With the floods in Valencia is the marathon in doubt?

I agree - and I've lived here for nearly six years. It's really grim at the moment.

I agree. But it's really grim for now.

Just to clarify (as I scan the posts ahead of the one I'm quoting), the flooding has really hit hard in barrios only 2-3km from parts of the marathon course (as well as others further afield). These local barrios are deemed separate towns/villages from the city centre, but they're also a part of the city at large. (I live here.) And it will take many months to clear up and get back to a semblance of how things were before the floods.

So it will be a question of infrastructure, personnel and public sentiment. Frankly, it's too early to tell.

If you saw the scenes from this morning's Spanish news (when the King and Queen visited the barrios on the western side of the city), you would not make that statement.

There has been a very energetic effort by thousands of volunteers helping the locals. However...

There is no way they will be able to recover anything like as easily or quickly as you suggest. But it will be easy to believe that's the case if you don't live here and (assuming the marathon goes ahead) if the marathon coverage doesn't show the current state of affairs in the afffected communities in the western part of the city (2-3km from the marathon course).

That's not quite accurate. The city centre isn't affected, nor is the marathon course.

But several barrios on the western edge of the city are among the most affected in the region - the damage is shattering and will take months to clear up and clean up. And not surprisingly, emotions are running very high. And that's before the relevant authorities (police etc) respond with their ability to pivot so quickly from a national emergency to supporting a premier marathon in little under a month.

Incidentally, thunder is rolling overhead as I type this and more rain has started falling...

It will be cancelled. I spoke with someone in the government.

Which bit of my post is 'not quite accurate' then? You've repeated exactly what my Airbnb host said!

Your host Jose said: "... mainly villages and the south of the region".

A neighbourhood only 2km away is not really in keeping with "the south of the region", which is 60-100km away. (Valencia is a large region.)

Anyway, I'm not here to argue, so I won't be commenting further. Best wishes from Spain.

Hmm oh yeah - I re-read the Airbnb message and he said 'South Area' what ever that means.

Not here to argue either - thinking selfishly I am hoping the race will go ahead, but totally understand if it does not - many things are more important than running. I will probably still come to the city anyway to experience the destination and spend some money if it is in a fit state to host visitors. Best wishes to you too from the UK!

My brother's fiance works for Valencia City Council - internal word is that it's not going ahead, expect a statement in the next few days.

Coming here to support the local economy - whenever the timing is appropriate - will be very welcome.

P.S. I moved here from Edinburgh in Feb 2019, so I'm also from the UK. 😎

Message from the organisers in the weekly training plan emails that get sent round:

"From the Valencia Marathon Organization we want to send all our love and solidarity to all the runners who have been affected, you or your loved ones, by the catastrophe that has devastated our region and some other areas of Spain.

We are in the first weekend after the catastrophe. As Valencians, our hearts are broken and our efforts as an organisation are focused on helping the victims, we cannot think of anything else. However, we recommend all runners, as far as you can, to continue training, because our obligation as organisers, when these first days of pain are over, will be to contribute to return social and sporting normality to our beloved Valencia Region.

A big hug to all of you."

Here's the news from this afternoon. As you can see from the photos, the damage is horrendous, and it will take considerable time, effort and funding to recover.

theguardian.com

Mud and insults thrown as Spanish king and PM visit flood-hit town

https://www.theguardian.com/profile/ashifa-kassam

King Felipe heckled in Paiporta, one of the municipalities worst affected by last week’s floods

Open link

The rain this evening is now heavy, which is not good news at all.

And here's an article containing a map showing the affected areas in the region of Valencia (which also includes the city of Valencia, the regional capital):

levante-emv.com

El efecto embudo y el brutal caudal de la rambla del Poyo, claves en el desastre

Laura Ballester

'Se sale de todos los números todo lo que ha pasado' y hay planes pero 'faltan inversiones', señalan los catedráticos Juan Marco Segura y Félix Francés

Open link

Deluded. Absolutely tone deaf and irresponsible statement from them. Most of the dead haven't even been found yet.

My coach suggested it's going to be cancelled imminently and has suggested I start considering alternative races - he's London based, but has a lot of running connections across Europe. I'm hoping we'll hear something by Wednesday latest.

Registration is still open for Pisa, Malaga, and Nicosia, which are all a week or two after Valencia.

In a normal country, the marathon would be cancelled. The death toll is likely to be over 1500 in the end. Even if all infrastructure is working, this will be a city in mourning. The big reason I think it could still go ahead is that Spanish governance is a f*cking disgrace - both the political bodies and the sporting bodies. The La Liga coaches all wanted to cancel matches this weekend but the governing body made them play anyway. I'd continue training, but it wouldn't surprise me if at least the mass race was cancelled

Common. Life must go on. People die all the time, Media makes that super emotional but how many people die in Valencia every day? 50? 100? Official death toll now is 220

I know people run marathon all the time within a week after their loved ones die

So yeah sht happens. They had 3 day to mourn dead. Now it's time to recover.

It's their call of course, to have event or not. But it shouldn't be based on emotions

My cousin Miguel lives Valencia. The race to be canceled. Much water in the floodings. No tapas for giving.

aljazeera.com

Crowd hurls mud and insults at Spain royals, PM on visit to flood-hit town

Angry demonstrations over Spain’s flood response interrupt king’s visit to stricken Valencia suburb.

Open link

Pretty sure it won't be happening. For those that don't get any new other than from your backyard this is a very sad situation.

its 99% going to be cancelled. you cant run a race when the bridges to enter/exit the city are destroyed. no trains are running. hundreds of dead not found yet and thousands homeless. its far more important to sort the city and people out than for a mob of youtubers to turn up and fail to break 2:20 yet again