SANTA POLA INTERNATIONAL HALF MARATHON 2026

Do you smell that pleasant aroma? It's the scent of Spain, the sea, and especially the Santa Pola Half Marathon 🌊.

Head to the beautiful region of the Valencian Community for a seaside race along the Mediterranean in a caliente mode 😎, near Alicante. Well, maybe not too caliente... You'll probably swap your summer shorts for a good pair of leggings: it’s about 12°C in Santa Pola in mid-January. Yet, for a race, we always brave the elements ☁️. This event will host around 10,000 runners from all over the world 🌍, all ready to stretch their legs after the festive season indulgences 🤪. Yes, we see you with your good resolutions 😉 (and you’re right!).

You have the choice of two distances to satisfy your running ego 💪: the half marathon or the 10K for those who prefer to save energy for the afternoon tapas 🍤. The course is 90% flat and follows the sea, so your usual excuses about elevation differences won’t work here 😅! You’ll follow the Mediterranean coast, passing notably in front of the 16th-century castle-fortress, perfect for feeling like you're in the running version of Game of Thrones 🏰. We hear that it’s the best season to encounter Jon Snow ☃️. You'll pass by the Santa Clara beach, the main streets of the center, and the paradisiacal seaside villas. If you're looking for a goal, you can always try to beat the race record: 21.097 km in 59:09 min. We should warn you, it's been held since 2009 by the famous James Kipsang Kwambai. It's up to you to see if you want to activate rocket mode 🚀.

Once you've earned your well-deserved medal 🏅 and taken a shower 🚿, Santa Pola will warmly welcome you for a real vacation 🏝️. This former fishing town 🎣 has retained all its old-world charm: colorful port, fish markets 🐟, terraces facing the sea for a well-deserved sangria 🍷. You can explore the salt flats with their famous pink flamingos (who never run, those clever creatures 🦩), stroll through the city center or simply enjoy the surrounding beaches. You could always go for a swim, but beware of the chills: at least, you won't have to pay for a cryotherapy session 🥶! As for gastronomy, it's a seafood paradise: arroz con bogavante, arroz a banda or simply garlic shrimp that smell like summer 🦐. And if you want to play the avid culture tourist, Alicante and its Santa Bárbara Castle are only 20 minutes away! All in a 100% Mediterranean atmosphere where stress doesn’t exist ✨.

So, shall we see you at the starting line? 🏁