Everything you need to know to run, train and compete on the official track in the La Mancha capital.
Yes, and it is one of the most complete sports facilities in Castilla-La Mancha. Ciudad Real has an approved, regulation athletics track within the Rey Juan Carlos I Sports Centre, the city's large municipal sports complex.
The track has 8 lanes and a grandstand for 3,500 spectators, making it suitable both for daily training and for hosting official provincial and regional competitions.
An outdoor athletics track with 8 regulation lanes and a grandstand for 3,500 people. Located next to the natural grass football pitch of the municipal sports centre.
It is at C/ Juan Ramón Jiménez 4, 13004 Ciudad Real. It is the city's main sports complex, run by the Municipal Sports Board.
The sports centre also has a heated swimming pool, football pitches, an indoor sports hall, padel and tennis courts and fronton courts, all on the same site.
The athletics track at the Rey Juan Carlos I Sports Centre has long opening hours so you can train on weekdays and at weekends. Bear in mind that hours vary depending on the time of year.
General weekday hours all year round.
Weekends and public holidays. Closes a little earlier than on weekdays.
From the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March (when the clocks change).
Night lighting: Whether the track lights are switched on is up to the facility staff, depending on the time and the number of people using the track. It is advisable to call ahead if you plan to train at night.
Access to the Ciudad Real athletics track is very affordable. Prices are set by the Municipal Sports Board and differ for sports centre members and the general public. Becoming a member is very worthwhile if you train often.
| Type of use | Members reduced € | Non-members standard price |
|---|---|---|
| Individual use (single entry) | 0.60 € | 1.10 € |
| Annual individual pass | 13.20 € | — |
| Group training (lane / hour) | 8.00 € | |
| Group competition (lane / hour) | 15.00 € | |
ℹ️ Tip: If you are going to train regularly, the members' annual pass for 13.20 € gives you unlimited individual access all year. After just 23 visits the pass has paid for itself compared with the non-member price. For up-to-date prices always check the official Ciudad Real Municipal Sports Board website.
Absolutely. With just 22 visits a year (less than twice a month) you recover the cost of the 13.20 € annual pass. The membership card also gives you discounts at other sports centre facilities such as the swimming pool.
Teams and clubs can hire specific lanes for 8 € per lane per hour for training, or 15 € for official competition use. Contact the Sports Board to book.
Ciudad Real has several active athletics clubs. However, one stands out above the rest for its track record, its official link with the municipal facilities and its structure from grassroots to competition.
Club Unión Atlética Ciudad Real, popularly known as CUA, is the city's main track athletics club. It is the official partner of the Municipal Sports Board for the Municipal Athletics Schools, giving it a central role in training and developing athletics in Ciudad Real.
The club trains mainly on the track at the Rey Juan Carlos I Sports Centre and covers everything from beginner categories to federated competition. Its sports school is aimed at young people across different age groups and is the natural entry point to track athletics in the city.
The only federated track athletics club based in the city of Ciudad Real.
Runs the City Council's Municipal Athletics Schools.
Works with young athletes from the youngest categories up to competition.
Trains on the 8-lane track at the Rey Juan Carlos I Sports Centre.
You can contact the club by email at cuaatletismociudadreal@gmail.com or by phone on 654 594 322
If you are preparing for the physical tests of the national or Castilla-La Mancha regional public service exams, this track is your best ally. Training on an approved surface is vital to work out your real times before exam day.
The track lets you nail your split times every 100 and 400 metres for the dreaded kilometre test (two and a half laps of the track).
Ideal for practising block starts and explosive speed tests (100 m or 200 m sprints) in proper competition shoes.
Train for the 2,000-metre test (5 full laps) on the inside lane to control your heart rate without the slopes of the street.
To keep the track surface in good condition and ensure everyone gets along, keep these basic rules in mind before you go:
Only needle or pyramid spikes allowed.
Reserved exclusively for fast intervals.
Use lanes 7 and 8 (or the outer grass) for easy jogging.
If today you would rather not do intervals on the track and want to rack up kilometres outdoors in Ciudad Real, the city has excellent routes very close to the Rey Juan Carlos I Sports Centre:
It starts very close to the university campus. A long, flat dirt path, perfect for long runs away from motor traffic.
The city's green lung. Its outer and inner perimeters offer an ideal circuit for easy runs in the shade of its century-old trees.
Ciudad Real has an active sports calendar that includes popular races, trail runs and athletics events throughout the year.
Several popular races are held throughout the year through the streets of the centre and the city's parks. The San Antón Popular Race and the Women's Race are two of the biggest, attracting hundreds of participants of all levels.
The province of Ciudad Real offers an ideal setting for trail running. Races held in the Sierra de Calatrava, Cabañeros and the Lagunas de Ruidera combine sport and nature in unique landscapes.
The municipal track regularly hosts provincial and regional athletics championships, as well as time trials and combined events. The Club Unicaja Atletismo Ciudad Real takes an active part in national competitions.
