Introduction
Running is experiencing a golden age. The 2025 running boom goes beyond a hobby to become a global community: people train in groups, share their workouts on platforms such as Strava and increasingly rely on technology to improve their performance. This article presents a comprehensive look at the main races in Spain and around the world for 2025 and 2026, along with an analysis of the trends, records and controversies shaping the current running scene, from shoe regulations to the latest doping scandals and the keys to sports nutrition.
Marathon calendar in Spain (2025 and 2026)
The following table lists some of the official marathons in Spain during 2025 and the beginning of 2026. Dates may vary slightly depending on the organisers.
| Date (2025) | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Jan | Almagro Marathon | First major race of the year with a low entry fee (20–30 €). |
| 2 Feb | Murcia Marathon | Urban course through the regional capital; entry from 46 €. |
| 16 Feb | BP Castellón Marathon | Offers 10 km, half marathon and marathon distances. |
| 23 Feb | Seville Marathon | Fast, flat circuit – one of the favourites for chasing personal bests. |
| 16 Mar | Barcelona Marathon | This edition hosted the Spanish Championships and is part of the Superhalfs series; entry 65–89 €. |
| 27 Apr | Madrid Marathon (Rock ’n’ Roll) | Runs past Madrid’s landmarks and combines marathon, half marathon and 10 km. |
| 7 Dec | Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso | Spain’s fastest marathon; attracts thousands of runners and closes the season. |
| Others | Palma, Logroño, San Sebastián, Málaga, Lanzarote… | Throughout autumn there are marathons in major cities, with entry fees between 65 and 95 €. |
For 2026 there are already provisional dates: the Almagro Marathon will once again open the calendar on 18 January 2026, and from February onwards events such as Murcia, Seville and Barcelona will return. Check each race’s official website to confirm registrations.
Major international marathons of 2025 (World Marathon Majors)
The World Marathon Majors (WMM) are the most prestigious marathon circuit in the world and attract the best runners. These were the main 2025 races:
| Date | Marathon | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Mar | Tokyo Marathon | 18th edition and start of the WMM series. Tadese Takele (2:03:23) and Sutume Kebede (2:16:31) were the champions. |
| 21 Apr | Boston Marathon | 129th edition. With 32,080 entrants, John Korir (2:04:45) and Sharon Lokedi (2:17:22) won in cold, windy conditions. |
| 27 Apr | London Marathon | 45th edition. Sabastian Sawe won in 2:02:27; Tigst Assefa set a women‑only marathon world record (2:15:50). The race saw 56,640 finishers, a record. |
| 31 Aug | Sydney Marathon | Debuted as the seventh WMM. Hailemaryam Kiros (2:06:06) and Sifan Hassan (2:18:22) broke course records. |
| 21 Sep | Berlin Marathon | Sabastian Sawe clocked the world’s fastest time of 2025 (2:02:16) and Rosemary Wanjiru won the women’s race in 2:21:05. |
| 12 Oct | Chicago Marathon | Recorded 160,000 applicants and 53,000 finishers. Jacob Kiplimo (2:02:23) and Hawi Feysa (2:14:57) took the titles. |
| 2 Nov | New York City Marathon | Final race of the series. Benson Kipruto (2:08:09) and Hellen Obiri (2:19:51) won, with Obiri setting a course record. |
These races highlight trends such as the use of carbon‑plate shoes with 40 mm soles, regulated by World Athletics since 2020. In 2025, World Athletics announced the creation of an independent body to oversee shoe approval and control, requiring that models be available to the public for four months before being used in elite competition.
Records and great performances of 2025
Beyond marathons, 2025 was full of world records:
- Indoor track: Grant Fisher broke the 3000 m (7:22.91) and 5000 m (12:44.09) records; Jakob Ingebrigtsen lowered the mile (3:45.14) and 1500 m (3:29.63); Yared Nuguse set 3:46.63 for the mile.
- Outdoor track: Karsten Warholm set a new 300 m hurdles record (32.67 s); Faith Kipyegon broke the 1,500 m world record (3:48.68) and Beatrice Chebet the 5,000 m (13:58.06).
- Road: Jacob Kiplimo broke the half marathon record with 56:42 in Barcelona; Tigst Assefa set the women’s‑only world marathon record at 2:15:50 in London.
- Trail and ultra: Phil Gore completed 119 laps in the Backyard Ultra, a new world record; Sarah Webster and Sarah Perry set new marks in the 24‑hour run and Backyard Ultra respectively.
