Valencia Marathon 2023 preview: Full schedule and how to watch live
Olympic champions Joshua Cheptegei and Kenenisa Bekele are among top elites expected to line up in the men’s field in Valencia, while Rio 2016 10,000m gold medallist Almaz Ayana leads the women’s entries. Here’s everything you need to know about the Valencia Marathon that will be streamed live on Olympic Channel, on Sunday, 3 December.
Athletics
Focus is back on one of the fastest circuits in the world, with some of the best athletes in long distance running confirmed to compete in the 43rd edition of the Valencia Marathon on 3 December.
The flat course, coupled with ideal weather conditions, has made the Spanish race an ideal springboard for marathon debutants.
This year, Joshua Cheptegei will be the main highlight as the Ugandan seeks to step up into the marathon after his track dominance.
Cheptegei and fellow Olympic and world gold medallist Kenenisa Bekele are the big names among the men’s elites.
But there’s also Kenya’s Alexander Mutiso - another fast runner with his 2:03:29 - and the experienced Ethiopian duo of 2021 London Marathon winner Sisay Lemma and Leul Gebresilase, the 2018 Valencia Marathon champion.
Ethiopian Olympian Almaz Ayana is the top pick in the women’s race alongside Kenyan-born Romanian Joan Chelimo, the 2022 Seoul Marathon winner.
Here is a rundown of what to expect from one of the best Marathons in the world, the full schedule and how to watch live.
Runners to watch at Valencia Marathon
When Kelvin Kiptum lined up for the men’s race last year, there was not much focus on him. He was among the many debutants who liked the fairly flat course, designed for fast marathon times.
But by the 35km, the focus was squarely on the Kenyan as he raced to smash the course record with 2:01:53, which is still the fastest marathon debut in history.
A lot has changed over the last 12 months, Kiptum is not just a newly minted marathoner, the reigning London and Chicago Marathon winner is the fastest man marathoner ever ahead of the legendary Eliud Kipchoge and Bekele.
In recent times, winners of the Valencia Marathon have also gone ahead to win Olympic medals, like Rio 2016 bronze medallist Tamirat Tola and Tokyo Games gold medallist Peres Jepchirchir.
That's a reputation that makes Valencia Marathon a must-watch.
This year, the focus will be on Cheptegei, who has chosen a city that he’s quite familiar with to launch his marathon career.
He set two world records in Valencia - first the road 10km in 2019 before he returned a year later and ran the fastest track 10,000m race.
“Valencia is my second home, it’s the perfect place to start this new journey. For me, it’s a challenge to take on this challenge and then we’ll see," he told the organisers when he confirmed the venue for his first marathon.
The 27-year-old won his third world title in Budapest and is still the fastest man over the 5,000 and 10,000m, world records that were previously held by Bekele.
Bekele, the third-fastest marathoner with his 2:01:39 run from Berlin in 2019 - also the last time he topped a 42.195km race, is among the latest big shots on the starting list. He’s eyeing Paris 2024 and a first race in Valencia fits his marathon plans.
“I want to be a strong competitor. I'm not going just for participation. I will use my maximum effort to do anything possible,” the Kenyan said in an exclusive interview with Olympics.com.
“At this time, it's a really difficult to talk about [running] my personal best, that’s a big challenge, but I will try my best."
Also, worth keeping an eye on experienced marathoners like Kenya’s Mutiso, third at last year’s race, as well as Lemma, a season World Marathon Majors racer who has been on the podium in London twice and once in Berlin.
There is also the 2022 London Marathon runner-up Gebresilase.
Spanish Marathoners could earn Paris 2024 quota slots in Valencia
After Ethiopian Amane Beriso’s fifth-best mark in marathon history of 2:14:58 in Valencia last year, the women’s category could just surprise again.
Gemechu, second at the last Tokyo Marathon, is looking to bounce back after withdrawing from the 2023 World Championships course in Budapest.
Ayana, another Ethiopian to watch on 3 December, warmed up for Valencia with a strong win at the Delhi half-marathon last October. She is seeking her second marathon win after topping the 2022 Amsterdam Marathon.
But it’s not just the international elites who are fond of the Valencia Marathon. The race is also a big hit among the locals.
Last year, Olympian Marta Galimany set a Spanish marathon record while Hamid Ben Daoud, another Tokyo Games participant, set the men’s record in 2021.
This year, Spanish elites will use the marathon to hit the qualifying marks for Paris 2024, and it’s likely that the two best placed men and women local runners, will earn their quotas for the Olympics.
National record holder Daoud (2:06:35) and Tariku Novales (2:07:180 are the top picks for the men’s while Majida Maayouf, the recently nationalized Moroccan born, is the fastest on the women’s list with a PB of 2:21:00.
Galinany, the fastest Spanish woman, is also returns to this year's race.
The 2023 Valencia Marathon full schedule
(Timings in CET, GMT +1)
- 8:15 a.m. Professional men and women’s elite runners
- 8:25 a.m. Wave 1
- 8:25 a.m. Wheelchair division, Hand cycle category and select athletes with disabilities
- 8:35 a.m. Wave 2
- 8:45 a.m. Wave 3
- 8:55 a.m. Wave 4
- 9:05 a.m. Wave 5
- 9:15 a.m. Wave 6
- 9:25 a.m. Wave 7
How to watch the 2023 Valencia Marathon live
The race will be televised live on Olympic Channel and YouTube.
In Spain, you can follow the race on www.maratonvalenica.com , #Come on, Telesport, Eurosport, À Punt, EITB, Esport 3 (TV3) and T V Brand.
Marathon fans can find the full list of international broadcasters here for their country.