Jaime Baldó Charity Cross 2026: date and times

Plan your race pace

The third Jaime Baldó Charity Cross will take place on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Parque Sergio Melgares in Playa de San Juan, Alicante. The main event is a 5-kilometre course scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m.; the event also lists a walk over the same distance and children’s races, although details of the latter have not been provided.

The event is organised by ASPANION, with registrations handled through Grupo Brotons and RockTheSport. The published registration period runs from August 26 at 9 a.m. until October 22 at 11:59 p.m. The information consulted does not specify the price, exact route or children’s categories, so those details should be checked on the registration page before making plans to take part.

Confirmed event details

The third edition has a confirmed date and time: Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. The venue is Parque Sergio Melgares in Playa de San Juan. The address associated with the event is Avinguda de les Nacions, 30, in Alicante, which can help locate the area, although the available information does not identify the precise start point within the park.

The known programme includes three formats: a 5-kilometre cross-country race, a 5-kilometre walk and children’s events. The distance is clearly stated only for the main event; routes, eligible ages for the children’s races and their start times have not been supplied. The available public information confirms the core of the event, but does not yet provide a complete programme by category.

The event is classified as cross-country and associated with popular athletics. That label describes a race run off-road, but it is not enough to establish the specific surfaces on the course. Without an official map, it would be unwise to assume that the entire route is on dirt, grass or paths, or to predict its elevation changes and turns.

A sporting morning in Playa de San Juan

Parque Sergio Melgares places the race in an urban part of Alicante, near Playa de San Juan. The setting distinguishes the event from a road race routed along avenues: the cross-country label points to a park environment, but the specific course is not detailed in the reference information. The official distance alone is also not enough to calculate race times or the difficulty of the route.

Anyone travelling from another part of the city or from nearby towns should distinguish the general event area from the exact meeting point. Avinguda de les Nacions, 30, is listed as an associated address, while the event information identifies the park and Playa de San Juan. Checking the final start and finish locations helps avoid confusing access to the neighbourhood with the place where participants collect their race bibs or gather.

The event falls in mid-autumn, when the weather can vary from one morning to the next. No forecast has been confirmed for race day, so temperature, wind and rain cannot be predicted. For an outdoor event, checking the forecast as the date approaches helps with clothing choices, while keeping in mind that the organisers may publish specific instructions about access, baggage storage or event services.

Cross-country race, walk and children’s events

The programme combines a 5-kilometre race with a walk over the same distance, as well as competitive events for children. This mix broadens the range of participants: the cross-country event is for those who want to run, while the walk offers an alternative without having to complete the course at race pace. Both options share the advertised distance, but the available information does not say whether they use the same course or start at different times.

Key details for the children’s events are missing for families considering taking part: age groups, distances, times, registration arrangements and how minors will be supervised. These details cannot be inferred from the main event’s distance, as children’s races are often organised in different age groups and formats. The official registration page should answer these questions before travelling, particularly if a child needs authorisation or a separate registration.

The term cross-country may also suggest a technical or mountain course, but there is not enough evidence to describe it that way. Cross-country races can take place in parks and vary widely in surface, width and elevation. Until a map is published, the safest approach is to stick to what is confirmed: a popular five-kilometre event in the park area, without attributing obstacles, hills or conditions that have not been specified.

What the charity aspect means

The event’s name and its organisation by ASPANION present it as a charity event. ASPANION is the organisation listed in connection with the event, while Grupo Brotons is identified as handling registrations through RockTheSport. These are different roles: ASPANION organises the event and the platform processes registrations, according to the published reference information.

The information consulted does not state what amount goes to a specific cause, whether each registration includes a donation or whether there are other ways to contribute. It is therefore not possible to say how much money will be raised or how it will be distributed. This distinction matters: an event’s charitable purpose can provide context, but financial details should be stated clearly so each participant knows what their registration includes.

At an event bringing together a race, a walk and children’s competitions, the charitable dimension can extend beyond the stopwatch. The event can also offer a shared space for regular runners, families and people who prefer walking. Without assigning it goals or outcomes that have not been published, the combination of formats makes the event accessible to different participants and puts less emphasis on sporting performance alone.

Registration: dates and missing details

The published registration schedule opens on August 26, 2026, at 9 a.m. and closes on October 22 at 11:59 p.m. The page consulted shows registration as open. As of October 13, 2026, that period is still underway according to the dates provided, although availability may change before registration closes if the organisers update the event’s status.

