We’ve entered DMV swampy season of steamy weather and three-shower-a-day humidity so holiday lights and winter runs are probably the LAST thing on anyone’s mind — but I’ve got a little holiday glow on today as I’ve signed up for one of my all time favorite races, the San Silvestre Vallecana on New Year’s Eve in Madrid!!!
OK more than a "glow" -- a full on sweaty Betty here!
ALL OFFICIAL!
Usually, the race registration for this amazing 10k doesn’t open until late summer, but since I ran last year as well, I got a code for early entry, and since 2025 has been such a … well …
… there’s a part of me that’s definitely looking forward to turning a page there. But, given my lack of hope for a magical unicorn to really get us out of this mess, the SUPER early sign up was more because this is, hands down, some of the most fun you can have in your running shoes.
Or actually, in ANY shoes! It’s a pure party. want to know why? Here’s my race review of the San Silvestre Vallecana, and five reasons this race rocks!
1. SUPER affordable entry
I know that putting on a race can get expensive for a lot of reasons: traffic control, public safety … sadly the need to do things like seal up every trash bin on the route. Especially when running in bigger cities, I’ve become accustomed to $100+ for a half or $50+ for a 10k.
For this 10k, you’re running smack dab in the center of one of Europe’s great capitals … but the registration cost me only €32 (about $37 with the weak dollar … hey where’s all that “winning” economy we were promised in exchange for fascism lite 😡🤬😡) — and that’s WITH the race sending my full packet (shirt, timing chip, etc) right to my door. Well, mi suegro's (my father-in-law's) door — they don’t send overseas so if you’re US based and not staying with friends or family (or someone else happy to collect the packet when it arrives in the mail in early December) it’s 5€ cheaper (€27) because you’ll have to pick up your packet. But either way, a steal when you consider the …
2. Excellent organization
Look, I love my country-in-law more than I can say BUT Spain isn’t known as a … well … paragon of efficient organization (as anyone who has attempted any paperwork there knows all too well). But this race runs so smoothly, it’s a model for others.
First, the start line at follows one thing Spain IS great at: cheap, easy and clean public transport. You can pop right out at the stop, and there’s also two other in close walking distance. Trains come often enough that you don’t get any crazy backlog.
Once at the start, it could be a mess as there are three start times to choose from, and within those, multiple start corrals based on time. But, there’s super easy to read signage and with your race packet, you get a little paper bracelet color coded to your exact corral. So, even if you’re facing a no hablo español situación, it’s simple to find where to go (and yes, if with my sense of direction, it’s easy, then it’s REALLY easy for a normal, non-directionally challenged person).
Timing chips are also great: they use the little shoe clips, so no struggle with pins.
all clipped in for my run in 2024!
Corrals are also excellent sizes; big enough that you get that big, fun community feel, but not so big that you’re stepping all over each other.
And then, the piece de resistance of great race planning: port-a-potties in each corral.
Hear me out: for the newbie racer, this might not seem like a big deal, but those of us with a few races under our feet, you know the feeling of being sure you’ve EMPTIED all the excess only to get into a corral and hear the call of Mother Nature again. You’re faced with just holding it all in and hoping for the best or getting OUT of the corral and getting all stressed about getting back in in time. It’s no bueno either way.
So, actually having a few potties right there? It gets its own medal thanks!
3. Inclusive to all paces
This race is also one of the most popular for professional runners — so you can get some big names in running there, but they have their own race after those of us in the much bigger “popular” which is pretty freely open.
There are 3 start times (around 5:30, 6 and 6:30 pm — to space the runners and let you get back in time to shower before your Nochevieja dinner). Within each race lets you use either a previous year’s time or one from a list of qualifying runs to place in the faster corrals, but since their slower one is 60 minutes or more — and an hour would be a blazing speed for me — I just place myself there.
While you’ll definitely see runners on the rapid side, the open access means you also see runners of all paces, ages and bodies there. I also loved seeing so many families out to do the run together.
