Last weekend, I ran the Marató de Barcelona, and a week later, I’m still left with mixed feelings. It was the first time in three years I ran a marathon outside Valencia, and while crossing the finish line is always special, what happened before, during, and after the race made me reflect on everything the Valencia Marathon gets right — and shouldn’t lose. One thing is clear: filling up registrations at any cost isn’t worth it. In this article, I’ll go over situations I’ve seen repeated in other big marathons and that shouldn’t be a reference for Valencia: rising prices without real service improvements, limited aid stations, disappointing race bags, lack of toilets, and tourist-driven crowding that can ruin the experience for regular runners. I’ll also go through what Valencia does well and why it’s worth keeping it that way.
Continuous Price Hikes Without Better Services
Every year, it’s more common to see marathon registration fees skyrocket. The real concern isn’t the price — everyone chooses what they’re willing to pay — but the lack of improvement in services in return. At the Marató de Barcelona, for example, bibs went over €90 without any noticeable enhancement in the race experience. Many runners were left wondering what they were really paying for: the t-shirt? The chip? Road closures? Or just the privilege of running in good weather?
Valencia, fortunately, still maintains a more balanced relationship between price and infrastructure. Yes, prices have gone up in recent years, but the general perception is that what you pay comes with solid value: reliable organization, helpful volunteers, lively cheering zones, and well-planned logistics. However, it shouldn’t get distracted or “get ahead of itself” with cutting-edge measures like the recently announced €6 fee to use the bag drop service on race day.
This ties in directly with another key point: what happens during the race and at the critical support spots.
Poor Aid Stations and Logistics: Is It All for the Running Tourist?
With over 60% of participants coming from abroad, some big races are becoming increasingly focused on sports tourism. That’s not necessarily a bad thing — until it compromises the quality of the event. In Barcelona, the aid stations were lacking both in number and quality. Water was served in cups instead of bottles, no gels or fruit, and hydration points that were hard to use without coming to a full stop.
Valencia has done much better in this aspect. Using small water bottles, placing aid stations strategically, and offering both fruit and sports drinks makes runners — local and international alike — feel like they’re part of a top-tier race. If the Valencia Marathon wants to stay on top, it must keep putting the runner first, not just the show for spectators.
This also becomes evident in the smaller details that, when added up, make a big difference. Like…
The Race Bag Letdown: Paying More, Getting Less
One of the most repeated complaints from runners in Barcelona was the disappointment with the race bag. Low-quality shirts, missing sizes even the day before the race, and barely any products that actually help a marathoner. At the finish line? A sad reward of one apple, two mandarins, and a small cup of tap water. Pretty underwhelming for 42 kilometers of effort.
It’s becoming a pattern: runners are getting less while paying more. Valencia has earned a good reputation by doing the opposite. Without going overboard, there’s at least a sense of coherence: a shirt with proper design and sizing, some energy snacks, and a half-decent recovery pack at the finish line. It doesn’t have to be a full backpack, but what’s given should feel genuinely useful.
And if the race bag is lacking, basic amenities at least should be guaranteed. Like toilets, for example.
The Toilet Problem and the Everyday Runner’s Experience
One of the most viral post-race images from the Marató de Barcelona was that of dozens of runners peeing in fountains or on corners, due to a total lack of portable toilets. Reportedly, there were only ten for over 27,000 runners. A mess that especially affected women, who had to find privacy behind bushes or parked cars. It’s not something people usually talk about — until they suffer it.
Valencia has done a better job in this area in recent editions. While there’s always room for improvement, the number and placement of chemical toilets has been reasonable, both at the start line and along the route. This is a basic detail, but one that greatly improves the runner’s comfort and lowers pre-race stress.
And when we talk about large numbers, the question becomes…
Is Overcrowding Really Worth It?
Big city marathons have become magnets for international runners thanks to the tourism, the good weather, and the hype. But that also brings challenges: overcrowding, long lines, packed start zones, and a loss of the event’s identity. When a marathon becomes more of a commercial product than a sporting event, it’s natural for local runners to lose interest.
That was the case in Barcelona: overcrowding was noticeable at the race expo (disorganized and unimpressive), in the starting corrals, and even at the finish. If Valencia has so far avoided this, it’s because the event has stayed grounded in its local community and its regular runners. Hopefully, it stays that way — it’s the only way to grow without losing what makes it special.
Which brings us to a final reminder…
What the Valencia Marathon Gets Right — And Needs to Keep Doing
Valencia isn’t perfect, but it has shown that it’s possible to grow in numbers without lowering quality. How runners are treated, the small logistical touches, the energy of the volunteers, the vibe throughout the city, and the ability to adapt to the unexpected — all of that has made many want to come back every year. It’s not just the fast course or the sunshine that builds loyalty, it’s the feeling of being part of something that’s taken care of.
After experiencing Barcelona, I’m more convinced than ever: Valencia needs to keep being a national benchmark — as long as it avoids copying what clearly doesn’t work.
