The city of Valencia will host this Sunday the 35th edition of the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Half Marathon. The event was presented today, Thursday, with 26,500 athletes expected to participate and an anticipated 89% hotel occupancy in the city.
The presentation, held at Fira València, was attended by Rocío Gil, Councilor for Sports of the València City Council; Paco Borao, president of the Correcaminos Sports Society; Juan Miguel Gómez, director of the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation; and Aurelio Beltrán, Retail Service Director at Zurich Seguros España.
The race, boasting the women's world record for the distance (1:02:52) and the third-fastest men's time (57:30), attracts runners from around the globe. This Sunday, athletes from 128 countries will compete in Valencia City of Running, with notable participation from the United Kingdom (8.5%), Germany (6%), and Italy (4.5%). Women will constitute 35% of the participants, and 10% will be debutants.
The Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Half Marathon continues to be a fundamentally Valencian event, with 41% of participants hailing from the Valencian Community (similar to 2025), a figure that continues to "excite" the organization, as pointed out by Borao. Meanwhile, 43% of the runners will be international.
Rocío Gil, Councilor for Sports, highlighted the enthusiasm of everyone involved and the effort of the València City Council in consolidating sports events that bring pride to the city. Paco Borao, president of Correcaminos, emphasized the race's international potential thanks to the SuperHalfs circuit, of which Valencia is a founding member, noting that 9,100 participants will complete their circuit passport here.
Juan Miguel Gómez of the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation underscored the event's economic sustainability and its significant tourism and fiscal impact, as well as the legacy it leaves for Valencian athletics. He also mentioned the 'Compartix Marató València' initiative, which has processed aid for athletics clubs affected by the recent storm, assisting them in replacing sports equipment damaged by the floods, similar to the support provided after the October 2024 storm.
The 2026 Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Half Marathon will start at 8:25 AM on Avenida de Tarongers and can be followed on À Punt, both on television and its website.
