The Nationale Nederlanden-San Silvestre Vallecanafounded in 1964 by Antonio Sabugueirowill celebrate its sixtieth anniversary in December 31 with 42,000 runners in the streets of Madrid and the unanimous recognition of the best Spanish athletes in history as “one of the best ten kilometer races in the world.”
The race, which usually starts on Avenida Concha Espina and ends on Candilejas Street, in the case of the famous, and inside the Vallecas stadium, in the international, It is one of four ten-kilometer events in the world certified gold by World Athletics.
Some of those great name of Spanish athletes such as José Luis González, Martín Fiz, Fermín Cacho, Patricia Arribas, Ramiro Matamoros, Isaac Viciosa, Chema Martínez, Jesús España, Nuria Fernández, memoria Arroyo, Reyes Estevez, Jesús Ramos, Yago Rojo, Laura Priego and Laura Luengo, They arrived at the performance after walking several kilometers through the streets of Madrid.
José Luis Gonzálezworld runner-up in the 1,500 meters in 1987 and double winner of San Silvestre Vallecanasaid that running this test “means a lot.” “It’s a race with a lot of expectations and a lot of people, with an unparalleled atmosphere. Running in Madrid with the people of Vallecas is a pleasure.”
Martin Fizworld marathon champion in 1995, He recalled his experience at San Silvestre Vallecana and his victory in 1994. “It’s a race that any professional athlete wants to run. When I won, I went to Vitoria and I got home at half past twelve at night. Everyone had dinner and people didn’t believe that anyone would come back. I jokingly said that is an outright fake.”
Fermin CachoOlympic 1,500 meters champion in Barcelona’92 and twice second in San Silvestrehe joked about coming back and going to the podium. “Why not go back and win it?”
One of those stars in the female category of the next San Silvestre Vallecana is the Spanish Laura Luengowho two days ago recorded 2h22:31 in the Valencia marathon, bettering the record of 2h25:35 from 2023 by more than three minutes.
José Luis Martínez Almeida, mayor of Madrid, said that San Silvestre Vallecana, which has run twice, “it means a lot” for the city.
“One day I will go down 50 minutes, it’s a personal improvement, but the best thing is to see thousands of people running in Madrid,” insisted the mayor.
Before the race on the 31st, the mini will be held on the 28th, where for the second time the minis will run with the official race t-shirt and receive a medal.
San Silvestre Vallecana, founded by Antonio Sabugueiro, was held for the first time in 1964 with only 57 runners. The victory went to Jesús Hurtado. The race is the replica of what has been held since 1925 in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo to say goodbye to the year. In 1981 the women’s category was established and the first winner was the Norwegian Grete Waitz.
The race records, in both male and female categories, are held by two African runners, Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo (26:41) and Kenyan Brigid Kosgei (29:54).
Source: La Verdad
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