I kicked off 2026 back in the Ciudad del Running, targeting a 10k PB alongside 16,000 compadres at the Valencia 10k. This race has played host to numerous records and is widely recognized as one of the world’s fastest road 10k’s. This year was no different, with the winner, Sweden’s Andreas Ahlgren, breaking the European men’s record running a blazing 26:45 and Eilish McColgan breaking the European women’s record running 30:07. 

Though I missed my 10k PB by 5 seconds (running 34:25), here are 10 things I loved about the Valencia 10k and why you should consider putting it in your 2027 race lineup.

1. Very fast course. This is a 10k course designed for elites, sub-elites, and amateurs to smash their 10k PBs. As you’d expect for Valencia, it’s flat, with just 21m of elevation gain according to my Garmin (there is a very gradual climb from km 3 to km 7 worth noting, though). The other thing that makes this course fast is the long the straightaways and lack of turns (only 8 in total).
2. Very fast field. As this race attracts not only global elite and sub-elite runners but also thousands of competitive amateurs from around Spain and Europe, you’ll be surrounded by others chasing fast times as well. Finishing in 34:25 (a time that would place me in the top 10 of many local 10k’s), I finished a humbling 1075th overall and 135th in my age group. I only found myself without runners to draft for a small chunk of the race.
3. Excellent value. I’ve found that 10k registration costs vary widely by country and race popularity – from local races in France costing €10-15 to races in the US costing over $60. Registration for the Valencia 10k cost €14 to €21 in 2026 (depending how early you registered), and included a long-sleeve technical Kiprun shirt and a few other minor swag items. I joined the Kiprun Social Run the day before the race and scored some additional Decathlon swag. For those coming from abroad, flights to Valencia tend to be reasonable this time of year – I paid $150 roundtrip on Swiss, which gives you a free carry-on.
4. Timing in early January. For marathoners, winter is a great time to focus on shorter distances. Who wants to do speed workouts on the track in the heat of summer? For those like me coming from colder parts of Europe, a little Spanish sunshine made for a welcome weekend break. As noted in past reviews of the Valencia Marathon, weather conditions in Valencia in December / January tend to be perfect for racing and, indeed, we had IDEAL weather (8C / 45F, light wind) for the 2026 Valencia 10k.
5. Pace-specific start corrals. The organizers have carefully thought through how to best organize the start. There are 16 starting corrals for 16,000 runners, with each corral corresponding to a fairly narrow target race time (mine was 32:00 to 33:59). While the start is packed like any race, fast runners don’t need to wind through dopey runners who start way too far up for their pace (like you do in a free-for-all Parkrun or a race that only separates the elites from the non-elites).
6. Fresh squeezed OJ! Many city streets are lined with fruit-filled orange trees in January, and nearly every cafe and corner store offers fresh-squeezed orange juice. Walking back to my Airbnb after the race, I bought (and immediately downed) a 500ml bottle for just €2.50.
7. Beautiful shakeout, warmup, and cool down runs. Valencia doesn’t call itself the “Ciudad del Running” just because of the fast races – the city also boasts many beautiful running routes. The morning before the race, I enjoyed a shakeout run with fellow runners on the promenade along the beach. Most runners do their warmup and cool down runs in the Jardin de la Turia, the lush green park that runs through the city for __km where the River Turia used to be.
8. Stunning architecture. Valencia’s architecture blends both old and new, and the 10k course takes you past numerous landmarks, including the Torres de Serranos, numerous famous bridges, and the iconic Ciutat de Arts y Ciencias as it winds along the Turia Gardens.
9. Great cafes and restaurants. Apart from paella, Valencia isn’t famed for food, but it’s a big enough city you can find any kind of cuisine you want. There are lots of great little cafes offering quality coffee, sandwiches, and of course OJ at very reasonable prices. The cafe / restaurant culture is strong and vibey but not pretentious.
10. Fun atmosphere. The race atmosphere and crowds are far less manic than for the Valencia Marathon. The 10k keeps runners on very wide boulevards the whole time, so it doesn’t feel quite as intimate or electric with the crowd as it does in the marathon. It’s nevertheless a very fun and festive atmosphere, with lots of spectators, live drumming groups, and helpful volunteers.

Overall, this is a fantastic first race to kickoff the year and I highly recommend it to any runners in Europe or the UK looking to make an early season 10k PB attempt and/or looking for a sunny race weekend away from the cold.