About cycling & running in Jaén-MartosJaén-Martos Training Notes
Running: Martos gives runners a high, honest start at 753 m, with La Peña and El Castillo de la Villa right there for trail legs. Locals use the olive roads and hill paths when they want Z2 that still bites. La Peña gives the short, steep stuff, and El Castillo de la Villa keeps the town feeling mountain-adjacent. Jaén adds the sharper race rhythm with Maratón en pista Ciudad de Jaén and Carrera Urbana de San Gregorio. No named run clubs are listed here, so locals seem to orbit the calendar: Marathon Alcaudete, Subida al Pantano del Quiebrajano, Carrera Nocturna Noche de San Juan.
Cycling: The Vía Verde del Aceite is the big ride, and the route gives 120 km of car-free base miles on mostly tarmac with some gravel. The route rolls through olive groves, vineyards, wheat fields, tunnels, viaducts, and that long Andalusian quiet. The Vía Verde del Aceite climbs gently but still gains 488 m, so the work sneaks into the legs. The final section from Martos to Jaén passes through Torredonjimeno and Torredelcampo. Goliat Bike Race gives the anchor event feel. No named cycling clubs are listed here, so riders build around the Vía Verde, quiet road route days, and climbs near La Peña.
Season: Spring is the sweet spot, and March to May gives runners and cyclists the cleanest block for intervals, long runs, and gran fondo prep. Summer changes the rules because Martos can sit around 40C, and locals move early or late. August nights only cool to 27C, so easy really means easy. Late May can already push almost 40C on the Vía Verde del Aceite, and the lack of shade makes the ride harder than the profile suggests. Winter gets surprisingly cold around January at about 11C. February and March bring near daily rain, so trails, gravel, and road plans need more flex.
