The race also has a history of major breakthroughs. Kelvin Kiptum and Sabastian Sawe both won here on their marathon debuts, while Sisay Lemma and Joyciline Jepkosgei hold the current course records.The 46th Valencia Marathon takes place on Sunday, December 6, 2026.
The 2026 Valencia Marathon
The Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich holds World Athletics Platinum Label status. The race is organized by SD Correcaminos with support from Valencia City Council.
Both 2025 champions are in the announced field. John Korir returns to defend the men's title, while Jepkosgei returns as the women's course record holder.
Yomif Kejelcha is among Korir's leading opponents, having run 1:59:41 on his marathon debut in London earlier in 2026. The announced men's field also includes Alexander Mutiso, Dawit Wolde and Dubai Marathon winner Nibret Melak.
The women's race brings together Jepkosgei, Fotyen Tesfay and marathon debutant Agnes Ngetich. Ngetich's addition gives the event another athlete with exceptional speed over shorter distances attempting to carry it through 42.195 km. Emily Sisson is also among the announced entrants.
The first starting wave is scheduled for 8:15 am local time. Nine waves are planned, with the final group due to leave at 9:35 am. The time limit is five hours and 30 minutes from each runner's passage across the start line.
History of the Valencia Marathon
The first edition was held on March 29, 1981. It had 640 finishers, including seven women, with Teodoro Perez and Nuria de Miguel winning the inaugural titles.
For much of its early history, Valencia was a spring marathon. A significant change came in 2011, when it moved to November and placed the start and finish at the City of Arts and Sciences. More than 5,000 runners finished that edition.
The Trinidad Alfonso Foundation began supporting the event in 2012. The race continued to grow, passed 10,000 finishers in 2014 and became Spain's first marathon to receive the IAAF Gold Label in 2016.
The progression in winning times was equally striking. By 2022, Kiptum had taken the men's winning mark below 2:02, while Amane Beriso brought the women's course record below 2:15. Both records have since been improved.
The Course and Race Format
The full marathon starts at Placa de la Marato and follows an urban road course through Valencia. It uses broad avenues and sections of the historic centre before returning to the City of Arts and Sciences for its distinctive finish on a walkway above the water.
The course is flat and close to sea level. That gives runners scope to maintain an even rhythm, although wind, temperature and the pace of the group can still change the effort required.
Valencia's full marathon is separate from its half marathon, which takes place earlier in the autumn. Performances at the shorter event can help assess an athlete's speed, but they are not results from the December race.
The elite men's and women's titles are decided over the full 42.195 km. Behind the leading athletes, the staggered starts spread the mass field across the course according to runners' accredited times.
The late-year date gives athletes another opportunity to target a fast performance after the main spring and autumn marathon campaigns. Recent racing and recovery therefore deserve attention alongside personal bests.
Valencia Marathon Records
Men: Sisay Lemma, Ethiopia - 2:01:48 in 2023.
Lemma improved Kiptum's previous course record of 2:01:53 by five seconds. His victory formed part of an Ethiopian double, with Worknesh Degefa winning the women's race that year.
Women: Joyciline Jepkosgei, Kenya - 2:14:00 in 2025.
Jepkosgei lowered the previous course record of 2:14:58, set by Beriso in 2022. Her winning time was also a personal best.
Notable marathon debuts: Kelvin Kiptum and Sabastian Sawe.
Kiptum won in 2:01:53 in 2022, while Sawe ran 2:02:05 to take the 2024 title. Their performances show why an athlete's lack of previous marathon results need not prevent a serious challenge for victory.
The course records belong to the full marathon. Valencia's 10km and half-marathon records are separate marks over different distances.
Recent Valencia Marathon Winners
2025
Men: John Korir, Kenya - 2:02:24.
Women: Joyciline Jepkosgei, Kenya - 2:14:00.
2024
Men: Sabastian Sawe, Kenya - 2:02:05.
Women: Megertu Alemu, Ethiopia - 2:16:49.
2023
Men: Sisay Lemma, Ethiopia - 2:01:48.
Women: Worknesh Degefa, Ethiopia - 2:15:51.
2022
Men: Kelvin Kiptum, Kenya - 2:01:53.
Women: Amane Beriso, Ethiopia - 2:14:58.
What Happened in the 2025 Valencia Marathon?
The December 7 race delivered a Kenyan double, with Korir winning comfortably and Jepkosgei pulling away late in a contest with Peres Jepchirchir.
Korir passed halfway in 1:01:47 and was running alone at the front by 30km. He completed the second half in 1:00:37 to finish in 2:02:24, taking 20 seconds off his previous best.
Amanal Petros came through for second in 2:04:03, with Awet Kibrab third in 2:04:24. Both set national records, for Germany and Norway respectively. Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee finished seventh in 2:06:38.
Jepkosgei and Jepchirchir reached halfway together in 1:06:34. The decisive separation came with roughly three kilometres remaining, as Jepkosgei maintained her pace and Jepchirchir began to lose ground.
Jepkosgei won in 2:14:00, 43 seconds clear of Jepchirchir. Chloe Herbiet finished third in 2:20:38, setting a Belgian record. The first two women both finished inside Beriso's previous course record.
Valencia Marathon Betting Markets
Markets depend on the sportsbook and the confirmed elite field. Men's and women's selections relate to separate races, and the available options can change as the event approaches.
Race winner: Back the athlete who will win the specified competition. The strongest personal best is useful evidence, but current form and the ability to handle the planned pace also matter.
Podium or finishing position: Where offered, select a runner to finish in the top three or another stated range. Check the exact positions covered before comparing prices.
Head-to-head: Choose which of two named athletes will finish ahead of the other. This market can focus on a particular rivalry even when neither runner is the outright favourite.
Winning time: If available, predict whether the winner will finish faster or slower than the sportsbook's specified time. Weather and pacemaking can be particularly relevant to this market.
Each-way: Where supported, divide the stake between winning and placing. The place terms determine how many positions are paid and what proportion of the win odds applies.
Withdrawal and non-finisher rules should be checked before placing a bet. An athlete appearing on an early entry list does not guarantee that they will reach the start line.
What to Consider Before the Race
Compare recent form over similar distances and conditions. A fast half marathon can support a debutant's prospects, but sustaining the effort after 30km remains a separate question.
Look at how each athlete's previous marathon unfolded. A strong finish after a conservative opening shows something different from sustaining an aggressive pace throughout. Compare those demands with the likely approach in Valencia.
The pacing plan matters when judging both the winner and the likely finishing time. A group targeting a record may run at an effort that suits only a few of its members, leaving others exposed well before the finish.
Finally, use the race-week forecast rather than Valencia's general reputation for favourable conditions. A flat course helps, but the fastest-looking start list still has to deal with the weather on the day.