{"id":2494,"date":"2026-03-04T10:51:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T09:51:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/snaprace.app\/blog\/?p=2494"},"modified":"2026-03-04T10:52:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T09:52:01","slug":"salamanca-city-half-marathon-2026-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snaprace.app\/blog\/en\/salamanca-city-half-marathon-2026-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"Salamanca City Half Marathon 2026 Recap: History, Results and Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Salamanca Half Marathon 2026<\/strong> took place on Sunday, 1 March 2026<\/strong> and celebrated its 14th edition<\/strong> on a 21.097 km course through the historic heart of Salamanca. With a traffic-free urban circuit that blends heritage, mass participation and competitive racing, the event once again delivered a memorable race day. In this report we look back at the history of the event, how the 2026 race unfolded, who took the victories and why this 21K has a unique charm that draws thousands of runners year after year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History and evolution of the Salamanca Half Marathon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Salamanca City Half Marathon was created in 2013 by the Club Deportivo Popular Media Marat\u00f3n Ciudad de Salamanca<\/em> with support from the local council. In just a few years it has become one of Castilla y Le\u00f3n\u2019s most attractive 21K races thanks to its combination of a fast urban route and architectural heritage. The 2026 edition, with 2,300 entries sold out<\/strong>, confirmed that growth: the official website notes that the waiting list closed weeks before race day and that free guided tours were offered to runners and their companions, underlining the event\u2019s festive and cultural character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course is certified and closed to traffic. The race starts on Paseo de la Estaci\u00f3n<\/strong> and finishes in Parque de La Alamedilla<\/strong>. Over 21.097 km, runners pass broad avenues, residential areas and, most notably, Salamanca\u2019s historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Running past the old and new cathedrals, Plaza Mayor and the Roman bridge turns the race into a sightseeing tour as well as a sporting challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2026 race recap: drama to the finish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The gun went off at 10:30 a.m. on a cold but sunny morning, with the sold-out field out in force. From the opening kilometres, a lead pack of around ten athletes set a strong pace. Local reports highlighted the brothers Juan and Roberto Bueno<\/strong>, Daniel Ayuso<\/strong>, Javi Alves<\/strong> and Galician runner Iv\u00e1n Roade<\/strong> among the main protagonists. The race was decided on the demanding climb of Avenida de Do\u00f1a Berenguela<\/em>, where Roade surged and dropped his rivals. Running solo towards the finish along Calle Comuneros, he stopped the clock in 1:08:13<\/strong>. The sprint for second place was equally intense: Roberto Bueno edged Dani Ayuso by just one second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The women\u2019s race was more clear-cut. Local star Gema Mart\u00edn Borgas<\/strong> controlled proceedings from the start and once again crowned herself queen of her hometown half marathon with a time of 1:17:51<\/strong>. It was her ninth victory in the race, underscoring her long-standing dominance. Cristina Giurcanu Mihartescu<\/strong> (1:19:28) and Ver\u00f3nica S\u00e1nchez<\/strong> (1:20:20) completed the podium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Official results (2026)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here is the men\u2019s and women\u2019s podium for the 14th Salamanca City Half Marathon, with official times:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n \n \n \n
Position<\/th>Athlete<\/th>Time<\/th>Category<\/th><\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n
1st<\/td>Iv\u00e1n Roade Lago<\/td>1:08:13<\/td>Men<\/td><\/tr>\n
2nd<\/td>Roberto Bueno Losada<\/td>1:08:18<\/td>Men<\/td><\/tr>\n
3rd<\/td>Daniel Ayuso S\u00e1nchez<\/td>1:08:19<\/td>Men<\/td><\/tr>\n
1st<\/td>Gema Mart\u00edn Borgas<\/td>1:17:51<\/td>Women<\/td><\/tr>\n
2nd<\/td>Cristina Giurcanu Mihartescu<\/td>1:19:28<\/td>Women<\/td><\/tr>\n
3rd<\/td>Ver\u00f3nica S\u00e1nchez<\/td>1:20:20<\/td>Women<\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The full results, including category breakdowns and split times, can be consulted on the official timing platform. Even so, the podium alone reflects the race\u2019s competitive level and its ability to attract strong runners from across Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Course and atmosphere: running through history<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What sets the Salamanca Half Marathon apart is its traffic-free urban course that combines speed with monumental charm. The start on Paseo de la Estaci\u00f3n gives runners time to settle before entering the old town. After crossing the Enrique Estevan bridge, the route climbs towards the historic centre, offering standout views of the cathedrals, the university and Plaza Mayor. The toughest section is the Do\u00f1a Berenguela climb, which often creates decisive gaps. From kilometre 16, the course trends downhill towards the Labradores neighbourhood and finishes in Parque de La Alamedilla, where hundreds of spectators cheer finishers home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The atmosphere is one of the event\u2019s biggest draws. The organisers hosted a runners\u2019 expo at the La Alamedilla sports hall on Saturday, where participants collected their bibs and enjoyed a village with activities, music and brand stands. Official training sessions were also offered in the lead-up, and a free guided city tour<\/strong> took place the day before the race\u2014turning the weekend into a complete running getaway. With all 2,300 places<\/strong> selling out weeks in advance, the event continues to grow, and women\u2019s participation keeps rising thanks to initiatives such as a women\u2019s team classification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for preparing for the Salamanca Half Marathon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re thinking of racing Salamanca in future editions, tailor your training to a fast course with a couple of testing sections. These tips will help you get the most out of the experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n