Night races are popular races, half marathons and marathons that instead of running in daylight, they are run at night under the stars. This aspect increases the difficulty in some sections or it may give us a little more respect to participate, but it is a challenge to overcome the test. They are usually more or less short races that usually end long before 12 at night.
Spain is made up of 17 Autonomous Communities and a total of 8125 cities, so there will surely be a night race in the town where we live. To clear up doubts, we can ask at our town hall, check the local activities website, be attentive to social networks, look for associations and sporting events in the area, etc. and we could even look for a charitable cause and organize the first night race in our city ourselves.
Throughout this text we are going to know the best night races in Spain, and not only their location but some information about all of them so that we can see if we are interested in signing up or not. Regarding the dates, it would be better to ask on the official website of each event, since, after the coronavirus pandemic, the dates of sporting events have been upset a lot and until everything returns to normal, these changes will continue to happen .
Top rated night races
Popular races take place in all the towns and cities of Spain, and we are convinced that there will also be night races, although they tend to be less common, it is true. Depending on the weather, the sports incidence in the area, if there are sports associations and clubs that bet, if there are well-lit streets for the route, etc.
Many factors enter into a night race, in addition, we cannot equip ourselves the same as if we were going to run during the day. In the case of participating in a night race, you must avoid black, you must wear reflectors and lights as well as appropriate clothing for that weather.
Guadalquivir KH7 Night Race
It is a night race that takes place at the end of September and runs through the main locations of the capital of Andalusia. The start is normally on the Paseo de las Delicias and usually coincides with the finish line. A race that has a more or less flat course and a distance of about 8 km . The race, being nocturnal, usually starts after dark and the starting gun is usually heard at around 10 at night.
The good thing about the Guadalquivir night is that it is one of the few night races that allows everyone to participate, without exclusion, being over 16 years old is enough and wheelchair runners can also participate. The website to find information about this race is imd.sevilla.org .
MLK TRAIL & TAHERMO
A night race that runs through the most emblematic places of Malaga under the moon and the blanket of stars. In the middle of September, when it is still a pleasant temperature after sunset. It starts at 10 at night and there is also a children’s race that starts at 9:20 at night.
In this race we have a 10 km route and a solidarity purpose, since in each edition we collaborate with different associations. The most impressive thing about this tour is that we will do a tourist tour visiting emblematic monuments of one of the most enigmatic cities in Spain, for example, the ruins of the Roman Theater, the Alcazaba or the Gibralfaro castle.
The website where we can check everything is mlktrail.es .
15K Night Valencia
The 15K Nocturna de Valencia is one of the best known night races in the whole country , in fact, the city of Valencia already accumulates different awards for supporting, organizing and valuing both sport and sports activities in this city and in the Autonomous Community.
A very famous race that starts around 10:30 at night and goes through very key places in the city of Valencia, without forgetting the City of Arts and Sciences, it also goes through Avenida de Alameda, the Museum of Fine Arts, Palau de la Música, Fuente del Reino, among others. To see more information about this night race, visit 15nocturnavalencia.com .
Midnight Trail Barcelona
With a distance of 15 km, this night race in Barcelona is a complex journey and not suitable for everyone, as it requires a very good condition and physical preparation. We are talking about a route divided into 3 parts in this way: 80% for wide track, 15% for asphalt and 5% for trails.
It is usually held at the beginning of October and is focused on runners who seek to run at night and surrounded by challenges and nature. For this test we recommend being well equipped since in remote areas of the city visibility is zero, so it is almost mandatory to use at least one light and several reflective lines.
To know more about this race, we have to enter the web midnighttrail.com .
The Cursa del Port Barcelona
Also in Barcelona, specifically in its port, and we are facing one of the most magical night races in the city. It takes place in mid-September and has two routes, one of 5 km and the other of 10 km , the race begins at 12:15 p.m., so the finish line will be crossed at dawn.
It runs through the Port of Barcelona leaving from the Muelle de las Drassanes. The celebration of this race sometimes coincides with the Mercè festivities. To know more about this curious night race, we recommend entering the official website to inform us of everything.
Moon Trail Madrid
At the beginning of October one of those night races takes place that once you participate you never forget it. This time we did not want to miss the Moon Trail, a Trail Running competition in the Madrid municipality of El Berruco .
A magical night to remember as a serpentine row of white lights run through such a natural setting with the only witness to the moon and the stars. From now on we say that it is not a race suitable for everyone, only for well-prepared personnel, not only due to the lack of visibility, but also because of the hardness of the route: 9,170 meters of distance with a positive difference in altitude of 278 meters. There is also another option, which is 4,830 meters in distance and 102 meters of positive elevation gain.
At fivestationtrail.com we have all the information.
Manzanares El Real at night
It is a night race within the popular racing program of Madrid Se Mueve Por Madrid , held in Manzanares El Real at around 8:30 pm at the end of summer. In this race, the city center is traveled through sports and away from the unbearable heat that reigns in Madrid between the months of the summer season.
A pleasant race where anyone can participate, with a more or less flat route with a multitude of participants who arrive from different parts of the Community of Madrid and Spain. On the official website applereselreal.es we will find everything we need to register.
The night of Toledo
Toledo is a magical city, full of history, with impressive corners and where you can find one of the best night skies in all of Spain. And at night, the thing is with one of the most recommended night races in the current running scene.
Toledo has something that other cities do not have and touring it at night in mid-October with all the sky for us, is an experience that we encourage you to live from here. There are two modalities, either 8 km or 5 km, the exact route and the points of interest of both options are detailed on the official website lanocturnadetoledo.es .
10K Night Gijón
Gijón is an impressive coastal city that is located in the north of Spain, it is known for its mix between the old and the most modern. In this beautiful little corner of Asturias, one of the most beautiful night races in which we can participate is born.
This night race is organized by EDP and has a 10 km route through the city center and they kick off at around 9:30 at night, so in just over 3 hours the event concludes and we are at home with the family.
This race has something very peculiar and it is that, after the runners leave, after a while, a car will come out that will go in the queue, with a certain distance and will be scoring the participants that it is surpassing. If it surpasses us, we are disqualified and cannot continue running.
On the web 10nocturnagijon.es everything is explained perfectly.
Bilbao Night Marathon
Bilbao is another city of contrasts and its famous night marathon could not be missed in this compilation. It is a 42 km route where we start from the San Mamés Stadium and arrive at the Guggenheim Museum . It is not just a route, there will also be races of 21 km and 10 km. For the participants of the 10 km they must know that they will run together with the rest of the participants, only that their route ends much earlier.
A race full of emotions and that is held at the end of October, therefore, we remember the importance of being well prepared for that night, and more so being in the north of Spain that already at that time it is cold and the nights are dark.
For more information, we go to edpbilbaomarathon.com .
