Athletics: 32nd Valencia Half-Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich |19 October 2023

Mr Melanie after one of his adaptation runs yesterday morning

Local enthusiastic runner Joel Melanie at the starting line

Known for his various local charity projects, enthusiastic runner Joel Melanie is presently in Valencia, Spain where he will compete in the 32nd Valencia half-marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich which will take place on Sunday October 22.

For the event, Mr Melanie will be competing under the umbrella of the ‘Runners of Charity’, while he is personally absorbing all the expenses.

Renowned as one of the great autumn events in Spain's long-distance calendar, the Valencia half-marathon covers a distance of 21,097m in a fast circuit that runs along the Valencia coastline and the city center.

The race has been growing every year and breaking records, becoming the fastest half-marathon in Spain in 2014, and in 2021, and the fastest in the world in the women's category.

The Valencia half-marathon belongs to the SuperHalfs, the international series that brings together the best races in the world at the distance.

Lisbon, Prague, Copenhagen and Cardiff complete the list, due to the high standard with which they are organised, their care for the runners and World Athletics labels.

The aim of this alliance is to promote running, sport tourism and to raise awareness about the environment.

Each year the event chooses a charity to receive the voluntary donation given by the runners during the registration process.

Compiled by Roland Duval