Valencia Half Marathon 2025: records and participation
Valencia remains the City of Running. The Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich 2025 attracted 26,077 finishers, the largest turnout in its history. Kenyan runner Agnes Jebet Ngetich recorded the fastest time of the year (1:03:08) and the third fastest ever, while Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha won with 58:02. Sweden’s Andreas Almgren set a European record of 58:41. Among Spaniards, Carlos Mayo clocked 1:00:46 and Carla Gallardo 1:09:14.
Controversies and doping
Joyline Chepngeno case
In September 2025 the Kenyan trail runner Joyline Chepngeno received a two‑year ban after testing positive for triamcinolone acetonide during her victories at Sierre‑Zinal and UTMB OCC. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) annulled all her results from 9 August onwards, awarding victory to runner‑up Caroline Kimutai, and suspended Chepngeno until September 2027. The case sparked a debate about doping in trail running and led to Chepngeno losing her sponsorship deal.
Ruth Chepngetich case
In October 2025, Kenyan athlete Ruth Chepngetich, the women’s marathon world record holder (2:09:56), was handed a three‑year ban after testing positive for the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). The AIU rejected her claim that she had taken her housemaid’s medication and deemed her explanation “hardly credible”. Despite the suspension, her world record still stands because the positive test occurred months after the record run. Investigators found messages about testosterone and doping programmes on her phone,
suggesting further violations could emerge.
Running trends in 2025
Strava report: sport becomes social
Strava’s Year in Sport 2025 report identifies 10 running trends:
- Social sport: 59 % of Spaniards prefer meeting people in fitness groups instead of bars. One in four Gen Z users has been on a date with someone met through fitness communities.
- Balanced training and rest: the culture of “more is better” is fading; 84 % of users prefer sessions under an hour and runners dedicate a third of their days to rest.
- Social pauses: during group outings, 22 % of the time is spent on coffee, photos or chats.
- Cross‑training: combining sports increases the likelihood of reaching goals by 17 %.
- Shoe revolution: 44 % of marathons were run with carbon‑fiber shoes.
- Technology: GPS watches and wearables are essential tools; the Apple Watch leads short races and Garmin Forerunner long ones.
- Sports fashion: “fitness with style” is important; 61 % of runners make sure their outfit matches.
- Socks and generations: sock preferences vary by age – Gen Z loves long socks, while Gen X favours invisible ones.
- Colour of the year: blue dominates sports apparel in 2025.
- Sport as a way of life: runners seek mental well‑being and community experiences beyond the stopwatch.
Runnea report 2025: habits and consumption of Spanish runners
Runnea analysed the habits of more than 5,000 recreational runners. The main findings are:
- Running level: 57.7 % consider themselves intermediate runners; 18.9 % beginners; 17.8 % advanced and 5.6 % competitive.
- Training frequency: 61.2 % run 3–4 days per week; 18.9 % 1–2 days; 17.8 % five or more days.
- Preferred distance: 36.5 % favour 10 km races; 32.9 % half marathons; 11.1 % 5 km and 9.4 % full marathons.
- Shoe replacement: 41.1 % buy two pairs per year and 22.9 % three pairs. Some 79 % spend between 80 and 150 € per pair.
- Purchase timing: 70.8 % buy shoes when they wear out and 66.2 % take advantage of sales.
- Choice factors: cushioning (4.57/5) and durability (4.15/5) are the top criteria, ahead of price and design.
- Technology: 91.8 % own a GPS watch; Garmin is the most used brand (56.4 %).
Sports nutrition: the era of personalisation
Sports nutrition trends for 2025 highlight “intelligent nutrition”. According to the nutrition experts at Club Metropolitan, this strategy involves adapting the diet to individual needs through professional analysis. Key recommendations include:
- Adjusting macronutrients: for intense workouts, 3–12 g of carbohydrates per kg of body weight per day are recommended; proteins should be 1.2–1.7 g/kg and healthy fats should account for 20–35 % of daily calories.
- Fibre and prebiotics: improving the gut microbiota aids digestion and nutrient absorption, boosting performance.
- Intelligent supplementation: omega‑3 fatty acids, creatine and vitamin D are key supplements for 2025.
- Strategic meals and hydration: consuming carbohydrates before exercise and a mix of proteins and carbohydrates afterwards improves recovery; continuous hydration is essential.
Conclusion
The year 2025 has cemented Spain and the world as prime stages for running. Spanish marathons continue to grow in number and participants, while the World Marathon Majors offer record‑breaking performances. Technology, carbon‑plate shoes and intelligent nutrition are redefining how we train, yet doping scandals remind us of the importance of sporting ethics. Looking ahead to 2026, running will keep evolving: runners will seek social experiences, mental well‑being and sustainable performance.