San Silvestre Vallecana 2023 - Madrid NYE race report

[Jogger22]

This was the first time I ran this race (having planned do it in 2021 but Covid scuppered my travel plans) and it certainly didn’t disappoint. There was a real party atmosphere throughout. They had DJs and bands playing along the entirety of the course which made for an electric atmosphere. Whenever I started to tire the throng of people carried me along as well as the crowds lining the course who cheered us on with shouts of “campeones!” (champions!) and “vamos!”. Also I had family in the crowd cheering me on and running alongside me for part of the race which was a real boost (thanks to being able to track me using google’s live location feature). The race took us past famous landmarks in the centre of Madrid such as the puerta de Alcalá, plaza de Neptuno and Cibeles under their magical Christmas lights. The very first 200m of the race had a steep climb and kilometre 8 had a climb for about a kilometre so I saved a bit in the tank for then knowing this. There was another small ascent for about 50m early on but apart from that the course was either flat or had a slight decline. I managed to achieve my goal of completing in 80 minutes or less otherwise they disqualify you (74 mins and 53 secs to be precise which is a new 10k record for me and much better than I was expecting due to an ongoing achilles tendonopathy I’ve been nursing for the past few months. I was a bit nervous initially about crowd control - being so many runners ie 40,000 but they staggered us in waves of 8000 people (apart from the first wave) with pre determined start times so at no time did I feel claustrophobic or squashed. I also liked the fact that it was an inclusive race (the first wave was for handbike users). I only had to queue for 15 minutes for the portaloo before the beginning of the race(I took my own soap and used my water bottle ). I didn’t pay attention as to whether there were any portaloos at the end of the race. I believe you can go into any bar in the vicinity and use their facilities. Also even though the metro trains before and after the race were crowded with runners (all distinguishable in their official race T-shirts and wraps) I didn’t feel too overwhelmed and everyone was very orderly. I highly recommend doing this race if ever you are in Madrid for new years/ Christmas. It set me up nicely for a lovely NYE meal with my family. It’s an experience I will always treasure.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Sounds amazing! Well done 👏

[Jogger22 10 Miles in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks Irishprincess I highly recommend doing this race if ever you are in Madrid on NYE

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

That sounds like a magical experience Jogger2. You will always remember that run; there may even be a repeat sometime! A wonderful way to start 2024.

[Jogger22 10 Miles in reply to Beachcomber66]

Thanks Beachcomber66 yes it was a very memorable experience

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

That sounds brilliant, congratulations on your new PB! 👌😁x

[Jogger22 10 Miles in reply to aliboo70]

Thanks aliboo70 the PB was a bonus and I think an inevitable outcome due to the atmosphere and being carried along by the throng of runners and the cheering of the crowds

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

What a great way to close out 2023 - and to be finished in time for dinner was perfect!

Congratulations on your PB with great memories the icing on the cake!

[Jogger22 10 Miles in reply to linda9389]

Thanks linda9389 it certainly was a lovely precursor for dinner and the PB was a bonus!

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

How wonderful, 👍 sadly I'd never make the cut off time,

[Jogger22 10 Miles in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks SueAppleRun I don’t know how long it would take you to complete the course if you were interested in taking part. I think you are just not given an official finishing time if you exceed 80 minutes - I am trying to check the official app for the results to see if I am correct in my assumption and will get back to you. (The app is down at the moment) I don’t know at what point they ask people to exit the course if they haven’t finished by a certain time as it is NYE and they need to open the roads again to traffic so people can get to their festivities. There is also an elites international race after the last wave of the popular race which is the run I did.

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to Jogger22]

Thank you for answering, on a good day I'd possibly come in just inside 100 minutes, I'm a really slow runner, but I've an eye op next week and once running again I'm planning to follow the NRC 10k plan as there are some speed interval runs on that as well as progressively longer runs, and I am sure over time I can build stamina and pace if I go out consistently. I'm currently walking daily to get into the habit for after my op, then I will build up again.

