Terrassa Half Marathon 2026: the Catalan city of Terrassa will once again throb with running fever on Sunday 1 February 2026 at 10:00. The 26th edition of this urban half marathon covers 21.097 km on a course certified by the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA) and is set to be the most popular to date. This article covers everything from registration and course details to this year’s novelties and practical tips to help you enjoy a demanding yet festive race.
Date, schedule and how to register
The 26th Terrassa International Half Marathon takes place on 1 February 2026. Both the start and finish are located in the Parc dels Catalans on the Rambla d’Ègara (near Doctor Cabanes Street). The organisers also stage the Santi Centelles 5 km, which starts at 9:30, half an hour before the half marathon begins at 10:00. You can register online via Championchip. Fees range from €22 to €32 depending on the date of registration, and the deadline is 31 January. If you sign up before 21 January your bib will be personalised with your name.
- Bib collection: bibs are collected at the Expo located at the Fundació Busquets (Parc dels Catalans). Times: Friday 30 January from 16:00 – 20:00 and Saturday 31 January from 10:00 – 20:00. On race day a reduced service from 8:00 – 9:15 is available for runners travelling from outside Terrassa.
- Categories: under‑23 (born 2004‑2010), senior (1986‑2003), veterans 1 (1976‑1985), veterans 2 (1966‑1975) and veterans 3 (1965 and earlier). There is also a team competition.
- Prizes: trophies for the top three men and women overall, the winners of each age group, the top three local athletes and the first team. The overall winners earn a free entry for the 2027 edition.
Every finisher will receive a commemorative medal bearing the silhouette of the modernist Masia Freixa — a nod to Terrassa’s architectural heritage. Participants also get a technical Tuga shirt and a goody bag filled with local products.
An urban course that tests your legs
Unlike flatter half marathons, Terrassa’s race is known for its relentless profile. The 100 % urban route winds through the city’s main avenues with continuous climbs and descents, accumulating more than 200 m of positive elevation. From the start on the Rambla d’Ègara the course leads through districts such as Ca n’Anglada, Vallparadís and Can Roca before returning via the Matadepera road. This topography explains why past winners have needed around 63–65 minutes to win — far slower than the times seen on flatter courses.
To help runners manage their effort the organisers provide aid stations every 5 km, offer pacers for different target times and set up animation points where locals cheer with bands, human towers (castellers) and traditional sardana dances. The half marathon coincides with a local sports festival and turns Terrassa’s streets into a true running village.
Record participation and home‑grown favourites
As reported by MónTerrassa, the 2026 edition will break registration records. By mid‑January more than 2,500 runners were already signed up — exceeding the total field of 2025 — and the organisers expect the figure to reach 4,000 when the Santi Centelles race is included. This growth goes hand in hand with a clear bet on national talent: after years of foreign dominance, especially by Kenyan athletes, the race’s association (AEMMT) and the city council want to see local names on the winners’ list.
The leading contender is local star Jaume Leiva, the 2012 Spanish half‑marathon champion who knows the course inside out. In the women’s field the favourite is Cristina Silva from Barcelona, who arrives in top form after winning the 2025 Cursa de Bombers. Nevertheless, the event still attracts many international runners: over 600 athletes from abroad have already secured their bibs, mainly from France, the United Kingdom and Latin American countries.
Tips for conquering Terrassa’s hills
Tackling a half marathon with so much elevation requires specific preparation. Here are some key points to help you arrive in shape and enjoy every kilometre:
- Strength and hill training: include at least one weekly session of long uphill repeats (200–400 m) and another of shorter hill sprints to develop power. Complement this with strength and proprioception exercises to reinforce glutes, hamstrings and core.
- Control your pace on climbs: don’t try to maintain flat‑course speed on every ascent. Reduce your pace slightly, shorten your stride and keep a high cadence. Use the descents to recover without overloading your joints.
- Practice downhill technique: steep descents can punish your quadriceps. Train controlled downhills by leaning slightly forward and landing lightly with quick steps.
- Simulate the route: if you live nearby, train on parts of the course to familiarise yourself with the climbs. Alternatively, use a treadmill with incline or seek rolling terrain in your area.
- Plan nutrition and hydration: hilly races burn more energy. Practise taking gels or sports drinks during long runs and remember to drink at every aid station.
- Harness digital tools: apps like SnapRace let you build personalised training plans, analyse your splits and track your progress on hills. You can also share your workouts with friends and compare your progress with other runners preparing for Terrassa.
For more guidance on preparing for a tough winter half, check our analysis of the Málaga Half Marathon 2026, which explains how to combine long runs, tempo sessions and strength work to reach peak fitness. And if hills are your thing, don’t miss the training recommendations in our post on the Fuencarral–El Pardo Half Marathon 2026.
More than a race: a city‑wide celebration
The Terrassa Half Marathon is far more than a sporting event. Throughout the weekend the race village at Parc dels Catalans will host concerts, castell exhibitions, sardana dances, children’s activities and a market selling local crafts. Mayor Jordi Ballart describes the race as «health and inclusion» and a driver of economic activity for the city: hotels and restaurants fill with runners and supporters eager to discover modernist landmarks such as Masia Freixa and Casa Alegre de Sagrera.
If you’re looking for a challenge that goes beyond chasing personal bests and offers a warm, local atmosphere, Terrassa is waiting with open arms. See you on the start line!