RUN Loughborough Takes on the Valencia Half Marathon: A Race Weekend Recap

The journey to the Valencia Half Marathon for RUN Loughborough athlete Iestyn started with an unplanned lie-in!. Despite the 7am alarm, he hit the snooze button and overslept, which meant a late start, but with a 4:25pm flight from Bristol, there was no panic. The day's first order of business was a light 5k run to loosen the legs, which were feeling tight after a previous flight home from Mexico just four days prior. Our Welsh Wonder is well travelled! This short run proved transformative, leaving his legs feeling "good."

The Journey to Valencia

After a quick shower, rehydration, and breakfast, Iestyn and his wife, Jenn, were on their way to the airport. They opted for a smooth and cost-effective transfer: a drop-off at a free one-hour maximum parking spot, followed by a short walk to the free airport bus, which runs every 15 minutes. The only minor hitch was a sudden downpour during the brief, uncovered walk into the airport. Inside, security was a breeze. The Ryanair flight was uneventful and even arrived in Valencia five minutes ahead of schedule.

For convenience in a new city, Iestyn, decided to utilise Uber for the first time. The app was brilliant, and when a small confusion arose over the taxi's location, the driver proactively called, demonstrating fantastic service. The ride to the Novotel Lavant hotel in Campanar, three miles from both the race start and the Expo, took just 20 minutes.

Hotel and Expo Experience

The Novotel provided a great base for the weekend. The B&B offered a wide variety of food options, and on the same floor, a free gym was available. A highlight was the 12th-floor Sky Bar, which served food and drinks with a large outdoor area, a welcome feature in the 28-degree heat. The rooftop also boasted a bathing area and a swimming pool.

Getting around was simple. The EMT bus ran to and from the Expo, with a simple tap of a bank card costing just £1.75. The Metro system was also easily accessible under the main road.

The Expo Valencia was housed in a beautiful, open space flanked by water features. Arriving around 11 am, Iestyn hit the start of the busy period, but only waited ten minutes to get into the tall glass building. Once inside, after ascending four or five escalators, the main hall was reached. The setup was efficient: race bibs were dead ahead with a queue of only three people, securing the bib in under ten minutes. The T-shirt and vest stand was even quicker, with no queue at all. A quick walk around for freebies and a look at the future Valencia Marathon medal rounded out the Expo visit.

Race Prep and Pre-Race Morning

The rest of the day was dedicated to relaxation, spending time on the rooftop with local lemonade, soaking up the sun, and using the pool. getting his race kit ready before heading out for his 7pm dinner reservation. A pleasant evening walk through the botanical gardens capped the night, and with the clocks going back, a solid night's sleep was guaranteed.

Race morning began with a 6am alarm. Then around 7am warm-up jog the three miles to the start line. Due to a forecast of rain, Iestyn decided to wear a disposable poncho, a first for him. However, concerned about dehydrating in the heat, he binned the poncho before entering the pens, a good call as the rain held off until later in the race.

The atmosphere intensified closer to the start, with runners rushing to the bag drop and meeting points. Access to the pens was well-managed with ample security and gates, eliminating queues.

The Race: Vamos!

With loud music pumping and the energy high, the race was suddenly underway. Pen 5 started moving forward, but the initial stretch was characterised by congestion and jostling due to a narrow road and runners who were clearly in the wrong starting pen. This hampered the initial pace, but Iestyn felt good.

The target was a pace of approximately 6:50min/mile to achieve the Super Half goal of finishing under 90 minutes, following a recent PB of 1:25:47 in Cardiff. The first mile was slow due to traffic, but things picked up quickly when a familiar voice, Sabotage AKA Neil Bradburn, called out his name and ran past. "Vamos!!!" A new strategy was born: follow Neil and find space to run freely.

The miles flew by, averaging a strong 6:25 minute pace until the 9-mile mark, where Iestyn had to "dig in a little." The welcome sight of rain helped, making the air more comfortable, though the temperature remained around 19 degrees. The final two miles were a "slog," but the pace remained respectable. Knowing the finish was close after the final roundabout, he pushed hard to the line. Neil was close behind, as was Bec Brown, both who ran very close to their Personal Bests too.

The trio celebrated with a post-race photo, medals gleaming, before going their separate ways.

The Super Half journey continues next March with Berlin for number 5, with training commencing in seven weeks and wish Iestyn the very best of luck.