Valencia feeds the marriage between restaurants and the Marathon
The enthusiasm of Valencian runners has made the Valencia marathon the best in Spain. But, in addition to the sporting prestige, this projects extends to the economy because these runners are also interested tourists who go to many different competitions on the international circuit. People flock to the Valencia marathon, half with companions, and they stay around three nights.
In addition to local runners, 30,000 foreign athletes and their companions came to the Valencia marathon in 2014, and to see to their specific needs last year the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation promoted a successful initiative with hotels, who were flexible with breakfast times, check out times etc.
In 2015 many restaurants will offer their usual menus to the companions, but also special dishes adapted for the nutritional needs of runners.
This is a Trinidad Alfonso Foundation and Coca-Cola initiative in collaboration with the hoteliers Federation in Valencia, aimed at promoting involvement of hotels and restaurants in this important event.
This initiative was presented this morning in the Restaurante Vertical in Valencia, from whose terrace you can see the departure and arrival of the runners in this impressive race. The idea is to combine taste with health and the ceremony was attended by representatives of several restaurants who have already committed to this project. Valencia City of Running will show its many different faces during the celebration of the marathon, and as part of that the athletes will find a menu specifically adapted to their sporting diet.
The event was presented and hosted by Javier Andrés, from Sucursal and Vertical, and then handed over to representatives from the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation and Coca Cola, who presented their specific aims for the project, with the purpose of making Valencian hoteliers aware of the importance of responding to an emerging sector with professionality, one that could be a gold mine for the city: Running Tourism.
Several Michelin-starred restaurants in Valencia have signed up to the call, such as Javier Andrés’s own, or restaurant owners such as Quique Dacosta, or Ricard Camarena, but many other restaurants are also interested in bringing their own creativity to the project and therefore the city is offering a wide range of interesting food (attached are some examples of proposals and a list of restaurants that are already participating). Not surprisingly, running 42.195 kilometers requires months of methodical training that includes, as an essential element, the correct diet. Providing it is a detail that this category of tourists appreciate. Making them loyal, by giving them special attention, is crucial so that top athletes, who want to be the best in the world, in this huge international sport include the Valencian marathon in their annual circuit.
Valencia wants to conquer the world of Running and it is an ideal city to celebrate these types of competitions, because of its size, urban planning, topography, and climate. It only needs to add the enthusiasm of its people, institutions, commercial establishments etc. Because, in addition to the marathon, other long distance urban races are celebrated on its streets every year, and so this initiative aims to help to convert Valencia into one of the world Running capitals.
