IAAF/Trinidad Alfonso Half-Marathon World Championship in Valencia counts down the last 100 days to the race together with Paula Radcliffe
A ceremony held in Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences marked the start of the 100-day countdown to the most eagerly-awaited event of the 2018 sporting calendar: the IAAF/Trinidad Alfonso Half-Marathon World Championship.
Those taking part were: the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) ambassador, Paula Radcliffe (who holds a women’s world record for the marathon); Carlota Castrejana, Corporate and Development Director of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA); Paco Borao, President of SD Correcaminos [running club], which sits on the local organising committee. Those attending included representatives of public institutions: Councillor Maite Girau; Elena Tejedor, Director of Fundación Trinidad Alfonso [sports foundation], the main collaborator in the trial.
There are just 100 days to go before the world’s best athletes compete in Valencia, ‘The Running City’. The circuit is a unique one and very fast. Two records were broken on the circuit in 2017, both of them for women — one a world record and the other a Spanish record. Both were set in the Valencia Half-Marathon. Two records were also broken in the 10-kilometre race and the Valencia Marathon. The city is now gearing up for the biggest event in the 2018 sporting calendar.
On the 24th of March, top athletes and amateurs drawn from 71 countries will take part in Valencia’s unique trial. They all share the dream of crossing over the water to the Finishing Line in the City of Arts and Sciences. Medallist Paula Radcliffe said, “I know Valencia and its track record of holding major trials such as the Half-Marathon and Marathon. I know it is ‘The Running City’ and that its citizens are really enthusiastic about the sport — something one can see in their support, participation and their organisation of the trials”. Paula concluded by noting that “the city is keen to see people enjoying themselves as they run the race”.
Paco Borao, from the local organising committee, stated that “the circuit has been carefully designed to be as good and as fast as possible. It is an honour and a pleasure to organise the Half-Marathon World Championship”.
Carlota Castrejana stressed that “we in the RFEA are looking forward to the trial. There are still 100 days to go but our emotions, expectations and ideas will make the time fly. Each day that passes is one less”. She added that “the success of this World Championship lies in its public-private co-operation, which is clearly what the city wants. The work put in by the Fundación Trinidad Alfonso [foundation] and the ‘Culture of Making an Effort’ has touched us all”. Carlota ended by noting that there would be many excellent Spanish athletes taking part on the 24th of March and that no fewer than 8 of them had classified under the record time.
Great participation in the race, with over 6,600 runners taking part
Thousands of amateur runners will be hot on the heels of the world’s top Half-Marathon athletes. They will share the same course as the fastest runners in a single race. The trial has attracted many amateur runners, with over 6,600 entries for the world event. The runners have already begun their sprint to the Start Line because there are only 100 days to go.
