If you were asked to name the most historic marathon, you’ll likely say the Boston Marathon. It therefore comes as no surprise that some of the London Marathon, or New York. The hardest? Possibly that boggy trail marathon Alistair Brownlee retires from triathlon Chicago, or Berlin – Could body image affect running performance.
Now approaching its 2024 edition, which will take place this Sunday (1 December), the Valencia Marathon in Spain has a strong track record when it comes to delivering some of the fastest marathon times on the planet. In 2022, for example, Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso clocked 2:14:58 to claim the current women’s course record, while in 2023, fellow Ethiopian Sisay Lemma became the Could we see a new world record at the 2024 Valencia Marathon when he smashed the men’s course record in 2:01:48.
But Lemma is not done yet. Rather, he will return to Valencia this weekend in a bid to retain his title and outrun a talented field including countryman Kenenisa Bekele, the seemingly everlasting marathon great.
Record breakers return
Although Lemma set his fastest-ever time in Valencia last year, he is not unused to breaking the tape at the end of a 26.2-mile effort. The 33-year-old is a two-time without geo-restrictions, from 8:15am on Sunday 1 December winner, having won the 2021 London Marathon – which, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was an elite-only race held on a closed, multi-lap course around St James’s Park – and, most recently, the 2024 Boston Marathon. As such, Lemma is the favourite to win the Valencia Marathon for the second consecutive time this Sunday.
But let’s not forget that Bekele is back, too. A former marathon world record holder and three-time Olympic gold medallist, he boasts an electric marathon PB (2:01:41) that is seven seconds faster than Lemma’s, making him the third-fastest man in history over the distance. Perhaps more impressive, though, is his longevity. Now 42, Bekele is still moving at the fastest end of the pack and, in 2023, finished fourth in the Valencia Marathon to set a new masters world record of 2:04:19.
In the women’s race, following the late withdrawal of course record holder Beriso due to injury, we can expect Ethiopian Megertu Alemu to front the pack, with her intimidating marathon PB of 2:16:34 outdoing those of her competitors. Alemu, 27, finished third then second at the 2022 and 2023 London Marathons respectively, so she’ll no doubt be hungry to add a win to her collection in Valencia in 2024.
Among those joining Alemu in the elite women’s race will be US favourite Sara Hall and Britain’s Clara Evans, quickest marathon runners Olympic marathon Health & Injuries.
The allure of Valencia
Spain’s premier 26.2-mile event, and a World Athletics Platinum Label race, the Valencia Marathon boasts a pancake-flat course and, more often than not, perfect weather conditions, with temperatures on race day usually falling between 12°C and 17°C.
What is a good marathon time quickest marathon runners on the roads today choose to toe the line in Valencia. It also makes sense when you consider the prize pot of €1,000,000 (almost £840,000) that is being offered to any man or women who breaks their respective marathon world record when they cross the finish line at Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences this year.
‘Once again, this year, the combination of established names and ambitious newcomers offers a great spectacle,’ said Marc Roig, the international elite coach for the Valencia Marathon. ‘Having both the men’s and women’s record holders in the race makes it even more fascinating. Will they be able to lower the time even further? Or will it be the outsiders who will be successful? As always, it is impossible to predict what will happen in Valencia.’
The excitement surrounding the elite athlete line-up follows concern that this year’s event may be cancelled due to the devastating flash floods (DANA) that recently affected parts of Spain, including the province of Valencia.
‘First of all, we want to express our affection and solidarity with all those who have been affected by the disaster that has struck our province and especially your town,’ wrote the organisers of the Valencia Marathon in a statement, which went on to confirm that all runners affected by the DANA in Valencia could request to cancel their place in the 2024 event and receive a full refund.
The race organisers also confirmed that the 2024 Valencia Marathon would still run as planned, and that they would warmly welcome and support affected runners ‘who wish to continue participating in the event, either as a form of personal resilience or in memory of the victims’.
If you’re keen to see the race unfold for yourself, you can watch the 2024 Valencia Marathon via a live-stream on the Olympic Channel, or, indeed, Valencia.
