The 21st edition of the 10K Antonio Serrano is set to take place on 8 November, with renowned athlete Hermi Parra as the face of this year's event. The popular race will bring together runners of various levels in the streets of La Solana, a town in the province of Ciudad Real.
Ángela Notario, the local councillor for Culture and Festivities, opened the event's presentation by thanking the media for their attendance and encouraging the community to participate in the various activities. Notario highlighted Parra's involvement, noting her status as one of the municipality's most recognised athletes and an inspiration to many runners. “We are grateful for her collaboration as the image of this new race,” she stated.
The children's race will kick off the festivities on 31 October at 17:30 in the Plaza Mayor, coinciding with Halloween. Following the success of last year's event, where many children participated in costumes, face painting will also be available to ensure a fun and engaging afternoon for the little ones. Registrations for the children's race are open and can be completed via a QR code on promotional posters or on the day of the event, with participants advised to arrive half an hour early.
Pedro Julián Moreno, director of the Athletics School, explained that the children's race has been separated from the adult event to give it more prominence. He also reminded attendees that the 10K is part of the popular running circuit in Ciudad Real. The main race will commence on 8 November at 11:00, starting and finishing near La Moheda school. Moreno encouraged both seasoned runners and newcomers to take part in the 10-kilometre challenge, describing the course as accessible despite some demanding sections.
Registrations for the main race will remain open until 2 November. Additionally, the day will feature the tenth March against Cancer, which will take place after the main race and cover approximately one kilometre. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the disease and gather funds to support cancer research. While registration is not required, participants are encouraged to contribute by purchasing T-shirts or merchandise from the association.
Local police chief Antonio Velasco outlined the measures in place to ensure safety and manage traffic during both events. The children's race will primarily take place on pedestrian streets in the town centre, and residents with garages in the area are advised to avoid using their vehicles between 17:30 and 19:00 on Saturday. For the 10K, police will mark the course several days in advance and request that drivers refrain from parking along the route. Parking restrictions will be in effect from 07:00 to 13:00 on Sunday, with traffic closures starting at 10:00 in areas such as Avenida del Deporte and Avenida de la Constitución.
The race will follow a similar route to previous years, beginning on Avenida del Deporte and passing through various streets before reaching the finish line on Calle Empedrada. Velasco urged residents to adhere to signage and instructions from local police and Civil Protection volunteers stationed along the route.
The presentation also paid tribute to Hermi Parra, who was unable to attend due to work commitments. Her father, Regino Parra, expressed gratitude to the town council for selecting her as the face of this edition and recalled that her athletic journey began 21 years ago when she participated and won this very race. He conveyed his daughter's message, stating she would be delighted to take photos with children during the event.
