20 percent
of finishes in an average year had a sustained slowdown
Edition by edition, between 15% (2023) and 24% (2025), its warmest morning.
Valencia’s last stretch runs 4% quicker than on the typical course.
The median finish ranged from 3:33 in 2023 to 3:39 in 2021.
More metronomes here: 48%, against 28% elsewhere.
Valencia’s 20%: lower than 21 of 22 other courses with three or more editions.
Of Valencia finishes on 4:00 pace through 20K, 17% made 4:00, against 14% elsewhere.
Apart from 2025, at 53°F in 2021, 20% had a sustained slowdown. At 42°F in 2023, 15%.
All numbers5 tables
| Finishes | 115,773 |
|---|---|
| Editions | 5 |
| Median finish, average edition | 3:36:50 |
| Sustained slowdown, average edition | 19.9% |
| Second 20K more than 10% slower | 28.9% |
| Median time given back after 20K | +5:33 |
| Climb, whole route | 292 ft |
| Year | Race date | Finishes | Median finish | Sustained slowdown | At the start | Dew point | Humidity | Wind | Start time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Dec 5 | 12,410 | 3:39:38 | 20.4% | 53°F | 36°F | 52% | 16.6 mph | 08:30 |
| 2022 | Dec 4 | 21,306 | 3:37:09 | 17.7% | 50°F | 42°F | 73% | 3.5 mph | 08:30 |
| 2023 | Dec 3 | 24,578 | 3:33:25 | 15.1% | 42°F | 31°F | 66% | 3.8 mph | 08:30 |
| 2024 | Dec 1 | 27,515 | 3:36:18 | 22.6% | 52°F | 49°F | 88% | 3.3 mph | 08:30 |
| 2025 | Dec 7 | 29,964 | 3:37:41 | 23.7% | 58°F | 48°F | 70% | 9.2 mph | 08:30 |
| Section | Climb | Descent | Net | Pace vs. avg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–5K | 15 ft | 31 ft | −15 ft | −1.3% |
| 5–10K | 34 ft | 26 ft | +15 ft | −3.1% |
| 10–15K | 61 ft | 34 ft | +20 ft | −2.8% |
| 15–20K | 12 ft | 40 ft | −34 ft | −2.8% |
| 20–25K | 25 ft | 21 ft | +21 ft | −1.2% |
| 25–30K | 71 ft | 27 ft | +39 ft | +0.3% |
| 30–35K | 32 ft | 15 ft | +13 ft | +3.8% |
| 35–40K | 37 ft | 37 ft | +1 ft | +5.4% |
| 40K–finish | 4 ft | 56 ft | −56 ft | +0.1% |
| Goal | Finishes | Made the goal | Sustained slowdown | Given back after 20K | Median finish | 10th–90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00 | 8,985 | 27.9% | 15.1% | +3:58 | 3:04:01 | 2:58:14–3:16:38 |
| 3:30 | 10,356 | 18.7% | 19.8% | +6:10 | 3:36:27 | 3:28:25–3:52:42 |
| 4:00 | 8,186 | 17.4% | 28.9% | +9:57 | 4:09:54 | 3:58:18–4:31:35 |
| 4:30 | 3,114 | 11.2% | 32.9% | +15:12 | 4:44:45 | 4:29:29–5:06:14 |
| 5:00 | 901 | 10.2% | 34.8% | +20:28 | 5:18:07 | 4:59:53–5:36:32 |
| Pacing type | Valencia | Other courses |
|---|---|---|
| Metronome | 48% | 28% |
| Gentle fader | 28% | 30% |
| Late fader | 12% | 16% |
| Early drifter | 6% | 14% |
| Cliff | 2% | 4% |
| Fast-start fader | 4% | 8% |