Herencia will once again gather runners of all ages on Sunday, September 13, 2026, for the 49th Villa de Herencia Popular Race, one of the town’s longest-running sporting events. The race will start at 10:00 AM and will feature a competitive 10-kilometer run, as well as a non-competitive 5-kilometer course, a march, and events for children and adapted categories.
Key facts about the Villa de Herencia Popular Race in 20 seconds
- The 49th edition will take place on Sunday, September 13, starting at 10:00 AM.
- There will be a 10 km race, a non-competitive 5 km run, and a march, in addition to categories for children and adapted participants.
- The entry fee for adults is €9 and will remain open until September 9.
- The first 150 registrants will receive a technical T-shirt.
The Popular Race is organized by the Municipal Sports Service of Herencia Town Hall and the Molino Parra Athletics Club, founded in 2006 to promote athletic activities. The organization encourages local athletes as well as runners from other municipalities to participate in this edition, which marks 49 years since the inaugural race.
The start and finish will be located near the Municipal Sports Pavilion on Tierno Galván Avenue. The main event has a maximum time limit of one hour and 15 minutes.
A 10-kilometer race with participation options
The main event will begin at 10:00 AM and covers a distance of 10,000 meters for senior, veteran, and super-veteran categories, both male and female.
The course is a 5-kilometer urban circuit, so participants in the main race will need to complete two laps. At the same time, the non-competitive race and march will also take place, both covering a distance of 5 kilometers and open to adult participants.
Youth participants aged 16 and 17 will also start at 10:00 AM, completing a distance of 5 kilometers.
From 11:15 AM, the younger categories will have their turn. Cadets and children will be the first to participate, covering distances of 2,575 meters and 1,675 meters, respectively. Following them will be the alevins, benjamins, pitufos, and chupetines.
The youngest participants will have distances appropriate to their age: alevins will run 1,000 meters; benjamins, 850 meters; pitufos, 300 meters; and chupetines, 150 meters. The adapted children’s and adult categories will have a 300-meter course, scheduled to start at 11:40 AM.
The organization states that both federated and non-federated individuals may participate, and there is no age limit as long as registration is completed correctly.
Registrations open until September 9 and 150 T-shirts available
Registrations are handled online through Crono3 and will remain open until 2:00 PM on Wednesday, September 9. The regulations explicitly state that on-the-day registrations will not be possible.
The fee is €9 for adult categories, while entries for younger and adapted categories are free. Additionally, those who finished first in the overall male or female category in the last three editions (2023, 2024, and 2025) are exempt from the fee.
The first 150 registrants will receive a commemorative technical shirt.
Participants in the events starting at 10:00 AM will be able to pick up their race number at designated points near the Municipal Sports Pavilion until 9:00 AM. For children’s and adapted categories, the pickup window will extend until 11:00 AM.
In timed events, participants must attach the chip to their shoe using the bands provided by the organization, and it must be returned after the event.
Prizes for top finishers and record breakers
The Villa de Herencia Popular Race will offer cash prizes for the top three spots in the overall male and female categories.
The male and female winners will receive €115 and a special trophy; second-place finishers will earn €85 and a trophy, while third-place finishers will get €55 and a trophy.
There will also be category prizes and rewards for local runners. A local athlete is defined as someone registered in Herencia. In various categories, the top finishers will also receive products such as cheese, oil, or wine.
The organization has also set aside an additional €50 for anyone who breaks the race records. The male record is 30:03 minutes, set by Abderrahmane Aferdi in 2025, while the female record belongs to María Mercedes Pila Viracocha, set in 2024, at 37:58 minutes.
Children’s categories up to benjamín and the adapted category will also award trophies to their top three finishers. All participants in the pitufos and chupetines categories will receive a medal and a bag of sweets.
The announced program also includes various incentives and raffles during the awards ceremony, such as a television, gait analysis, and a podiatry check-up. Additionally, there will be a prize for the team with the most participants.
The 49th edition will bring Herencia closer to a particularly notable milestone. With nearly half a century of history, the Villa de Herencia Popular Race continues to combine competition, popular sports, and youth participation. On September 13, regular runners, families, and anyone who simply wants to complete the 5 kilometers walking will have their space on this sporting morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Villa de Herencia Popular Race take place in 2026?
The 49th edition will be held on Sunday, September 13, 2026. The main events will start at 10:00 AM, followed by the children’s events.
How much does it cost to register?
The registration fee for adult categories is €9. Registration for children’s and adapted categories is free.
Until when can registrations be made?
The deadline is 2:00 PM on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. There will be no on-the-day registrations for the race.
What distances will the Villa de Herencia Popular Race have?
The main competitive event will be 10 kilometers. There will also be a non-competitive race and a march of 5 kilometers, in addition to adapted courses for youth and children’s categories and participants in the adapted events.
Spanish post in La Carrera Popular Villa de Herencia abre inscripciones para su 49ª edición