See, New Year’s Eve in the US is definitely not seen as much of a family time, but it is in Spain. I remember being surprised my first Nochevieja with Mr. Every-Body-Run in Madrid to find that the evening typically starts with a family dinner — indeed, even the most party-hearty of the young often have dinner, linger over digestives to see the ball drop in Puerta del Sol and THEN go out to dance, drink and make merry with friends until the literal break of dawn (just walk into any churrería around 8 am January 1 to see what I mean)
Spain has a genuine family-friendly culture and if even shows up here - I saw more than one abuela/ abuelo pair with her kids and grandkids, and certainly plenty parents who looked like their far sportier kids had dragged them out (down to the clearly new run kits). So, whatever your speed or experience, you’ll have plenty of company.
4. Party at the start line!
Waiting to start the race can often be the point where my anxiety gets going, but at this race, I’m having way too much fun to notice. There’s a full on party going on: a well-known DJ my first year, a full party band last year.
Plus, you know your girl LOVES a costume while running (if you’re not the fastest, be the most awesomely dressed) and this race never disappoints. With the holiday season right in full swing (Los Reyes , the three Kings, bring gifts Jan. 6 in Spain, so Nochevieja is really the middle, not the end, of holiday fun), you’ll see people in all manner of festive outfits, from the bells that ring at new year ...
... to the 12 grapes you eat as said bells ring...
... or a classic madrileño chulapo get up ...
... though I went with the easy-peasy drape-yourself-in-holiday-lights-route (hey, doubles as safety lights!)
Whatever you wear yourself, you’ll also find plenty of fabulous outfits on the spectators, from crazy hats and glasses to those on their way to the ball drop to swanky gear on those planning a fancier dinner, plus multiple music stops— all in all making for a racecourse that really feels like a moving party.
5: Iconic route — with a real booty-kicker at the end!
And speaking of the course, you would be hard pressed to find path with more iconic Madrid scenes than this. For all those Real Madrid fans, you’re starting at their home, Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, and then weaves through some of the loveliest parts of the city, including Calle Serrano: (fancy shopping street with elegant buildings), next passing the Puerta de Alcalá: (an iconic Madrid picture spot, a lovely arch right in the town center by the start of Gran Vía and the Retiro park).
Puerta de Alcalá
Then, you move on the Plaza de Cibeles (another icon, a glorious fountain whose steps are usually packed with spectators) and the Paseo del Prado (a gorgeous boulevard that passes in front of the museum with the same name). Of course, the streets are also all dripping with lovely holiday lights— Madrid doesn’t mess around with decoration! — and if you run the first wave, you get to see the lights switch on at 6 pm — pretty special to be racing down a postcard-view street and suddenly see everything twinkling around you!
Passing down Gran Via after Puerta de Alcalá, my favorite lights!
Continuously uphill. For more than a mile. AT THE END of the race.
Now, usually that would just be a bummer BUT the Vallecas barrio of Madrid puts on such a great show of support, it’s hard to feel too deflated, even as you’re cursing that climb. The neighborhood reminds me a lot of the one my father in law lives in (only he’s on OTHER end of city) — the “real” Madrid, an area with real working people, not just tourists.
The whole last bit is this lined with folks from the neighborhood, plenty of full families shouting “ànimo!” And “tú puedes!" out before their Nochevieja dinner … and plenty also having a preliminary celebratory glass of cava!
With Spain’s famously long life expectancy, you’ll also find plenty of older Spanish folks… who will also grab you with that famous Spanish bluntness! My first year running, I was about to take a walk break on that hill when two older ladies, both dressed fabulously with big, sparkling costume jewelry, and sipping cava straight from a bottle saw a runner just ahead of me stop … and called out:
“Ànimo, hija! Mi generación sufrió para que tú puedas correr!”
Or essentially “chin up kiddo — my generation suffered, so you can run!” Now I’m normally ALL ABOUT the walk break, but even I can’t slow in the face of such abuela advice!
All in all, it's a 10/10 race -- and a perfect start to a new year: there’s just something so satisfying about ringing in the start of a year with such a fun race. Add endorphins first, follow with a great dinner and good wines (because Spain)? I can’t think of a better way to close out one year and start the next. Plus, nothing better than a run to kickstart whatever resolution you have brewing.
So, it might be August but I’m glad to have one December to-do scheduled: the San Silvestre Vallecana is definitely one of my most favorites, and that’s something to look forward to any time of year!
