Running in Benidorm: city, coastline and elevations
Urban routes, popular races and vertical challenges mark a different way to actively experience the city
Benidorm, in the Region of Valencia, turns running into an experience capable of changing the pace of a holiday, with almost six kilometres of urban beaches, seaside promenades, pedestrian streets and routes linking coast, city and mountain. From fast and accessible circuits to a half marathon route beside the Mediterranean or a challenge of 924 steps, this athletic proposal allows you to choose the intensity, distance and setting and adapt it to families, young people, groups and couples. Running in Benidorm can mean much more than just setting aside a moment of the day for training. The destination’s layout allows each outing to take place on a different route: jogging beside the beach, linking urban stretches, seeking elevation in Sierra Helada or replacing asphalt with a succession of stairs. The practically entirely flat routes of the coastal area coexist alongside more challenging zones, while the scarce rainfall throughout the year and mild winter temperatures favour outdoor activities. One of the options featured in the running programme is the training for the Cross Urbà El Calvari, inspired by one of the most long-running races in the Region of Valencia. The proposed itinerary covers a total of 7,750 metres and is completed in two laps around the Levante area and Mediterráneo Avenue, with the start and finish line at Martínez Alejos Avenue. Its speedy profile and contained distance offer an alternative for those who want to get in a dynamic session and explore part of the urban network. The training for the Subida a la Cruz (Climb to the Cross) changes this profile completely. The route reaches 9,950 metres over asphalted terrain, starts from the City Hall and heads towards Sierra Helada via the Levante promenade. Between kilometres 3 and 5, it rises from sea level to an altitude of 250 metres before turning back. Its appeal lies precisely in this contrast: starting from the city, runners quickly gain altitude and tackle a route in which effort is rewarded with views of Benidorm and its surroundings. For those seeking a more traditional distance, the Benidorm 10K training run consists of 10,100 metres on a circuit starting and finishing near the City Hall. The route passes through Levante and Rincón de Loix via one short lap to the end of Mediterráneo Avenue and a longer lap along the same avenue and the Levante promenade. The layout of this course allows runners to maintain a brisk pace and stay close to the seafront for much of the route.
Also included among the options is the San Silvestre Benidorm training run, featuring a 6,260-metre course comprised of two laps, with the start and finish on Bilbao Avenue. The route is entirely flat and is part of the run-up to an event characterized by its merry, cheerful nature and the presence of numerous participants in costumes, with an atmosphere that adds a more lighthearted dimension to the sport and connects with a gamut of activities well suited to various traveller profiles. Those who prefer to extend the distance can continue with the nighttime Benidorm Half training run. The route covers 21,250 metres along a circuit that runs parallel to the Levante and Poniente beaches and through the adjacent streets. Virtually at sea level, this route allows runners to rack up kilometres without moving away from the coastal landscape, while the various passages through the city centre add urban references and changes of scenery throughout the course. The most unique challenge of all sets its sights high. The Vertical Climb to the Gran Hotel Bali offers a competition quite different from the previous training courses: the challenge consists of running up 52 floors and 924 steps, with around 190 metres of elevation gain, in the shortest possible time. In this event, the focus is on a vertical progression that completely transforms the runner’s experience, as here the challenge is to sustain one’s effort floor after floor until finally reaching the top of the building. Beyond simply following a predetermined route, running in Benidorm allows one to explore the city from different perspectives, joining the Mediterranean, the urban landscape and the terrain of Sierra Helada all in one visit. The option to alternate between flat routes and more demanding ones makes it easy to tailor each run to the level and time available, incorporating sports into the holiday experience as yet another facet of the destination.
Location
Benidorm is located in the province of Alicante, in the Region of Valencia, on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. It is mainly accessible via the AP–7 and N–332. The reference airport is Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández, with a direct bus service. The TRAM network connects Benidorm with Alicante via line 1 and with Denia via line 9.