5 reasons to enter the next Total Energies Malaga Half Marathon

I took part in the Total Energies Malaga Half Marathon for three years in a row and it’s an event that ticks all the boxes in my opinion. Here are 5 reasons to enter the next edition if you’re looking for a fast and flat Spring half marathon!

Why should you sign up for the Total Energies Malaga Half Marathon?

1: A PB course

This Malaga half marathon is incredibly fast and flat. With roughly the same elevation as Seville Half, they’re both competing for the title of the flattest half marathon in Europe.

According to my Strava activity, the course only has 14m elevation gain. It’s also worth noting that the Malaga course has barely any turns, making it even faster.

I set a new half marathon PB every year on this course, the latest being 88:13 in March 2024. Check out this race vlog:

PS: there is another half marathon race in Malaga, which takes place on the same day as the Malaga Marathon (usually the second weekend of December). I did this one twice and whilst it’s flat, it’s definitely not as flat as the course we’re talking about in this post.

You may be interested in these previous posts:

2: Extremely well organised with no hassle at the finish

So far, the organisation both in the lead up and on the day was spotless. Here are just a few examples that made for a smooth experience each year:

The start and finish take place by the stadium which is turned into a race HQ on the day, you can drop your bag and stay inside for as long as you want, which is great on a chilly morning.
Unlike some big events like Valencia Half Marathon, you don’t have to walk half a mile at the finish to get to the bag drop or see your friends/family. The finish area is right by the stadium.
When collecting your race number at the expo, you’re also given metro tickets which you can use to get to and leave the event. The closest metro station (Palacio de Deportes) is just a short walk away.

3: The right size field

The Total Energies Malaga Half Marathon is really starting to gain momentum and attracts more and more professional athletes as well as elite-level amateur runners each year, but we were still “only” 5500 runners in 2024, which is way less overwhelming than Valencia or Seville Half.

If you prefer less crowded events but still want to enter a race with a solid field, this is a great option. You’re likely to find yourself in a pack of runners at least for the first half of the race, without the extra stress of a bigger scale event.

4: Good weather is pretty much guaranteed

Every year the weather has been kind so far, and with an early start (8:15 this year), you won’t suffer with the heat.

It can get a little breezy, but drastically bad weather is very rare in Malaga!

5: Best value for money

You can enter the race for as little as 22€ 19€ + 3€ Spanish day licence) if you sign up as soon as registrations open. Should you leave it to the last minute, you’ll only pay 43€ (40€ + 3€).

Plus, the goody bag is the best out of all the half marathon races I’ve done in Spain and England. You get a lot of useful things, from cookies and energy chews to shampoo samples and metro tickets.

A lot of thoughts goes into the T-shirt, with a unique design each year and good quality fabric.

Finally, accommodation prices in Malaga are nowhere near as bad as in Valencia on race weekend.

I might be biased because I truly love Malaga, but I wouldn’t come back to this race every year if I didn’t have a great experience.

To me it’s the perfect race: a flat course, great conditions, cheap race entry for everything you get and they have so many photographers out on the course that you’ll for sure have good photos for the memories!