Carrera Popular Venta de Baños

Venta de Baños, a town in Palencia, Castilla y León, holds a winter running event focused on cross-country racing and popular runs. The main event, the Cross Internacional de Venta de Baños, is a race in cold, muddy conditions. Senior distances are 10.2 km for men and 5.8 km for women. The Carrera Popular offers 10.2 km and 5.1 km non-competitive options, starting from Avenida Pablo Picasso. The event evolved from a regional “Cross de Navidad” to a national and then international race within its first three years. The course is known for its rugged cross-country terrain, not smooth road running. A notable feature was the ditch jump, “el salto de la acequia,” which was removed due to urban development but later reinstated. Venta de Baños has strong ties to Palencia's distance running heritage, with figures like Mariano Haro, Santiago de la Parte, Ana Isabel Alonso, Isaac Viciosa, and Marta Domínguez connected to its history. Santiago de la Parte won the initial three editions. A unique tradition, and a popular photo opportunity, has been the awarding of a live churro lamb to winners since 1980, often nicknamed Serafín and Querubín. TVE has televised the race nationally for many seasons since 1984. The event is listed on the RFEA cross-country calendar and the World Athletics circuit.