Running News Daily

On Sunday, January 11, Britain’s Eilish McColgan returns to one of the fastest road courses in the world with a clear objective: to run faster than ever before. McColgan will headline the Valencia 10K, aiming to improve the European 10K record of 30:19 that she already owns.

Valencia has become synonymous with speed. Flat, wide roads, cool January temperatures, and deep elite fields have turned the Spanish city into a global magnet for record-seekers. For McColgan, it is the ideal setting to push the limits again.

A Record Already Redefined

McColgan’s 30:19 shattered expectations when she set it, establishing a new benchmark for European women over 10 kilometers on the road. The performance was not only a record, but a statement—proof that European distance running continues to close the gap with the very best in the world.

Now, with another year of high-level racing behind her, McColgan believes there is more to come.

“I know I’m capable of faster,” she has said in recent interviews, pointing to consistent training blocks and renewed confidence as key factors heading into 2025.

Why Valencia?

The Valencia 10K has earned its reputation honestly. Year after year, the race produces world-class times across both the men’s and women’s fields. The course is famously flat, the pacing is precise, and the atmosphere—lined with knowledgeable, enthusiastic fans—helps pull athletes through the toughest late stages of the race.

For runners chasing records, few places offer better conditions.

Momentum Into 2025

McColgan enters the new season with momentum. Her track credentials as a former European champion at 10,000 meters translate perfectly to the road, where rhythm, strength, and controlled aggression are essential. Valencia’s fast early kilometers often allow athletes to settle into pace quickly—critical for anyone targeting historic times.

A faster run than 30:19 would not only lower her own European record, but also reaffirm McColgan’s position among the world’s elite road racers.

A Race to Watch

With top international competition expected and pacing designed for fast times, the women’s race promises to be one of the highlights of the early road-racing calendar. Whether McColgan rewrites the record books again or simply pushes the boundaries of what is possible, all eyes will be on Valencia.

One thing is certain: when Eilish McColgan toes the start line on January 11, she won’t be running conservatively.

She’ll be running for history.