Maratón Internacional Elche - Alicante.
The Maratón Internacional Elche-Alicante is a marathon between two cities, and the number behind it is half the story: the road distance from Elche to Alicante is exactly 28 kilometres, so the course has to loop through Elche first to make up 42.195. What follows is an eighty-metre descent to the Mediterranean.
Elche-Alicante International Marathon 2026: Course, Route Profile & Map
The start is at 09:00 on Calle Diagonal del Palau beside the Palacio de Altamira in Elche, at a little over eighty metres above the sea. The first twenty kilometres stay inside the city and run through El Palmeral, the palm grove that gives Elche its name and its reputation - the profile stays effectively constant here, between eighty and ninety metres.
From the roundabout at the edge of town the route turns interurban, and from about kilometre 26 the real descent begins: from 77 metres down to 15 between kilometres 26 and 35, the whole of the race's height loss inside nine kilometres. The last seven kilometres then run at sea level past Casa Mediterráneo to the finish at Muelle 12 in the Port of Alicante. In total 208 metres of ascent against 284 of descent, 60 per cent of the course flat and barely a steep metre anywhere.
2026 is only the second edition. The race is put on by Club Atlético Montemar with both city councils, the course is measured by the RFEA, and entries close at 6,000. Because the start and the finish are in different cities, the coach transfer is part of the race: shuttles leave Alicante from 06:15, the last at 07:30, and are booked with the entry.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Elche-Alicante International Marathon.
Start under control
This course splits into two unequal halves, and the plan has to reflect that. The first twenty-six kilometres through Elche and out into the plain are flat - not falling, flat - and if you have the eighty-metre descent in mind and are already running faster than planned there, you are taking an advance that the course only pays out ten kilometres later.
Hold your rhythm
The section between kilometres 26 and 35 is the race. Sixty metres over nine kilometres is barely perceptible, but muscularly it does cost - running downhill loads the quadriceps eccentrically, and here it meets legs that already have thirty kilometres in them. Run that stretch cleanly and with a short stride and you reach the last seven kilometres with intact legs; treat it as a gift and you will not.
Spend what is left
The third factor is the clock and the climate. A marathon in south-eastern Spain at the end of November starts cool and finishes in midday sun, and the interurban kilometres offer little shade. The intermediate cut-offs - 20 km by 2:40, 30 km by 4:00, 40 km by 5:20 - are not an issue for most, but they define how long the course is supported at all. Drinking to a plan rather than to thirst is a racing question here, not a comfort one.
Training plan for Elche-Alicante International Marathon: 12-week build
Build the base
For age-group runners Elche-Alicante is a three to five-and-a-half hour effort; the limit is 5:30 from the moment the first runner crosses the start mat. The demand is a steady aerobic one with an eccentric emphasis in the final third - a combination that looks easy on paper and is not in the legs.
Train race pace
That gives the most important specific stimulus: downhill running on tired legs. A long run whose closing ten kilometres are run at race pace on gently descending tarmac prepares for exactly the section between kilometres 26 and 35. Without that preparation, sixty metres of descent after thirty kilometres feels considerably more expensive than it looks.
Rehearse the course
Standard marathon work on flat ground goes alongside: long runs with forty to sixty minutes at race pace at the end, threshold runs of twenty to forty minutes. This course needs no uphill training - there is no climb that asks for strength.
Arrive fresh
Conditions are the real difference from a central European autumn marathon. The end of November on the Mediterranean means mild to warm air from late morning, thin cloud, and an open, barely shaded road between the cities. If you are travelling from the north, run part of your long runs under raised heat load and rehearse the drinking strategy over the full race duration. And because the coach leaves Alicante by 07:30 at the latest, there is more time between waking and the gun than at a home race - that too is worth a rehearsal.
Courses
Download the Elche-Alicante International Marathon course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Maratón Internacional Elche - Alicante dynamically
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Everything about Maratón Internacional Elche - Alicante.
How long is Elche-Alicante International Marathon?
Elche-Alicante International Marathon is 42.2 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Elche-Alicante International Marathon have?
Elche-Alicante International Marathon has around 208 m of elevation gain over 42.2 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Elche-Alicante International Marathon?
Elche-Alicante International Marathon is classified as Flat, averaging 4.8 vertical metres per kilometre. 61% of the route is flat, 16% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
Is Elche-Alicante International Marathon a loop course?
No, Elche-Alicante International Marathon is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Elche-Alicante International Marathon course?
Yes. The Elche-Alicante International Marathon course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Elche-Alicante International Marathon?
Preparation for Elche-Alicante International Marathon should account for 42.2 km, 208 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Elche-Alicante International Marathon?
The pacing strategy for Elche-Alicante International Marathon should reflect 42.2 km, 208 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Maratón Internacional Elche - Alicante take place?
Maratón Internacional Elche - Alicante takes place on November 29, 2026.
Where does Maratón Internacional Elche - Alicante take place?
Maratón Internacional Elche - Alicante takes place in Elche / Alicante, Spain.
How do I register for Elche-Alicante International Marathon?
Registration runs through the organiser: maratonelchealicante.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