[Jogger22 10 Miles in reply to SueAppleRun]

Good luck with your eye op SueAppleRun hope all goes well and that you can get back to your running as soon as you have recuperated enough 🤗

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to Jogger22]

Thanks 😁

[Jogger22 10 Miles in reply to SueAppleRun]

Hi SueAppleRun hope you’re well and that your op has gone well if you have already had it. The race organisers for the san Silvestre vallecana got back to me. I think if you finished in 100 minutes you would not be disqualified.

“The finish time must be no longer than 1 hour and 20 minutes from the start of the last wave. They won’t usually disqualify you if you go over this time. However they will ask very lagging runners to exit the race if so required by the Local Police.

Once the elites “International “race starts runners from the “ popular”race should no longer be on the course. This year the international race started at 7.55pm and the last wave of the popular race for those estimated to do it in 60minutes or more started at 6.20pm. However those estimated to do it in 60 minutes or more could have also chosen earlier waves of 5.35pm and 5.55pm which would have given you plenty of time to complete. The route for both races is common up to 7.8km and from that point both are separated and there are about 500 metres in which both races would go down the same street in the opposite direction. They have a race closure sweeper car and local police can tell runners to leave the road if they deem it necessary.

The streets are then gradually re opened to the traffic between 8:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. depending on the section of the route. There are sections that can be opened at 23:59 or later. This re opening depends on the Local Police.

This year only 29,943. runners were timed plus a handful full of handbike athletes. many runners did not go to the race, and others forgot their chip. There were actually 40,097 runners who registered originally for the race.

[Jogger22 10 Miles in reply to Jogger22]

SueAppleRun here is link to results: marca.com/atletismo/san-sil...

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to Jogger22]

Very interesting, thank you

[misswobble Marathon]

40!000 runners! Crikey 😀

It sounds a fabulous event, and such a great way to celebrate the New Year. What fun! 😀well done 🎄🏃‍♀️🏅

[Jogger22 10 Miles in reply to misswobble]

Thanks misswobble yes the large number of runners was quite something else but they staggered us mostly in waves of 8000 and it was quite well organised

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Jogger22]

8000 is still a huge field though 😀. A triumph of organisation. Well done all round 👍🏅

[Jogger22 10 Miles in reply to misswobble]

Yes misswobble 8000 is indeed a huge field! 😀But at no time did I feel squashed and when people had to overtake me quite close up they elbowed their way forward gingerly.

[Doris8]

Well done that sounds brilliant especially New Year’s Eve. The one where we are on holiday in Funchal is on the 28th December Sao Silvestre 6 km. record entry this time. Have done it twice and Mr D did 3 times , this year not to be. It’s majicsl running through the city Xmas lights and the atmosphere. Happy new year

[Jogger22 10 Miles in reply to Doris8]

Thanks Doris8 So glad to hear that you and Mr D have had a similar magical experience in Portugal! Happy new year to you too! Wishing you all good things for 2024 😀

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon]

congratulations! I get a little claustrophobic, especially since covid and my heart was pounding reading some of that! 😂

[Jogger22 10 Miles in reply to RunBrianRun]

Hi RunBrianRun if you go on you tube and do a search for "la san silvestre vallecana popular 2023" it should come up with a few videos and you should able to see whether or not it is too crowded for you. I was apprehensive myself before doing it that it would be overly crowded but I didn't feel that it was at all. At no point did I feel claustrophobic and I wasn't squashed like a sardine. Obviously if you have concerns about catching covid then yes you are more likely to catch it as you are in close proximity with so many people.

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon]

Congrats on your pb! It sounds like a great event. I visited Madrid in May and loved it. I can’t even imagine 40, 000 runners.

[Jogger22 10 Miles in reply to Lavender1962]

Thanks Lavender1962 yes it was a great event. I highly recommend doing it or even just watching it and taking in the festive atmosphere. I believe the London Marathon had 49,272 starters in 2023. So the 10k race in Madrid is perhaps more accessible to more runners as not everyone can or wants to run/ walk, a marathon distance.