Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei delivered a time of 2:14:00 to move to fourth on the women’s world all-time list at the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso, held on December 7, while her compatriot John Korir claimed the men’s title in 2:02:24. In the women’s race, Peres Jepchirchir finished second in 2:14:43, the sixth-fastest time in history, while in the men’s event Germany’s Amanal Petros and Norway’s Awet Kibrab completed the podium with national records.

The 2025 edition, classified as an Elite Platinum Label event by World Athletics, once again placed the Valencia race at the centre of international long-distance running. These results are part of a decade marked by sustained growth in participation, the concentration of record-chasing elite athletes, an expanding prize-money structure and a rising economic impact on the city.

From national race to global marathon

Participation has shown steady growth over the past ten years. In 2015, around 16,500 race numbers were recorded, increasing to approximately 19,500 finishers in 2018. In 2019, the event reached 25,000 sold-out entries, with more than 77,000 visitors linked to the race and close to 230,000 overnight stays. In 2022, total registrations reached 30,000 runners, with 48 per cent of overseas participation and athletes from 115 nationalities; in 2023, entries exceeded 32,400, and in 2024 participation approached 32,000 despite adverse weather conditions caused by heavy storms.

For 2025, organisers confirmed more than 35,000 registered runners, with 30,777 finishers, 67 per cent of them international athletes and participants from around 150 countries. This progression represents growth of more than one hundred per cent in runner volume compared to 2015 and reflects a clear shift toward a fully international participation profile.

The evolution of course records helps to explain this positioning. Alongside circuit records, the race now produces a high number of national records every year. In 2022, Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum lowered the men’s course record to 2:01:53, while Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso set the women’s mark at 2:14:58. In 2023, her compatriot Sisay Lemma improved the men’s record to 2:01:48, and in 2025 Joyciline Jepkosgei once again reset the women’s standard, with athletes from Germany, Norway and Japan also establishing new national records alongside a broad range of personal bests.

Prize money and record bonuses: a strategy to attract elite performance

The rise in competitive level has gone hand in hand with a sustained increase in financial incentives. In 2021, the winner’s prize stood at 50,000 euros, while in the 2024 and 2025 editions the structure rewards performance in time-based tiers, with prizes of up to 75,000 euros for winners who achieve specific target times.

These amounts are complemented by additional bonuses: 30,000 euros for breaking the course record, 25,000 euros for setting a Spanish national record and an extraordinary one-million-euro incentive for a world record. This policy places the Valencia race among the events offering the highest potential financial return for elite athletes outside the ‘Majors’ marathon circuit.

Economic and tourism impact of the marathon on Valencia

The direct economic impact has also followed an upward trend. In 2019, tourism-related spending linked to the marathon stood at around 23 million euros. In 2022, this figure rose to 27 million euros, generating a total business volume of 58.6 million euros and an income impact of 17.4 million euros, with 524 full-time equivalent jobs. In 2023, tourism expenditure exceeded 31 million euros.

In 2024, impact studies placed tourism spending in the range of 39–40 million euros, with more than 83 million euros in total business volume, 23.9 million euros in income impact and 13.1 million euros in tax revenue, alongside 732 full-time equivalent jobs associated with the event.

The tourism dimension is also reflected in hotel occupancy and the runner profile. Over the last two editions, between 63 per cent and 67 per cent of participants were international athletes, with hotel occupancy close to 96 per cent during race weekend. The marathon has become the second-largest annual economic event in the city of Valencia, behind only the Fallas, within the local calendar of major events.