The month of February can be tough for those who neither live in the mountains nor in the South of France... It's cold, the days are short, and we are eagerly waiting for the return of the sun and the warmth of spring! 🥹 That's precisely what the city of Alicante, in the Southeast of Spain 🇪🇸, on the Costa Blanca, offers, where February means mild weather, beaches, and palm trees 🌴😎. As an unconditional fan of running 🏃♀️, we've found an event by the seaside that should encourage you to book your plane ticket right away: the International Half Marathon of Alicante (also called Meridiano International Half Marathon & 10k Aguas de Alicante)! 😜
Get ready to be amazed from the moment you arrive at the airport, as you'll immediately see the stunning Santa Barbara Castle 🏛️, built 166 meters above sea level, situated on Mount Benacantil ⛰️. If you want to save energy for your race, take the elevator to visit it. Otherwise, you can also go by foot, for a rather steep walk 😅 that will offer you a breathtaking panorama of the city where the routes for the half marathon and 10 km are mapped out.
You will definitely notice the tall buildings from the 1970s which are not, admittedly, the greatest architectural achievement, but which should not overshadow the many gems that Alicante contains. Among them are several remarkable museums (MUSA city museum, MARQ provincial archaeological museum, Belenes museum, MACA contemporary art museum, and the MUBAG fine arts museum) 🖼️.
To explore the area before pinning your bib to your shirt (yes, you'll be running in shorts and a t-shirt in February! 😎), you can wander through the medieval district of Santa Cruz which is simply the soul of Alicante 👍. A few picturesque alleys, charming houses with whitewashed facades, colorful shutters, flower pots everywhere, and at the top, a lovely 18th-century chapel... It's simple: we love it! 🫶
Since we're in Spain, don't miss out on the small tapas restaurants and the local specialties: arroz a banda (rice cooked in fish stock and served with aioli 🤤), arroz a la Alicantina (Alicante-style paella), caldero (rice and fish) or arroz caldoso (juicy rice) will be plenty of options for good carb loading before running! 🏃
Oh, one last recommendation: visit the Esplanade of Spain, an UN-MISS-ABLE spot in Alicante, and make a stop at one of the beaches (San Juan, San Gabriel, La Calita… 🏝️) to enhance your tan: you absolutely must return with a sun-kissed look to make your friends jealous at the next practice and your colleagues around the coffee machine! 😂
So, will we see you at the starting line for the 31th edition? 😉
The start, shared with the 10 km, is given at the port of Alicante with a breathtaking view of the Santa Barbara castle 🏰. The route goes past the base of the Mount Benacantil, then reaches La Albuferita beach where a U-turn brings you back towards the city center alongside the sea 🌊. You will pass the port again to race through the second part of the course, which will be a visual feast for the eyes: city hall, gardens, Plaza de Los Luceros, central market, theater, Plaza de Toros… 🥰 It's a real tourist tour of the city that this half-marathon in Alicante offers you. Enjoy! You will finally return to the port where the finish line will be waiting for you with open arms 🙌.
The start, shared with the half-marathon, is given at the port of Alicante ⚓️ where you can admire the Santa Barbara Castle 🏰. The route passes at the foot of the mount Benacantil, then reaches La Albuferita beach where a turnaround takes you back towards the city center by following the sea 🌊. You can really speed up as you arrive at El Postiguet beach because the finish line is not very far, at the port. Olé ! 🏁
You can collect your bib at the Runner’s Expo (Salon du Coureur) located in the Quai 12 area (Ocean Race zone), in the section called “Le Débarquement du Coureur”:
Friday, 19 February 2027 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Saturday, 20 February 2027 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Sunday, 21 February 2027 from 7:30 am to 9:00 am
If you’re running the half marathon or the 10K, both races will start at 9:30 am on Sunday, 21 February 2027, from the Quai 12 area (Ocean Race zone).
To line up at the start, you must be at least 18 years old for both the half marathon and the 10K.
A medical certificate is not required, but we strongly recommend that all participants have a check-up before race day.
Yes, medical services will be available along the course and at the finish.
On the half marathon, aid stations will be available at kilometers 5, 10, and 15.
Yes, there will be prize money for the first three men and women in the half marathon:
1st: €500
2nd: €400
3rd: €300
In addition, trophies will be awarded to the top five men and women in both the half marathon and the 10K, as well as to the club with the most participants. And to top it all off, every finisher will receive a commemorative medal!
You can contact the organizers by email at inforunners.montemar@gmail.com or by phone at +33 6 75 87 57 67.
Important: to be officially classified as a finisher, you must complete the race within the time limits. The time limit for the half marathon is 2:30, and the time limit for the 10K is 1:30.
Here are the cut-off times for the 21 km:
5 km: 40 min
10 km: 1:10
15 km: 1:45
20 km: 2:20
Finish line: 2:30
Yes, several bus lines stop near the start and finish area.
Yes, accessible facilities are available at the start and finish area.
Yes, here they are:
Red bib: up to 1:20 for the 21 km and up to 40 min for the 10K
Green bib: between 1:20 and 1:35 for the 21 km and between 40 min and 45 min for the 10K
Blue bib: between 1:35 and 1:45 for the 21 km and between 45 min and 50 min for the 10K
Purple bib: between 1:45 and 2:00 for the 21 km and between 50 min and 55 min for the 10K
Orange bib: over 2:00 for the 21 km and over 55 min for the 10K
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