The Valencia Marathon, “expectant” with Bekele and Cheptegei and delighted with 33,000 runners

He Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Marathonwhich is celebrated this Sunday, is “expectant” according to the explanation of its director Paco Borao for the role that the three-time Olympic champion and five-time world champion can play, Kenenisa Bekele and the debutante Joshua Cheptegei and is pleased with the record of their participation 33,000 runners.

“In the international elite section I see coach Marc Roig happy and predicting an amazing career. It is impossible to ignore Kenenisa Bekele, who comes to Valencia wanting to demonstrate things, we will see how many and what,” said the director of the event and president of SD Correcaminos, Paco Borao, this Thursday.

The presentation ceremony of the Valencia Marathon took place in ‘La Placeta’, the new space created by the organization at the Feria Valencia with the presence of Borao, the Sports Councilor of the Valencia City Council, Rocío Gil and the director of the Trinidad Foundation Alfonso , Juan Miguel Gómez.

Borao acknowledged that he is “expectant” like every year “but a little more.” “Although we always seem to follow, there is always something to do better, to improve, but the figures show that the corridor trusts us. We have been working for many years in different places so that the Valencia Marathon is known throughout world,” he said.

“It’s amazing that there are 33,000 registered. There are 134 nationalities, with the largest representation from France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Belgium. In addition, the participation of women has increased, it is already at 20% and we will have more than 7,000 debutants,” said the director of the exam, whose start will last 1 hour and 20 minutes and will have 57% foreigners.

In addition, Borao also highlighted the premiere of Cheptegei “who decided to choose València to launch his debut away.” “(We are) looking forward to what he can achieve, he knows the city, we have never had that. much desire to do things well,” he said.

Gómez emphasized that this is a test that receives “very high interest from the runners” and thanked SD Correcaminos for the “work.” “We knocked on his door more than a decade ago to have him join us on a journey we didn’t know where it was going. Almost eleven years later we know what the goal is and if who we want to run it, which is them. All are Correcaminos. They are part of our family,” he said.

Regarding the future of the relationship between Correcaminos, FTA and the City Council, Gómez recalled that businessman and Trinidad Alfonso Foundation supporter, Juan Roig, saw the possibilities that Marathon had. “I didn’t make too many mistakes in looking at the data. We will go where Correcaminos and City Council want, we will occupy the role in which we can help them the most. This alliance of the three entities is very solid, it has a present and an future. Juan Roig remains in love with the test” , he said.

Finally, Gil emphasized the economic multiplier effect of the test. “On Saturdays we have a percentage of overnight stays of 91% and the study carried out by IVIE shows that every euro invested in the budget translates into five euros generated. It’s a great event for Valencia, not just sportingly speaking,” he stressed.

“I will tell the runners to have fun. When people come to Valencia, they come because they trust that we know how to do things, we paralyze ourselves so that everyone can enjoy it. We want them to enjoy, repeat and tell everyone that Valencia is a wonderful city and that we have the best marathon in the world,” he said.