On December 31, San Silvestre is celebrated and in Madrid just hearing that name makes us think about running. Yes, since 1964 Madrid has hosted the largest athletics event in the country: the San Silvestre Vallecana. A 10 kilometer distance race that is both a sport and a party, in the popular race many people run in costume, a mix between a race and a carnival since there are groups of friends who run together wearing the same costume like a carnival chirigota.

The idea of ​​creating the test was Antonio Sabugueiro and a group of friends (the San Silvestre was born under the name Gran Premio de Vallecas), moving to Madrid a test like the one that was run in São Paulo, on New Year's Eve, before saying goodbye to the year. It was in this Brazilian city where the first San Silvestre race was run in 1925. Although the approach was different, it began at 23:40 p.m. on December 31 and ended on January 1, it really said goodbye to the year by running. It seems that in turn in Sao Paulo they were inspired by another test that was held in Paris on the night of January 1 in which the runners carried torches illuminating the streets of the French capital.

In Vallecas there are two very different tests: the popular and the professional. Currently, the specialized media recognize it as one of the most important San Silvestre tests in the world. It is a favorable route for the runners since 8 of the 10 kilometers of the test are slightly downhill, although of course the last two uphill tests everyone's strength and let's not forget it is December 31, and although This year the weather is being benign, there have been many years of very cold, rain and even snow.

The popular edition is held from 17:30 p.m. The exit next to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, the field of Real Madrid, is organized by times to promote a fluid race. The International begins around 20:00 p.m. and highly prestigious international athletes and this year also up to 2.000 non-professional runners participate.

And if the beginning is the Real Madrid field, the end is the Real Madrid field. Vallecano Ray. En el Vallecas stadium The official finish line for the professional race is located and in the surroundings of the field the arrival of the popular race, which entails great logistics to attend to all the runners who always exceed the official bib number since many people run without a bib number.

An excellent way to say goodbye to the year, mixing sport and fun shared with other people.

A hug and happy 2016, it has been a real pleasure to share 2015 with you through our 365 days in Madrid.