Athletics: 32nd Valencia Half-Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich |27 October 2023

Mr Melanie running the 32nd Valencia Half Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich

Joel Melanie happy with his performance

After fulfilling one of his dreams, running the Valencia half-marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich in Valencia Spain, local enthusiast runner Joel Malanie said he is happy with his performance, if even if he feels that he could have done much better with more preparation, in terms of adaption.

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.

This year’s event took place on Sunday October 22 and Mr Melanie competed at the charity event under Joel59 Run Club which is his personal brand since starting his local running for charity programme a few years back, before bringing onboard more people to form ‘Runners of Charity’ under which he performs locally.

Mr Melanie completed the 21.km in 2hours, 11 minutes and 40 seconds (2hr11:40) to finish 16,896th overall (out of 23897 participants) and 12, 935th in the men’s category, out of 17, 359 runners.

For this year’s event, it was Kenyan Kibiwoto Kandie who won the men’s race in 57 minutes and 40 seconds (57:40), followed by the Ethiopian pair of Yomifo Kejelcha and Hagos Gebrhiwet who finished second and third respectively, both clocking 57:41.

As for the women’s race, it was dominated by Kenyan athletes with Margaret Chelimo finishing first in 1hr04:46, ahead of compatriot Irine Cheptai who was second in 1hr04:53.

A third Kenyan athlete, namely Janet Chepngetich was third overall in 1hr05:15.

Speaking to Sports NATION, Mr Melanie who was lucky to have his birth year – 1959 – as his competition number said his aim was to do the best he could, and based on the amount of time he had to enter, settle and adapt in Valencia, he is satisfied and described his objective as attained.

He said, despite it was not the most convenient of atmosphere, in terms of weather and training ground, he managed to make the most out of it, conditioning himself to successfully complete the race.

He explained that it has been an experience, with valuable lessons learned for future events.

Mr Melanie noted that for the event, it was important for him to remain focused, and not get carried away by emotion, or adrenalin rush due to the huge number of participants (23897 altogether).

He said, at the end of the end of race, if he received motivation and supports, especially from someone running at the same pace as him, he could have done better in terms of final chrono.

Following Valencia, Mr Melanie said he is looking into the possibility of enduring another European challenge in 2025, but it will all depend on the amount of support he receives, since it is a very costly process.

For now, he has his sight set on the Genève Marathon (a half-marathon that offers a more urban route of 21,097km in the heart of Geneva, in Switzerland).

The course is close to the water and allows participants to run alongside the lake, the Rhone, also gives you the opportunity to admire the inescapable Geneva Jet d’Eau.

Mr Melanie said for his next European challenge, he will use the Valencia experience as homework and will be better prepared, aiming to complete the half-marathon in less than two hours.

Roland Duval