felt like a party, with a DJ blasting music and a lot of spectators gathered along the first few hundred metres.

The race itself now feels like a blur to me, I was so focused on my pace that I didn’t really notice the sights and the entertainment, but I do remember that there were some performers and live music along the way.

Being able to stay in a pack until the final kilometer really helped me to push myself and run my best 10k to date, with a new PB of 39:33!

If would absolutely recommend this race, whether you’re looking to set a new 10k PB or fancy escaping the harsh British Winter!

Any downsides?

The one thing I wish was different is the race photos. There were plenty of race photographers from different entities/media outlets and they all uploaded their photos on their own platforms / Facebook pages.

There is no way to see your photos by entering your race number, you have to go through them all to try and spot yourself. It took me ages and I only found one photo.

I’d rather pay for a photo pack and have memories from the race.

The other small downside was that there were no snacks at the finish line, just water and Aquarius.

Other than that, it was a fantastic experience and I’ll most likely run Valencia 10k in the future!

If you find these race reviews helpful, a coffee would be very much appreciated :) And if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch via the contact form.