No verifiable price is listed. The general reference notes that the price may vary by distance and registration date, but it does not provide a specific fee for this edition. It also gives no information about service charges, age-based discounts or conditions for the walk. It would not be reliable to estimate the price by comparing it with other races: the fee should be checked directly on the active registration form.

RockTheSport is the registration platform, with Grupo Brotons identified as the registration manager. Before completing the process, participants should check that they have selected the right option—cross-country race, walk or children’s event—and review their personal details, participation conditions and final confirmation. Knowing the registration dates does not confirm that a place has been booked; the platform receipt is the document that verifies completion.

How to interpret the five-kilometre distance

Five kilometres is a familiar distance on the popular running calendar and can be approached either as a short race or as a walking route. However, distance alone does not determine difficulty: surface, turns, available width and possible elevation changes all matter. Since those details have not been published in the information consulted, there is no basis for describing the course as fast, flat or technical.

Regular runners can use the distance as a straightforward guide to planning their participation without making pace the only measure of success. In a cross-country race, adapting to the ground is often more sensible than chasing a time calculated on road. For walkers, five kilometres can be a recreational outing of varying duration, depending on pace and course conditions. The actual route profile will shape those expectations.

The race should not be confused with a mountain event simply because it uses the word cross-country. The formats share outdoor running, but not necessarily distance, elevation or difficulty. Until a detailed route is available, any precise estimate of time or effort would be speculative. The five-kilometre distance is clear; the features that will define the actual experience have yet to be published.

Planning the day without assuming unconfirmed details

The most useful preparation starts with checking the official instructions rather than assuming that services are available. The information provided does not confirm bib collection times, baggage storage, refreshments, reserved parking or access arrangements. These details can affect arrival and participation, particularly for families with children or people travelling from outside Alicante.

For a morning event scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m., allowing enough time for the journey helps avoid arriving just as the race begins. That buffer should be based on the location confirmed by the organisers, not only on the associated postal address. It is also worth checking whether the children’s races have separate call times, because the main start time may not apply to the entire programme. A general start time is not a substitute for the full schedule.

Clothing and footwear choices will depend on the ground conditions and weather forecast. Since neither a map nor a surface description is available, a specific shoe type cannot be presented as a requirement. For a short event, comfort and familiar fit are sensible considerations; trying new gear on race day adds an unnecessary variable. Final information about the course should guide any specific choices.

What to confirm before October 25

The main event details are known, but several practical questions remain open: the exact start point, a course map and direction, children’s categories and timings, fees for each event and participant services. The reference information also does not include full rules or time limits. The absence of these details in the available information does not mean they do not exist; it means they should be checked through the organisers before race day.

The registration page is particularly important for confirming whether the fee changes by event type or date, and for checking the registration deadline. The event lists October 22 as the closing date but does not say whether that might be extended or whether places are limited. The published deadline remains the valid date unless a change is announced; participants should not assume that on-the-day registration will be available.

It is also useful to check how any changes due to organisational or weather issues will be communicated. The available information does not state a cancellation, postponement or refund policy, so no conditions can be attributed to the event. Checking the latest updates makes it easier to distinguish initial details from late changes. The organiser’s page and registration platform are the operational references for schedule or logistics updates at a local event.

A place in Alicante’s popular running calendar

The October 25 date places the race on a day with athletic activity in the province, but the available information does not establish that it shares a course, organiser or programme with other events in the calendar. Its defining feature is the combination of cross-country running, a walk and children’s races in Playa de San Juan. The five-kilometre distance and range of formats describe the event better than comparisons with longer races.

In Alicante, popular races in parks and urban spaces offer a different way to experience the city: the pace of competition sits alongside walking and family participation. In this case, the event’s name connects the day to a charity initiative, although the financial details and destination of contributions are not specified in the reference information. Clearer disclosure of those details would complete the event’s public profile and help participants understand the scope of their contribution.

With the date, time, main distance and venue identified, the third Jaime Baldó Charity Cross has the basic details needed to be added to the autumn 2026 calendar. The start is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 25, with registration listed as open until October 22. Some details remain to be confirmed, but the broad outline is clear: a five-kilometre sporting morning at Parque Sergio Melgares, also open to walkers and children.