Sant Julià de Lòria's Sant Silvestre Race Draws Record 700+ Runners in Rain

Sant Julià de Lòria's 33rd Sant Silvestre race attracted more than 700 participants despite persistent rain, exceeding the previous year's 627 entrants and organisers' target.

The New Year's Eve event began at 7pm with the baby category for children up to eight years old, covering 300 metres from Plaça Major to Plaça de la Germandat. Junior and senior races started from 8pm at Plaça de la Germandat. Downpours soaked streets and runners alike, but families pressed on—parents shielding children with umbrellas, kids in rain gear, and adults in costumes, some with dogs, all wearing Santa hats. The quickest senior runners finished in 9 minutes and 50 seconds.

Ramon Ibarz, head of the parish's sports activities service, expressed satisfaction with the turnout: around 70-80 in the baby group, nearly 100 juniors, and most in the senior category. Late registrations pushed numbers beyond the 700 bibs prepared, yet everyone joined the festivities. "We are very pleased with people's response, as we reached our goal of 700 despite the weather," Ibarz said. Rain posed the only hurdle, but costumed runners kept spirits high, and the hot chocolate and churros awaited at the finish. He added that the event retained its festive core amid the challenges.

Key changes included a new urban route through upper neighbourhood streets, avoiding the main road and earlier 10pm start. These shifts encouraged family participation across generations, allowed locals to watch from homes, and dodged late-night chill. Ibarz credited the growth to such adaptations, alongside live music, a batucada drum group, light displays, raffles, and indoor performances by Els Senyora at Centre Cultural Lauredià due to rain. The centre also hosted costume contest awards and a closing concert, attended by parish consuls Cerni Cairat and Sofia Cortesao.

The non-competitive race maintained its charitable aim, with the €5 fee directing two euros to Càritas for family support on essentials, plus a "dorsal zero" option for donors. Traffic closed southbound Avinguda Verge de Canòlic and Avinguda Rocafort from 7pm to 9pm, with public transport changes.

Ibarz called the decades-old tradition a fixture in Sant Julià and Andorra, praising positive early feedback from participants and residents, and vowing to enhance future editions.