Elche Half Marathon 2026

Want a race that has as much history as the King of Spain Felipe IV? 🤴

Head to Elche, this little gem of the Costa Blanca that's going to make you forget that March is normally still a bit gray and chilly. But here? Sun, palm trees, and guaranteed Mediterranean vibe! ☀️ The Media Elche is the oldest half marathon in the world 🌍 since 1968, and honestly, when you have several decades of history behind you, you no longer joke with the organization. It's serious, tried, and tested and approved by generations of runners who had REALLY short shorts 🩳 and REALLY thick mustaches! 🥸 Elche is a Mediterranean city 2,000 years old, so historically speaking, you're served! Between the monuments, the local atmosphere, and that typically Spanish joie de vivre, you'll find yourself wondering if you came to run or on vacation. Spoiler alert: you're doing both! ✈️ Plus, you'll have a choice of several distances, it's like Christmas 🎄, but in spring! 🌸

Let's be clear: you'll have the choice between a half marathon and a 10 km. The half marathon is the mythical distance that makes you a real runner in the eyes of your mother-in-law 👀 (yes, even she will be impressed). 21.097 km of pure pleasure through Elche, its palm trees, its history, and its communicative cheerfulness 😁. It's the kind of race where you finish with a smile, even if your legs 🦵 are telling you they would really like a couch 🛋️ and a refreshing lemonade 🍹. But, the satisfaction of having run a half marathon in Spain, that's priceless (well, it has a price, the registration fee, but you get the idea 😉). The 10 km follows exactly the same route as the first 10 kilometers of the half marathon, so same scenery, same atmosphere... just less time! 😜 Perfect for your friend who always says "I'm not trained enough for a half" or "my knee has hurt since 2002". No more excuses, everyone is coming along! And the ultimate bonus? You'll all finish at the same spot, ready to go savor tapas together 🥘. The course is flat and fast, crossing the city center of Elche and its famous palm grove. We're not talking about 10 palm trees for decoration, oh no, we're talking about 200,000 palm trees! 🌴 It's simple: if you come across more elevation than palm trees 📈 during your race, you're at the wrong event ❌ (or you took your brother-in-law’s GPS that always has you go through improbable paths 🗺️). The pavement is smooth, turns not too tight, and the clock... well, the clock should smile at you! ⏱️ It's the kind of course where you can aim for your personal record without wrecking your knees on sadistic hills. And if you don't beat your record? You can always blame last night's tapas 😅.

Beyond the race itself (which, let's remind, is already fabulous), there's everything around it! Elche boasts a UNESCO World Heritage-listed palm grove, the Palmeral of Elche, which is actually the largest in Europe! 🇪🇺 So after your race, if your legs still agree to carry you, take a tour there. It's magical, soothing, and smells like the south. The city is also full of small restaurants 🍽️ where you can enjoy truly typical gastronomy: varied tapas, local paella, regional wines 🍷 (to be consumed in moderation👍), and that convivial atmosphere you only find in Spain 🥳. Don't hesitate to stroll through the historic center 🏛️, with its cobbled streets and shaded squares where locals sip their coffee on the terrace ☕️ as if time doesn't exist (besides, does time really exist in Spain? We wonder 😎). For culture lovers, the Basilica of Santa María ⛪️ is worth a visit, as is the Archaeological Museum that traces the city's history. The city not enough for you, want to go to the seaside ? Alicante and Santa Pola are a half-hour drive each 🚗. In short, you have plenty to fill your whole weekend! And if you're traveling with non-runners (those strange creatures who prefer sleeping on Sunday morning 😴), they'll find happiness there too.

So, see you in Elche under the palm trees? 🌴