Media Maratón de Castelló 2027

On a Sunday at the end of January, Parque Ribalta comes alive with hundreds of runners. At 10:00, right in the heart of Castelló, the starting gun fires for the Media Maratón de Castelló, one of the most traditional half marathons on the Spanish calendar and a must for starting the season with a great 21.097-kilometre challenge through the streets of the capital of La Plana.More than four decades of historyIn 2027 the Media Maratón de Castelló celebrates its 42nd edition on Sunday 31 January. It is organised by Unió Atlètica Castelló in collaboration with SAUL BRAND, and is part of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation's national calendar. Its urban road course is certified by the RFEA, with every kilometre marked by a sign. The competitive level is high: the course records stand at 1:03:03 for men and 1:14:01 for women, and the organisers run an elite invitation programme that keeps raising the standard every year.A start for every paceThe start is organised in five corrals by accredited time, identified by the background colour of the bib: red up to 1:20, green between 1:20 and 1:35, blue between 1:35 and 1:45, violet between 1:45 and 2:00, and orange for over 2 hours. The time limit is 2 hours 30 minutes, with a cut-off at km 10 at 11:20. Anyone aged 18 or over can take part, with or without a federation licence, and there are categories for runners with sensory, physical and intellectual disabilities and for wheelchair athletes, plus a club classification.Everything designed around the runnerThere are refreshment stations at approximately km 5, 10 and 15, all with water and with gels at km 10, plus a special finish-line station with water, isotonic drinks and fruit. The Red Cross provides medical cover at the start and at km 5 and 15, and a sweep vehicle closes the race. On race day there is a bag drop in the start and finish area, open until 13:00, plus showers and toilets. All participants receive the official T-shirt and runner's bag.Prizes and recognitionThe top three men and women receive prize money of €500, €300 and €100, and anyone breaking the course record earns a €1,000 bonus. Trophies go to the top three overall and in each category, the top three Unió Atlètica Castelló runners and the oldest participant.The Runner's ExpoBibs, chips and runner's bags are collected at the Runner's Expo, in the sports section of El Corte Inglés, on Saturday 30 January from 10:00 to 20:00. They can also be collected on race day from 8:00 to 9:00 at Colegio Gaetà Huguet, next to Paseo Ribalta.RegistrationRegistration is via the official website until 21 January 2027. Prices rise in tiers: €26 until 15 September, €31 until 30 November, €36 until 10 January and €40 in the final stretch. Runners without a federation licence add €4 for a day licence.A half marathon with history, a certified course and a city devoted to athletics: the Media Maratón de Castelló is the best way to start the year running.